CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CARA
“Look at the happy couple reunited,” I hear from the doorway. My swollen lips part as my head whips around to see if they are armed. The Knox brothers lean against either side of the doorframe with their legs propped up casually in a mirrored stance—must be a twin thing.
“It’s the drug duo; dare I ask what you gave me?” Ezra inquires, refusing to let me down as he turns us to face them fully. He is as relaxed as they are, conspiratorial grins etched on each of their handsome faces.
They were in on it.
“A drop of a sedative that we knew would only knock you out long enough for Lenora and her lapdog to think they had won.”
“I thought our plan had gone to shit there for a minute; I didn’t expect her to opt for the junkie overdose option.”
“You were never in any real danger; we just enjoy fucking with you, mate. We know what we’re doing—we may be farm boys at heart, but it doesn’t hurt to have some knowledge beyond horses and fucking.”
“You drug the horses before you fuck them?” I chuckle, and both brothers snort a laugh as Ezra hugs me closer to his body, the laugh rumbling from his chest carefree and welcomed.
“We ride the horses, drug our victims, and fuck our women, usually in that order,” Cooper states nonchalantly, throwing a piece of popcorn up in the air before he catches it in his mouth. His Cheshire grin wide as he chews.
“You fucking killed me, dipshit—I won’t forget that in a hurry,” Ezra comments, allowing me down onto my feet when I wiggle from his hold.
“Killed you BRIEFLY, I think you’re being a little dramatic. My grandmother could take that codeine/morphine cocktail and still make her bingo session. Stop pouting,” Caleb teases as they approach us, grinning boyishly around a mouthful of popcorn as Cooper takes a handful.
“Diluting drugs with saline feels wrong on so many levels, but we made an exception for you, mate,” Cooper adds chipperly before stuffing his face.
Ezra runs his hand through his mussed hair. “For a minute there, I had my doubts.”
I glance down at the overflowing tub, the questions of what they pumped into Ezra’s bloodstream to bring on the appearance of death answered, and I ask, “Where the fuck did you get popcorn?”
“We needed a snack for the show,” he replies, gesturing towards our reflections in the mirrored viewing window. “Well done, by the way, I didn’t call that poker through the chest; I owe Caleb a new hat for that one,” Cooper adds, nudging my shoulder.
Caleb’s chest expands as he peacocks about his win. “I knew you had it in you, Cara, especially if you thought Ezra was in danger.”
“You two are a liability,” Ezra chuckles, shaking his head.
“You’re alive though, right?” the twins reiterate cheerily in unison.
“They didn’t see you coming,” Caleb snorts with a wink, placing his hand on my arm.
Ezra stiffens beside me. “The next person who touches my woman is losing a hand,” he states through gritted teeth. I swallow back the giggle, happily basking in his possessiveness as the brothers take a step back to safety with their arms raised, popcorn tumbling over the side and out onto the floor with how fast Caleb moves.
“What a weird and wonderful way to say thank you,” Cooper titters, lacking the oomph halfway through his sentence when Ezra stands a little taller, eyes locked with his.
“Thank you, guys,” I intervene, smiling at the brothers before rising on my tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to Ezra’s lips as I wrap my arms around his neck. He melts into my hold, his taut face softening as I play with the hair at his nape.
I’d almost forgotten Lenora was still alive until her high-pitched whine interrupts an otherwise beautiful moment. “You don’t need to kill me, Ezra.”
“I didn’t need to kill that handsy fucker either, but I wanted to, and I ain’t gonna lie—I fucking enjoyed it.”
“You’re deranged,” she spits, and Ezra grabs his chest in mock horror.
“Or an overachiever—I think Doctor Mayfair might be quite proud of my growth.”
“I brought you here, I protected you,” she cries out tiredly.
“You kept me here, you caged me,” Ezra corrects pointedly, scrutinising her expression as she tries desperately to hold back whatever vile vitriol is about to spew out of her mouth.
“But… We’re fam…family,” she stumbles.
