9. Selene
9
Selene
T he afternoon sun spills golden light through the kitchen window, glinting off the half-empty coffee cup in front of me. My pencil creates lazy lines along a new page my sketchbook only half-paying attention to what I’m doing. I’m sprawled on the couch with my tablet beside me playing a new episode of W omen & Crime. The latest case they’re dissecting is wild—it’s one about a woman kidnapping her cousin’s kid and passing the child off as her own.
Orion stalks in like a restless caged animal, his energy practically vibrating through the space.
“I need to get out of this house,” he announces, running a hand through his already messy hair. “I’m going stir-crazy.”
I smirk still not looking up. “It’s been less than twenty-four hours, Drama Queen. What do you do when you have to do stakeouts?”
Orion lets out an exaggerated sigh like I’ve just asked him to explain quantum physics. “Yeah, the entire day has consisted of you either ignoring me or working. I’m bored, Selene. I don’t get bored at work and I don’t do stakeouts.” He levels me with a pointed look. “Let’s go.”
I let my head fall back against the cushions with a groan. I know that tone. It’s the one he used when we were kids, convincing me to sneak out of the house, or when he needed a last-minute alibi for some stupid stunt he pulled. There’s no escape when he gets like this.
Still, I make a weak attempt. “Where, exactly?”
“I don’t know—where do people even go in this town?” He leans against the doorway, arms crossed like he’s physically holding himself back from pacing. “Is there a bar? A shooting range? Literally, anything that doesn’t involve you ignoring your favorite brother and sitting here pretending to be productive?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re my only brother and I was being productive, thank you very much.”
“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t look convinced. “So productive you were replying out loud to the people on whatever true crime podcast you were listening to.”
I freeze for half a second before schooling my expression into a neutral mask.
Damn it. I hate how well he knows me.
He glances at Valkyrie, who’s sprawled out beside me but before I can come up with a smartass reply . “We’re taking her too. You don’t get out enough, and she looks like she could use some excitement.”
Valkyrie perks up instantly, head lifting, eyes bright with anticipation. The moment she sees me looking at her, her tail-nub starts thumping against the couch, I know I’m screwed. She’s already in adventure mode , and there’s no way I can say no now.
I glance between Orion, who’s watching me expectantly, and Valkyrie, who looks like she’s five seconds away from physically dragging me out the door herself.
I groan, putting away my sketchbook and pausing my podcast with a resigned sigh. “Fine. Let’s go into town.”
Orion jingles his keys as we step outside, a smug little smirk on his face. “I’m driving.”
I stop dead in my tracks. “No.”
“Yes.”
I turn to Valkyrie, who until a second ago was trotting happily beside me, completely unaware of the impending danger. “We can still run. We can make a break for it.”
Orion rolls his eyes and strides past me, unlocking his black SUV. “Oh, relax. I’m an excellent driver.”
That is an outright lie. Orion drives like he’s auditioning for the next Fast & Furious movie. No—scratch that. He drives like he’s already in one, complete with aggressive lane changes, a blatant disregard for speed limits, and some unholy belief that braking is for the weak.
But I’m an idiot. Because despite knowing this, despite having first-hand traumatic experiences, I sigh and climb into the passenger seat like I don’t value my life. Valkyrie, lucky as ever, hops into the back like this is just a fun little field trip.
The engine rumbles to life, and the moment Orion pulls out of the driveway, I remember. I remember everything.
The SUV lurches forward as he takes the turn onto the main road like he’s evading a police chase. My body slams back against the seat, and instinct kicks in. I lunge for the oh-shit handle and hold on for dear life.
“Jesus, Orion! Have you ever heard of a gentle acceleration?”
He grins, completely unfazed. “We’ve got places to be, Selene. Time waits for no man.”
“We’re literally just driving to town! It’s not an emergency!”
Orion barely slows down at the stop sign, just does a rolling stop that technically counts but would definitely get him side-eyed by a cop. He takes the next turn way too sharp, and I swear to God, I feel the car tilt.
“Wave to the peasants, sister,” he says with his horrible rendition of a British accent.
“I swear if you flip this car, I will end you,” I shout, gripping the handle so hard my knuckles turn white.
He scoffs. “Stop being such a scaredy cat. Even Valkyrie is enjoying the ride.”
Glancing back at Valkyrie, I notice the crazy dog is somehow loving this. She’s standing with her front paws on the center console, ears perked, tongue lolling out in pure excitement. She wags her butt and whines like this is the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
“Oh, so you think this is fun?” I ask her.
Orion reaches over and scratches her ears, leaving only one hand on the wheel, which does nothing to ease my terror. “She’s got good taste. She likes the thrill.”
“You took a speed bump at forty last time I was in a car with you! That’s reckless endangerment, not a thrill.”
Orion waves a hand dismissively. “That was years ago.”
“It was three months ago.”
He laughs like that’s not a deeply concerning timeframe. “You’re so dramatic.”
“You drive like you’re being actively hunted, Orion. The only reason we haven’t died is because of sheer dumb luck and possibly divine intervention.”
He guns it through a yellow light that is definitely more red than yellow, and I nearly dislocate my shoulder with how hard I’m clutching the handle.
“I’m reporting you,” I mutter, squeezing my eyes shut as he takes yet another turn at Mach speed. “I don’t know who, but someone is going to hear about this.”
“Yeah? Who?”
“I don’t know! The government? The Pope? Your future wife? Someone needs to intervene before you kill us all!”
Orion just cackles, his head thrown back with his eyes no longer on the road. “Sel, there is no future wife. Do you think I could have anything more than a fling with my job? Not gonna happen.” Since he is the worst person alive, cranks up the radio like we’re on some joyride instead of a death trap on wheels.
By the time we miraculously make it into town in one piece, I stumble out of the car with weak legs and the overwhelming gratitude of someone who has just barely survived a natural disaster.
Orion smirks. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
I glare at him, shoving the door shut. “I’m sending you the invoice for my next therapy session.”
Valkyrie jumps out behind me, wagging her butt, completely unbothered.
Rude.
Orion just slings an arm around my shoulders, steering me toward the cafe. “Come on, drama queen. Let’s get you some coffee before you have a full-blown meltdown.”
I grumble under my breath but don’t protest, mostly because my legs still feel like jelly from that death trap of a ride. My brain is still catching up, trying to process how I’m somehow still alive and not currently being scraped off the pavement.
The bell above the door chimes as we step inside, and instantly, my senses are flooded with warmth. The comforting scent of roasted coffee beans and buttery pastries wraps around me like a hug, and for the first time since Orion decided to drive like a lunatic, I can breathe again.
Valkyrie, the ever-adaptable traitor, wags her butt happily like she wasn’t just an accomplice in my near-death experience. She trots ahead, nose twitching at the air, already on high alert for potential snack opportunities.
It’s mid-afternoon, so the morning rush has died down, but there are still a few customers scattered around.
There are people sipping lattes, tapping away at laptops, or chatting in low murmurs. The atmosphere is cozy, all warm wood tones and golden light filtering through the windows, a stark contrast to the car-induced adrenaline still thrumming in my veins.
My eyes find where Theo is behind the counter.
His sleeves are rolled up, a towel slung over his shoulder, looking effortlessly put together like he hasn’t spent the last several hours grinding coffee and dealing with caffeine-dependent people. The moment he spots me, his face brightens. I watch as his gaze shifts to Orion, and there it is—the subtle way his posture shifts. He knows exactly who Orion is to me, and judging by the grin that’s devilishly growing, he’s ready to have some fun at my expense.
I sigh internally. Here we go.
“Theo, this is my brother, Orion,” I say, bracing myself for whatever nonsense is about to come out of my brother’s mouth.
Theo wipes his hands on the towel and extends his hand. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Orion grips his hand, and I can already see the gears turning in his head, his protective instincts kicking in. He doesn’t say anything for a beat too long, then finally nods.
I smack his arm. “Stop using your Jedi mind tricks.”
Orion chuckles and releases his grip. “Just making sure he’s real. You tend to romanticize things.”
Theo smirks. “Good to know.”
I groan and decide I need caffeine immediately before this conversation devolves any further. I place my order with Theo and after Orion places his I drag him away before he can try to embarrass me further.
The moment we step out of the cafe, I spin on my heel and point a finger at Orion. “I am not getting back in that rental with you until my heart rate returns to normal.”
Orion rolls his eyes and scoffs. “It wasn’t that bad.”
Crossing my arms I level him with a glare. “Orion. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Twice.” I raise two fingers to emphasize my point.
He smirks like this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “So dramatic.”
I shake my head. “No. Dramatic is when Vin Diesel launches a car off a collapsing bridge and lands it perfectly on the other side. What you did back there was vehicular manslaughter waiting to happen.”
Orion snorts. “Alright, fine, Miss Fragile Nervous System. What’s the plan? Are we just going to stand here until you no longer feel the need to write your will?”
I ignore him and start walking. Valkyrie happily trots beside me, sniffing at everything like she owns the place. Orion, still amused at my refusal to get back in his death machine, shoves his hand in his jacket pockets and falls into step beside me.
The town square is bustling in that slow, small-town way—people moving at a pace that suggests nobody’s ever really in a hurry. The air smells like fresh bread from the bakery down the street, and wind chimes clink softly as a breeze rolls through.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for people to notice Orion.
I swear, small-town folks have a sixth sense for when there’s a newcomer, especially one as impossible to miss as my brother.
Mrs. Josie, the owner of the flower shop, is the first to approach, her warm eyes squinting up at Orion like she’s trying to figure out if he’s friend or foe. Wiping her hands on her apron she asks, “Selene, Dear, who’s this?”
“This is my brother, Orion,” I say, watching as her eyes widen slightly.
“Brother, huh?” She looks back at me. “You never mentioned you had one of those.”
“That’s because I don’t routinely give out my entire family history at the register.”
She hums as a shadow of a smile appears on her face. “Big guy.”
Orion flashes his most charming smile. “I get that a lot.”
Mrs. Josie eyes him for a moment longer, then nods approvingly. “You look like you could lift a refrigerator on your own.”
Grinning at her he confirms, “I can.”
She gives him another once-over before turning back to me. “Are you coming by for your usual this week?”
“Of course,” I say. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
She nods, seemingly satisfied, and bustles off.
As we continue walking, a few more locals glance Orion’s way, and I can feel the curiosity radiating from them. I swear, if someone had a notepad, they’d already be taking notes.
“Are people always this nosy?” Orion mutters.
I smirk. “You are kind of a spectacle.”
Orion rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.
Then, just as we’re passing the bookstore, I spot Cassie.
Cassie Moros is in her mid-forties, with an easy smile and kind eyes. As an elementary school teacher, she has a presence that makes kids naturally gravitate toward her. When she sees me, her face lights up. I try to school my expression to seem welcoming, but after my talk with Aubrey, I feel a lot more cautious around her.
“Selene,” she says warmly, stepping closer. Her gaze shifts to Orion, and I see the same curiosity flicker across her face.
“Hey, Cassie.”
She starts walking towards me, then hesitates, glancing at Orion.
“My brother, Orion,” I say, gesturing toward him. “Orion, this is Cassie. She’s an elementary school teacher.”
Cassie offers a small smile. “Nice to meet you.”
Orion nods in return, but his attention is already on me, waiting for Cassie to get to the point.
Cassie sighs and shifts her bag. “I wanted to ask you about Theo.”
I blink. “Theo?”
She nods, her expression tightening. “I was at the cafe the other day, and I noticed something strange.”
A thread of unease winds through me. “What do you mean?”
Cassie lowers her voice slightly, glancing around like she doesn’t want to be overheard. “There was a guy there. He came in, went straight to Theo, and they had this real quick, hushed conversation. I don’t know what was said, but the moment Theo saw him, something changed. He got tense. You know how he tries to play things off, but I could tell—whatever that guy said, it rattled him.”
Orion folds his arms. “What can you tell us about the guy?”
Cassie frowns like she’s trying to find the right words. “He’s been around town a lot lately. Rides a motorcycle. Tall, maybe late twenties, early thirties,” Cassie continues. “Dark hair, a little wavy, like he just rolled out of bed and didn’t bother fixing it. Got that rugged, seen-some-things look about him. Looks like a guy who’s been on the road his whole life.”
A weird feeling creeps up my spine. I already know exactly who she’s talking about.
“His name’s Bennett,” I say, watching Cassie’s reaction.
Her brows lift. “You know him?”
I nod. “I’ve run into him once or twice.”
“I don’t know what he’s doing here, but I don’t buy what he’s been telling people.”
My stomach twists. “Which is?”
Cassie glances around again, then back at me. “He’s been saying he’s a writer. That he’s working on a travel piece about small-town culture. But I don’t think he’s telling the truth.”
Orion and I exchange a look.
Cassie points a finger at me. “Don’t look at each other like that. You forget I teach fifth graders and I’ve been teaching for twenty years now. I know when someone is lying to me. Just… be careful. Try to keep your distance.”
I don’t answer, but I don’t argue, either.
Cassie exhales, rubbing her temple. “And with everything going on, I just—I don’t know. I got a bad feeling about it.”
I swallow. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Cassie’s face tightens. “Gabriel.”
My chest aches at the mention of Theo’s uncle. “What about him?”
She hesitates, then sighs. “It’s just a damn shame what happened to him.”
The way she says it sends a shiver down my spine.
“What do you mean?” Orion asks, his voice low.
Cassie shifts her bag again, glancing at the ground. “I mean the way he died. It just doesn’t sit right with me.” When neither of us says anything she continues. “He left work early that day, he said he wasn’t feeling well. The speculation is that he started driving home, but somewhere along the way, he pulled over and got sick on the side of the road. They’re saying he lost his balance, hit his head on a hard surface but didn’t say if it was a rock, a tree, or his truck.”
I stare at her, my breath catching. “Who found him?”
“Morgan.”
That cold feeling spreads through me. How horrible. I know she said he was like a father to her after her father passed. He’s the reason why she is where she is today.
Cassie presses her lips together. “But only because Aubrey called her.”
Orion stiffens. “Aubrey?”
Cassie nods grimly. “That’s his wife, Theo’s aunt. She said she tried calling him when he didn’t come home for dinner, but he never answered. So she called Morgan, thinking maybe they were working late together. But Morgan said he left hours earlier and should’ve been home already. That’s when she panicked. She left the office, sirens on, and found him unconscious next to his car.”
My pulse pounds in my ears. “Unconscious? I didn’t hear that part. He was still alive?”
Cassie nods, but her expression darkens. “Barely. He was in a coma. He never woke up.”
Silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, Orion speaks, his voice even. “That doesn’t sound like an accident.”
Cassie doesn’t answer right away. Then, finally, she exhales. “No. It doesn’t.”
And as much as I don’t want to admit it, I can’t shake the feeling that Bennett—the man lurking around town with his sharp eyes and easy lies—might know more about it than we realize.