Sorrow (Cape Frost #1)

26

Hayes

“You think that’s enough eggs?” I swear she used an entire carton and the biggest pan we own, but for some reason, I find it amusing. “You’re overthinking again.”

“Who, me? I don’t ever do that,” she mumbles. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, okay.” I step up behind her and tug her back against me, taking advantage of the fact that Boo is in the room. “You okay with how that conversation went?”

She glances at her brother, realizing she can’t squirm out of this. “Of course. Are you?”

“Of course,” I repeat, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Boo’s groan makes me chuckle as I pull away. “And what about the girl you went to visit? You think that’s gonna go anywhere? ”

His gaze seems to unfocus as he shakes his head. “I dunno. Something seems off. I can’t put my finger on what, but something isn’t right.”

Part of me wonders if he’s talking about me and Samara, but I’m going to pretend like he isn’t. “With the girl? Why?”

“Yeah. You ever meet a girl who was too into you? Like it just didn’t make sense?”

Pretty much all of them except his sister. Maybe that means something, but I’m not in a place to look at it any deeper. “Yeah. You think maybe she’s working with The Sons or something?”

“It crossed my mind. She’s been asking a lot of questions.”

“So answer her,” Samara cuts in. “Test her. If she’s using you for something nefarious... use her better.”

Fuck, that made me feel something in my chest. I’m used to getting hard off the little things she does, but recently she’s been affecting an entirely different body part of mine that happens to be much more fragile. What does it say about me that her ruthlessness makes my heart skip a beat? “That’s a good idea, Hurricane.” More than good. It’s fucking brilliant.

“I have those every once in a while. ”

Boo tilts his head, studying her. “How?”

“You want The Sons, right? Use her to set a trap for them. If you want a direct confrontation, pillow talk about a plan you have to get revenge. If you’re looking for something more hands off, tell her you’re amassing evidence against them and hiding it in a specific location, then just watch the place. If they show up in either scenario, you’ll know she ratted. If they don’t... then either she started off by working for them but actually fell for you, or she never had anything to do with them at all.” She stops to stir the eggs, then adds, “If you have a friend on the force, you could have them do the watching. Tampering with evidence is a crime, right? You could take them down without lifting a finger if you’re worried about what they’ll do to me.”

The fact that they’re such a wildcard makes me want to outright kill them all and drop them into Bleak River, and when I meet Boo’s eyes, I know he’s thinking the same. Anything we do here is a risk. The hard part is not knowing who will pay for it. Still, I know Boo won’t have some colleague be the one to take them down, this is far too personal for him. “What do you think, Boo? ”

“I think we’ve turned my sister into a conniving little monster,” he laughs. “And I mean that as a compliment.”

It’s also his way of ending the conversation, and Samara knows it. She salutes him and cuts the heat on the stove.

“I hope you guys are really, really hungry.”

“Not for eggs,” I tease, and the look she gives me makes me weak.

Maybe we really did turn her into this.

“Well, you can eat eggs or make your own food, hmm?”

“You’re right, Boo. She really is a monster.” I move back into her space and tug her hair back so she’s forced to look up at me. “Fine, I’ll eat your stress eggs.” Smirking, I lean down to whisper, “ I’ll eat you later.”

Samara shudders, nearly dropping the spatula as she plates our food. “You’re bad.”

“So are you,” I reply, letting my hand ghost along her perfect hip as I walk toward the fridge. “So when will you see this chick again, Boo? You need anything from me?”

“Probably not until tomorrow. Just keep your phone on.”

Nodding, I grab some water and my plate before joining him on the couch. “Still gonna fuck her? ”

“Gonna have to, right? It’ll be even more suspicious if I stop.”

“Yeah, that was why I asked, but you got this. Hopefully you’re just paranoid and she isn’t trying to use you, but if she is, I’m glad you’re gonna catch her ass. Maybe we can get our little monster to claw her eyes out.”

Over my dead body would I let her near anyone associated with The Sons, but the visual is amusing.

“Don’t think I haven’t thought about sending her after Carly Jennings,” he mumbles. “Maybe the best way to get them to back the fuck off her is to show them she’s not some helpless easy target.”

He’s not wrong, but it’s still a risk we can’t take. “Maybe. I’ll teach her some self-defense moves later today.”

“Is that a euphemism?”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, bro.” I offer him a grin he doesn’t return. “We’ve already done a few breathing exercises and she’s a quick learner.”

He smacks the side of my head and shakes his fork at me. “Those are the kinds of things I don’t want to hear. I’m being pretty cool about this, but that could change. ”

“Alright, alright,” I relent with a small chuckle. “Too soon, got it.”

“It’s always going to be too soon.”

“Okay, that’s fair.” I glance over at Samara and find her picking at her eggs in the kitchen. She’s clearly pretending not to listen, but I know better. I’m the only thing that makes this woman blush. I’m still watching her when she jerks slightly at the vibration of her phone and my smile is immediately gone. Why the fuck is that bitch calling again?

In seconds I’m at her side and snatching it away from her, rolling my eyes at the blocked number he thought he could use to get ahold of her again. Naturally, I answer it before she can take it back. “This is getting pathetic, Nate.”

“You won’t always be around to protect her, you know that?”

Not Nate. Ricky fucking Madoff. I’d know that gravel-fucked drawl anywhere.

“No?” I reply, emboldened by the fact that they’ve been hiding like little bitches. “And how would any of you know that from the rock you’ve been cowering behind, hmm?”

“Who says we’ve been hiding? You’re right, she looks better in black. ”

The line goes dead, and I have to fight every urge not to throw the phone against the wall. “Fuck! Boo, that was Madoff.”

The blood drains from his face as he stands up. “On her phone? How the fuck did he get her number?”

“No clue. I’d bet that fucking pansy Nate gave it up.” Gripping Samara’s chin, I gently bring her gaze up to mine. “Have they called before this?”

“No,” she says firmly. “What did he say?”

Jaw clenching, I forget Boo’s presence entirely for a few seconds and get lost in her. “They’ve been watching you. He said you look better in black.”

Her eyes narrow dangerously. “And he’d look better in the ground.”

“He will,” I promise. “All of them will.”

Boo takes a long sip of coffee and nods to her. “You know how to use my guns, Sam. Everything will be fine.”

“And she’ll always be with one of us.”

I know that’s not possible every second of every day, but the fact that they specifically pointed out that I won’t always be able to protect her has me wanting to handcuff us together.

But protecting her means leaving Boo to fend for himself, and as hooked on her as I am, he’s still my best friend. They’re all I have. “We have to take them out, Boo. We can’t live like this.”

“You’re talking about murder,” Boo mutters, stepping closer like Samara can’t hear him. “Flat out fucking murder. I’m a cop.”

“Then don’t do anything,” I argue, realizing then that this is something that has to fall to me. I’m the only one who can. “I know you can’t be the one to do it, but I can. All I’m asking is that you do nothing.”

Samara scoffs. “Oh, because you’re going to take on three absolute fucking psychopaths by yourself and win? Those guys burned our house down, Hayes.”

“Good thing I’m not a house,” I deadpan. “You don’t seem to have much confidence in me, Hurricane. This isn’t my first storm.“

And I always find my way.

“There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance, but whatever. Can you tell me about another time you murdered three crazy people without being seriously injured in the process or ending up in jail?”

“Mouthy little shit,” I mutter, stepping in a little closer so only she can hear me. “Careful, Samara. You almost sound like you’re worried about me. ”

“I am fucking worried about you,” she says loudly. “Of course I’m worried about you. You can’t risk your life like that, Hayes, I don’t fucking care what the reason is!”

She stomps off toward our room and slams the door, making us both flinch at the sound.

I had a feeling she’d give a fuck about me one day, I just didn’t realize that day was already here. Or maybe I was just pretending it wasn’t.

“Did she just take over my bedroom?” I ask to ease the tension. Boo nods as he bites the inside of his cheek.

“This shit is a mess, Hayes. I’m gonna go see Amaya and see what I can stir up. You’ll take care of her, right?”

“Course I will.”

I always would have, but it’s starting to feel different these days — like I wouldn’t just kill for her because I had to... I’d die for her too.