“A lot of things aren’t fair, Sister,” he snarled at Celeste. “But shit happens and then you die.”
God, he was so angry. Bitter and twisted. I’d spent very little time with Max since moving into their house, but it was apparent he wasn’t a nice kid. The total opposite to Celeste who was warm and kind and forgiving. Celeste saw the good in people while Max brought out the worst in them.
“What happened to you, Max?” Celeste whispered under her breath.
“Just drive,” he bit out.
And she did.
Straight into the heart of Darling Row.
I’d never been inside Buster’s before, and I wasn’t about to start now.
Celeste had parked down the street in a small parking lot that belonged to a gas station. I knew every store, every road, and every alley of this place, but it no longer felt like home.
Hoodie up and hands in his pockets, Nix jogged across the street and glanced around the lot before climbing in beside me.
“Hey,” he said, his eyes dropping straight to my mouth.
“Hi.”
“This is all very cloak and dagger,” Celeste said dryly.
“You must be Wilder.” Max twisted around and fixed his eyes on Nix.
“And you must be the brother, Maximilian.”
He flushed, part embarrassment, part anger. “It’s just Max.”
“Well, just Max. You ready to do this?”
He nodded.
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Bryson Shaw isn’t the kind of guy you mess around with.”
“Says you.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Nix went rigid.
“I’ve heard the stories.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, okay.” Max’s smile turned smug. “Are we doing this or not?”
“After we’re done here.” Nix leaned in, his mouth hovering over the corner of mine. “Can we go somewhere?”
“I… what about Max?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”
“Nix.” I fisted his hoodie. “Promise me he’ll walk out of there in one piece.”
“Relax, I’ll behave.” His lips moved to right beneath my ear. “The same can’t be said for when I get you alone though.”
A shiver ran through me at his dark promise.
“See you soon.” He kissed me, uncaring that Max was sitting right there. It shouldn’t have thrilled me half as much as it did.