Series: Webs We Weave Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
“Bye, bitch,” I say under my breath to Jake. “I think you dropped the second word. I picked it up for you, your moral highness.”
He smiles, one that’s a little too fleeting. Then he casts a quick glance backward. “Should he be behind us?”
Trevor left his zone in the walking line about fifteen minutes ago. About ten feet behind us, he’s sulking, kicking rocks, and holding the shotgun like a barbell behind his neck. It’s unloaded. He made me empty the tube and confirm there were no shells four times.
Knowing Trevor’s rap sheet, I can see how Jake would be nervous my brother would put a bullet in Varrick or Trent’s chest.
Honestly, I’m more worried about Nova.
“He’s fine,” I whisper to Jake. “He was accidentally shot in the foot as a kid. He just doesn’t want to be near any of us in case we fuck around and he finds out.”
Jake’s brows jump in surprise.
“It still shocks you”—I read him easily—“what we’ve been through, even knowing who we are?”
“Your past lives are endless.” He keeps his gun at his side, like I do. “I’m not sure I could ever uncover everything.” He’s staring at Oliver, but in a much different manner than Trent just did.
It brings me back to the night of Hailey’s onslaught of tears. When the two of us finally made it to Stonehaven, I figured she would beeline for Phoebe. Seek comfort from her best friend.
We found Nova, Phoebe, and Jake seated around the stainless-steel kitchen island. They were eating leftover seafood paella that Varrick’s private chef made the night before. The instant they saw Hailey’s runny mascara and tear tracks, they shot to their feet.
She ran straight into Jake’s arms. No hesitation. No question. No pause.
He wrapped his arms around my sister with a wall of empathy. Erected to protect and defend to the absolute death. I’d never liked Jake more than in that moment.
“What’d my brother do?” he asked me, his hatred for Trent so visceral. I could feel the same scalding ember burning through me.
“Where’s Oliver?” Nova questioned.
“Go get him,” I answered Nova first. “He’s still at the party.” Nova was already grabbing his utility jacket off the barstool. Out the door in a flash. I learned Trevor was in the tower room trying to get cell signal to talk to Sidney. Safe and accounted for.
After I explained what happened, the girls decided they’d crash in Phoebe’s room together. Phoebe took out pints of Moose Tracks for the night in, Hailey’s favorite ice cream.
Jake wanted to wait up for Oliver. He was stewing.
Someone is getting punched tonight, I thought. My money was on Nova decking Jake for when Jake would attempt to swing at Oliver.
So I stayed up with Jake to play referee.
I wanted less bloodshed for my sister’s sake. She was dealing with enough, and she didn’t need two guys literally fighting over her. I doubted they knew she was pregnant.
We waited in the main living room. The antique grandfather clock ticked in our silence.
“He didn’t do anything wrong.” I defended my girlfriend’s brother, a guy I’d known my entire life. “Oliver had to act like she was just another girl at a party.”
“He didn’t have to be a jerk. He didn’t have to treat her like…” He shook his head, his anger bringing him to his feet.
I watched him pace. “You’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“All Trent does is objectify women.” He outspread his arms. “I didn’t think I’d have to worry about Oliver joining in on that with Hailey.”
“First off, he was flirting with her like he flirts with everyone, and then he brushed her off. She started crying. That’s it.” I understood Hailey’s reaction made this seem worse, but I wouldn’t lie to the Knight of the Moral Round Table. “Secondly, I guarantee you it’s going to be worse from now on that Trent knows Hailey is even semi-attracted to Oliver. He was doing what he could to protect her from your egomaniac brother without sacrificing his position in the job, which is important. She can’t be around Trent in any setting like that without us there. Trust us, this is all we’ve ever done. We know what we’re doing.”
Jake inhaled a sharp breath. Not even a minute later, Oliver and Nova showed with urgent strides and concerned eyes, drenched like the boat ride had been rough.
First thing Oliver asked was “She okay?” He shrugged off his windbreaker and noticed Jake on his feet.
“She’ll be fine,” I told him. “I can’t say the same about him.”
Oliver pushed his wet hair out of his face, assessing Jake’s heated stance. “You okay, Koning?”
“No.”
Nova rested his ass on the armrest of the couch, positioning himself to where I knew this was going to get ugly.
I edged up on the end of the sofa. Did not want to catch a stray punch to the face, but I prepared myself for the inevitability. Because my dumb ass was going to insert myself in this drama. All I could think was Phoebe was going to be pissed she missed this.