Madi cuts me off, “Do not feel bad at all. It happens to the best of us,” she says with a harsh breath, and I know she must be referring to whatever happened to her recently. Callum told me that someone was targeting her, but there’s always been so much going on, that I didn’t ask what happened.
Callum lifts a hand and waves us over from a corner table. We slide into the booth with the guys, Callum threads our fingers together beneath the table, and I realize in this moment that I really have needed this connection with him for the longest time.
Tristan speaks, leaning back in his seat. “We go to the stupid ass mansion tonight and we burn it to the ground. We get rid of anyone that might be there and if the person who is doing this isn’t there, it’ll send a message that we’re not fucking around anymore.”
Hayden says, “It’s too dangerous to bring the girls, but I don’t think only two of us should go to the mansion. We don’t know who is there or how many people. We also don’t know who’s watching us or if they’ll anticipate our arrival.”
“It’s a sad day when Hayden is the voice of reason,” Callum chimes in, but only receives glares from the other two boys.
Tristan snaps, already shaking his head. “We’re not leaving the girls behind. They’re the safest they can be with us, and we all need to go tonight. It’s the only way to end this. It’s better they’re with us than taken by someone while we’re not with them.”
“We’re not fragile,” Winter says firmly, because she will always be Team Tristan no matter what. “I want to go, and I think Madi and Lilac will feel safer being with you guys as well.”
Hayden curses under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine,” he mutters. “But we stick together. No one splits up, that’s a disaster waiting to happen.” Madi leans against Hayden’s shoulder. He doesn’t move for a second and then rests his cheek against her hair as a silent act of letting her know he’s going to do what’s best for her.
Ready or not, we’re going to save our own lives.
CALLUM
We pull up to the edge of the estate right as the last of the sun sinks behind the trees. The mansion looms in the distance and it’s surrounded by that decaying iron fence and rot. Hayden kills the engine of his SUV and we all step out. I’m not happy about any of this because it could literally go any way at this point, but I do agree that we need to put an end to all of this. I think whoever is behind this is just circling, looking for a gap where they can get to Lilac.
Not ever going to fucking happen.
All three of us guys are armed with blades, matches, handguns. There’s a trail leading up to the wrought-iron gate I wish we never climbed over that night in the first place. Twisting, narrow. Like it’s trying to warn us not to come any closer.
Too late.
We walk in silence for a few steps, but the sound of tires crunching behind us pulls my gaze to the road.
Ramsey Blackwood, never one to disappoint.
He throws his SUV in park and steps out, lifting two fingers in a lazy salute. "Miss me?"
Tristan glares at him. "You’re late."
Ramsey shrugs as he slams the door. "Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready for arson with ten minutes’ notice. My bad."
I roll my eyes, but the banter between them is familiar. That’s just how they are, and usually it’s funny. Tonight…just isn’t the night.
Hayden grins at Ramsey. "Where’s your girlfriend? Or is she with her boyfriend?" He clearly means Reese, which is the sorest of subjects for Ramsey.
That gets a reaction when nothing else would have. Ramsey lunges, but Tristan is not in the mood to deal with Hayden and Ramsey’s bromance, so he sticks out a foot to trip him. It’s his signature move on the ice, so I see it coming and yank Ramsey back by the hoodie before he eats shit.
"The fact that I’m the only one taking this seriously is terrifying," I snap, shoving Ramsey’s shoulder. He stumbles but doesn’t retaliate. Just glares, so I know he’ll get me when I least expect it.
"Cut it out. All of you. We get in, we get out, and this ends,” Tristan grits out like he wasn’t the one who tried to trip Ramsey.
Hayden lifts the trunk of the SUV and starts lining up the gasoline and tosses a container of lighter fluid to Tristan. I shake my head and start walking again, jaw tight.
We’re not here to scare whoever is behind this, we’re here to end him.
Ramsey, always one to have the last word, looks at Madi and says, "Your boyfriend’s a dick."
Madi giggles nervously, and I know she has to be tired of this shit after everything she went through before all this started up again.
Hayden corrects Ramsey with a smug grin. "Fiancé. Not boyfriend."
Tristan looks around, eyes sharp. "Are we torching the woods or just the house?"
