Roman’s glare shifts to Piper, making her shrink back, and then to Aubrey as if he’s working out everything that just happened. I push into Aubrey, taking her hand in a vise grip, forcing us to take a step backward, when my attention’s stolen by a chuckle.
The other guy, Ball cap, strides up, propping his elbow on Roman’s shoulder, his thumbnail finding his teeth as he stares at us, a smirk on his face. He leans into Roman, saying something in his ear—something that faintly sounded like “Dibs on, Red” before Roman says, “Chill, West,” under his breath as he looks back, drawing his bottom lip between his teeth and letting it out slowly.
My heart is racing, not because I’m scared, but I’m also not stupid—they feel unrestrained under the guise of civility. I swallow, looking between them, feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of their stare.
Hold on—West, and Roman. That means… Shit.
Goose bumps explode over my body because my eyes know just where to go as Calder rounds the corner. The bluest pools I’ve ever seen fix on me, arresting my lungs like my heart, making the cough that wants out burn worse.
Calder looks at his friends, giving nothing away before turning back to me—not us—his blue eyes never drifting from mine. The black T-shirt he took off earlier is draped over his shoulder. All of his smooth olive-colored skin is on display underneath the intricate details of the raven on his chest.
“Sut, we need to go,” Aubrey whispers in my ear, but I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My eyes refuse to look away from his.
I’m slowly tugged backward, my feet begrudgingly moving. Aubrey’s hand tightens around my wrist, her nails accidentally digging into my skin, and I wince.
Calder’s jaw tenses, eyes dropped to where she’s holding me before he brings them back.
I swear to God, I almost twist from Aubrey, but another step has me exhaling and then another forcing me to spin around. I blink, rubbing my lips together, feeling my heart begin to slow, just as a rough hand wraps heavily around my other wrist, turning me to stone.
My head swivels in time with my hand being lifted, a faint “Oh shit” heard in the background.
Calder bends forward, close to my face, eyes level to mine, as he brings my palm toward his face.
My lips part, watching him bring his mouth to the cigarette held between my fingers.
I’m still holding the cigarette. How the hell did I miss that?
The light blond stubble under his bottom lip shines in the sunlight as he nabs the end between his teeth, drawing my eyes to his lips that have the faintest glisten as if he just licked them.
His brows draw together as he stares at me, making him look like some kind of fallen angel. Like the ones from the Catholic Church’s stained glass windows—the angels with blood on their swords and anger in their eyes as they fight for the heavens.
Seconds that feel like minutes tick by as Calder says nothing, eyes locked on mine, stealing all my rational thought.
Because he has that same storm behind his eyes.
And as strange as it sounds, it makes him beautiful, like an exquisitely broken soul at war with himself and everyone else around him.
He gives a slight tug for me to release the smoke. But I’m liquified—a total waste. Completely lost to him. His fingertips snake up my palm, making me draw in a breath before he weaves his thick digits between mine, forcing my fingers to spread and release the cigarette.
My chest rises and falls too fast—way too fast. But I can’t control it.
As he lets go of my hand, Calder’s lips drag slowly up my fingers, and my eyes almost roll into the back of my head.
If he saw, I’d never know because Calder is unreadable, staring down at me at his full height, with my Marlboro Red between his lips.
He sucks in the tobacco, releasing a plume without so much as touching the damn thing, eyes still on mine, unwavering.
Oh. My. God.
Calder pulls the cigarette from his lips between pinched fingers, letting his eyes drift down my body, giving me a once-over. Then he turns, leaving me in a puddle, and walks into the men’s bathroom.
Not one of them looks back even once. Even as laughter erupts behind me, accompanied by “Did that just happen?” and “What the fuck?” pelting down simultaneously.
But I don’t have any answers. I’m dumbstruck because Calder just lived up to every fantasy I’ve had of him since the first day I saw him.
4
Sutton
“Whoa. Where’s the fire?”
My feet skid to a stop, and my hair swings across my face, but I smile brightly, hoping to avoid a lecture about rushing. My father’s standing in the marbled entry of our home, arms crossed over his chest, dressed in one of his signature black suits.
I knew he was flying in from DC today. I just didn’t think he’d be home right now.
“Sorry, Dad. I wish I could stay, but Piper’s qualifying meet is about to start. Aubrey and I promised we wouldn’t miss it. She needs her cheering section so she can kill it and level up next year. Mom said it was okay.”
He’s nodding, but there’s worry on his face. His eyes dart to the already opened front door, then back.
“You can take the town car. My driver’s still here.”
I look over my shoulder to see the driver carrying his bags inside.
“It’s okay. I’m good to drive myself.”
He holds up a hand. “Sutton. Hold on. While I was away, I heard there was some trouble at the park on Thursday. Some boys from Eastside.”
I shake my head and shrug as if I don’t know what he’s talking about. Snitches get stiches, Dad.
And technically, there wasn’t any trouble. Nobody actually fought, so I’m not lying.
He checks his phone, ignoring a text before walking toward me.
“Three brothers. You’re sure you didn’t see anything?”
So they are brothers.
My head shakes again.
“I’m surprised. Those Wolfe boys caused quite a ruckus at the park you kids like to hang out at. I know there had to be some talk.”
His last name’s Wolfe…it suits him.
“Nope. No talk.”
More like a morbid fascination dipped in obsession from the amount of conversation that’s happened at school.
I shrug, keeping my eyes up so he doesn’t catch on to my little white lie. Lying isn’t something I often do with my father, but yesterday is on a need-to-know basis. He definitely does not need to know why I left and didn’t see everything. The lecture on smoking from the man on the Senate Health Committee would be one of epic proportions.
“Sutton. I’m sure someone said something. Did you see them at the park?”
I nod, shifting my stance and drawing an arm behind my back, trying to think of a clever subject change as I answer.
“I think so. Maybe. I don’t remember. I was busy hating on a boy that Aubrey likes while we scrolled Insta. Hey, speaking of social media, Mom said you made huge waves on the Hill this week, even made the cut for Trevor Noah’s Twitter.”
A rare grin graces his face. “My task force to combat organized crime was approved. We’re set to go after the lowest forms of humanity—starting with the O’Bannions and their Italian counterpart, the Sovranos.”