Maybe she wasn’t lying.
“This is bad,” I warn Ruby. Too many fucking people now know where we are.
“I got the tarp,” the voice announces, coming through the doorway, halting when he sees she’s not alone.
“Idiot?” Ruby blurts, her nose scrunching up, wide eyes expanding as she glares at her sister.
“Oh, hey…” His brow furrows, eyes jumping from her to Lily then stopping on me. Visibly swallowing, he drops the tarp onto the carpet and hovers his hand at the gun strapped on his hip.
“What’s going on?” he asks warily.
“You tell us,” Ruby barks, pointing to the tarp. “Do I even want to know?”
Placing her hand on her hip, Lily huffs, “I told you you needed to leave.”
“What the hell is the plastic for, Lily? What are you into? Oh my god, it’s water sports, isn’t it?” She gags. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Oh, like you’re not into kinky shit. I’ve seen your box of shame,” Lily announces, piquing my interest.
“Is water sports where you piss on each other?” Idiot asks, scratching his head.
“Box of shame?” I mumble over my shoulder, raising a brow to Ruby.
“It’s a vibrator and lube.” She shakes her head and shifts around me to tug her sister to the side of the room.
“Get rid of him and I’ll explain,” Ruby instructs her sister. He can’t leave, though. He’ll run and tell her brother where we are. It’s time to move.
“What are you doing here?” Idiot asks, frowning at me.
“Is that your business?” I growl, my muscles tightening beneath my skin.
“Prez is looking for you, you know that, right?”
“Thanks for the update.” The atmosphere shifts, nervous energy vibrating off him and Lily both, infecting the air.
“He thinks you’re dead,” he adds.
“Well, they tried, but here I am.” I grin, manic, making him take a step backward. Wise man.
“You both need to leave. I’m sorry, Ruby, but my grandparents want to come to pick up some more of their stuff. They’re extending their stay indefinitely and want to pack up the house,” Lily lies through her poisonous teeth.
“The house will sell quickly. Everyone loves basement space,” I inform her with a tight smile. Her mouth drops slightly, brown orbs burning into my face. She killed her grandparents and is using this brainless sap to get rid of the bodies.
“Unless animals get into it and die down there.” Ruby shudders. Lily stumbles backward, looking at her sister with a glaze in her eyes. “What does that mean?”
Jerking her thumb in my direction, Ruby says, “Ezekiel said a raccoon or something died down there, it smells so bad.”
Returning her gaze to me, the kid murmurs, “We set a trap down there. That racoon was an evil predator.” A shadow passes over her eyes. Vacant. Distant. Full of pain.
“I’m confused,” Idiot announces.
“Shut up, Stephen,” Lily snaps.
“That’s not my name. How many times do I have to say it?” he grumbles, raising his arms and allowing them to collapse against his sides.
“You don’t even know his name?” Ruby judges.
“It’s not important,” Lily defends.
“Jameson will kill him. You better find out what his real name is for his gravestone,” Ruby blurts out, glaring at the man. I don’t have the time or patience for this shit.
“Oh, and what about you and him?” Lily scoffs, her eyes assessing me. It’s almost indecent.
“I at least know his name.”
I catch Idiot pulling a phone from his pocket. Lurching forward before he can process it, I take it from him. “No phones.” I wave it and shake my head, dropping it to the carpet and slamming my heel down on it.
“Bro, what the fuck?”
“They can be tracked,” I inform him.
“By who?”
A hum rumbles the atmosphere, the distinct sound of bikes approaching. Motherfucker.
“Did you tell anyone you were coming here?” Ruby asks her sister, her breath wavering.
“Just Stephen.” Lily looks panicked, her attention once again returning to the kitchen door down the hallway.
“For fuck’s sake, woman, my name isn’t Stephen.” Idiot puffs his chest.
“Like I give a shit,” Lily snaps. “You didn’t even shut the front door,” she adds on a growl. I shift to Idiot as he turns toward the front door. Grabbing him around the neck, I relieve him of his gun then shove him away from my body before he can comprehend what’s happened.
“What the fuck?” he bellows, pulling a knife and stomping his foot. “Goddammit quit that shit!”
“I needed the gun,” I inform him, holding a hand up to show him I don’t want to fight him. Or kill him.
“You could have asked,” he spits out.
Fuck him. Turning to Ruby, I cup her jaw. “If it’s Fisher, you take your sister and fucking run. You do not stop. You do not look back. You hear me?” Grasping her face in my palm, I drop my lips to hers, savoring the taste. It’s over too fast. My cock wants to take it further, but we’re out of time. “I’ll find you,” I assure her.