Treachery

Luca

It’s been a week since we discovered the servers missing, and to say the energy in Ta

He leaves a trail of bad energy everywhere he walks, like something you would feel when stumbling onto a gruesome crime scene. The hair lifts on your arms, and panic shoots down your spine.

I don’t blame Ta

He’s not that way with me, thankfully. Ta

Although, I’m not complaining entirely. Ta

Literally.

A girl can only take so much. That’s why I called Ava and asked her to pick me up for lunch outside of the house. I need to escape the maelstrom because that man is spi

Fully dressed and ready to go, I run downstairs to find Ta

“I’m going out.”

“No, you’re not.”

My head snaps Ta

He might be used to telling all of his friends what to do, but it’s not happening with me.

“Yes, I am. Ava is coming to pick me up.”

Gabriel stands by the bar on the side of the room, his gaze dancing between us from over the rim of the drink he’s sipping. Setting it down, he shifts his posture and smiles at me.

“You should let Luca go have some fun, Ta

“Let?”

No. That’s not how this works at all.

“There is no letting me do anything. I said I’m going to lunch. That’s it. End of story. You two can order each other around for the rest of the day if you like, but I’m not part of that.”

My gaze shoots back to Ta

“You have a price on your head,” he says, his voice way too soft to be comfortable. “And you want to go traipsing off to have lunch?”

Yes. That’s exactly what I plan to do. I highly doubt people are lingering around outside his neighborhood just waiting for when I leave without him.

“The only two times something happened was when I was at my apartment. I’ll avoid going there. But I’m sure a restaurant in full public view is perfectly safe.”

“You’re pissing me off.”

“What else is new?” I ask, throwing my arms up because he’s always mad at something.

Ta

“No, you won’t. I’m trying to escape your bad mood. That’ll be kind of hard if you’re stalking along behind me.”

Gabriel clears his throat again. “I’m sure she’ll be fine with Ava.”

“She was with Ava last time something happened,” Ta

I assume Gabriel is used to this crap because he doesn’t react. “That was at her apartment, like Luca said. Going to lunch should be fine.”

Thank God someone is in my corner. Leave it to Gabriel to be the reasonable one at the moment.

Since we’ve been back, Ta

Ta

The doorbell rings, and that steals whatever time he had to come up with a way to stop me.

“Gotta go.”

I spin on my heel, but hear the march of heavy steps around me.

Both men rush forward, Ta

Almost to the door, I watch Gabriel shove Ta

Ta

Spi

“Clayton,” Gabriel says, his voice way too cheerful, “what a surprise.”

My eyes widen, my body going still as Clayton’s gruff voice bleeds through the foyer.

“Where the fuck is Ta

“I’m doing great. Thanks for asking. And it’s good to see you, too.” Gabriel steps outside, I assume to shove Clayton back, and slams the door.

Ta

I turn and slide my back down the wall. Burying my face in my hands, I breathe out, really sick and tired of all the screwed-up situations we’re stuck in. Not able to imagine what would have happened if I’d answered the door, I lift my head and glance at the window near me. Dark shades cover it, and it’s a fight not to tug one aside to peek out.

The risk isn’t worth my curiosity, though.

Leaning my head against the wall, I wrap my arms around my body and decide that something needs to give.

We don’t have the servers.

Someone wants me dead.

And this crap with Clayton is never-ending.