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Leaning back, I took in his red eyes and nose. “Are you okay?”
“They wouldn’t tell me anything. I thought you were dead.”
Pulling him back into my arms, I held him tight. “Oh, Lenny. I’m so sorry for all this.”
We finally released each other, and Lenny moved to my side, sticking to it like glue.
I noticed the room had once again gone silent, everyone staring at me. If Gladius didn’t get to me first, I was sure the Olysses family wouldn’t hesitate.
They looked at me with a mixture of contempt and curiosity. I didn’t meet anyone’s eyes, too scared of what I’d find.
“What happens now?” I asked nobody in particular.
Jude cleared his throat, and I lifted my gaze to his bare chest. He was in his boxer shorts, not having taken the time to get dressed after I interrupted his night. “There’s nothing we can do right now. Let’s get some more sleep and then come up with a plan tomorrow. You’re in my room. Lenny has the one next to Freya.”
“I want to stay with Lenny.”
My protest was met with derision. “You don’t get a choice. I’m keeping you close since I’m the one who told everyone they don’t have to fear getting stabbed in their sleep while you’re here.”
His words hit their intended mark, and I flinched.
Jude turned to walk out, and I scurried out after him, pulling Lenny with me. He shot me a confused frown but followed silently.
Jude stopped in front of one of the empty rooms, opening the door. “This is Lenny’s room.”
I hugged my brother once more before ushering him inside. “I’ll be over there.” I pointed to Jude’s door on the opposite side. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Promise.”
I knew he had questions. But since it was the middle of the night, and I was swaying on my feet, I thought it best to postpone the talk I knew had to happen.
“Love you, Ariel.”
He used to tell me all the time that he loved me. But the older he got, the less he did. So every time I heard the words, they were special.
“I double love you, Lenny.”
With my heart twisted in knots, I watched him walk inside, closing the door behind him.
Jude walked away with long strides, his fists still balled at his sides. I forced my feet to move and made my way into his room with slow steps, closing the door behind me. He locked it.
Unsure of what to do, I stopped near the door, my hands clasped in front of me.
He watched me, hands on his hips, head hanging low. “You can have the bed.”
Then he stalked to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
The faint click of the lock engaging struck me like a bullet. He’d never before locked the door to keep me out. It hurt that I didn’t have his trust anymore, and likely never would again. But it was what I deserved.
20
JUDE
I’d never felt sotorn. So unsure of what to do. I wanted to hurt Ariel as much as she’d hurt me. I wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be okay. I wanted to yell at her. I wanted to ask her why she’d betrayed me. But most of all, I wantedher.
What is wrong with you, dickhead? She betrayed you.
I stepped out of my boxer shorts, then turned the shower to cold, stepping under the stream. The freezing water did nothing to clear my thoughts.
I should have been elated that we’d finally found the shooter. But things weren’t as black-and-white anymore. No matter how much I told myself that the woman currently in my room was the killer who’d tried to shoot Dad, I couldn’t get myself to harm her.
