Chapter 26 - Evie
EVIE
My brother chooses that moment to call. Again. The screen lights up as my phone vibrates, drawing eight pairs of eyes to me before I can silence it.
“See,” Tempest says. Her sandals pad lightly over the river-stoned patio as she joins them at the bar.
I follow, admiring the sprawling mansion that looks like it’s been plucked from the western coast of Italy, while also trying to look unbothered by Jonathan’s incessant calls.
Truth is, I’m starting to get a little freaked out.
“That level of obsession is not healthy,” Tempest adds, reaching across Erik for a bottle of tequila. Silas’s eyes find mine, and I swear his pupils expand as his jaw flexes. “You really should block him, Evie.”
“I-I can’t,” I stammer, following Dominic and Adrian toward the bar.
The Los Angeles skyline stretches before us, spotted with palm trees and glittering lights in the early evening.
The sky still retains hints of purple and pink, softening the harshness of the city.
It’s beautiful, like all of Southern California, but I find myself wondering what it would be like to travel the world if I had the chance.
“You can,” Tempest insists. She shakes a mixture of alcohol and ice, then pours me a fresh margarita with sugar on the rim instead of salt. “Noctis is unrivaled when it comes to technology. I’m sure there’s a way he can fix it.”
“He’ll know,” I reply, shaking my head. “And that will only make things worse.”
“Who is this he you’re speaking about?” Silas’s voice comes out smooth as silk and dripping with venom.
I swallow under his scrutinizing gaze, my heart racing. With just his voice, I’m back on the cliff, my thighs slick with a need he won’t fulfill. One that haunts me even now.
“Her brother,” Tempest answers, oblivious to the blush staining my cheeks and the spark of fury igniting in Silas’s dark green eyes. “Or half-brother, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“He’s called her at least a dozen times today, all because she skipped one family lunch.”
“Tempest,” I warn, not wanting to get the Seven involved, but it’s too late. Noctis cocks his head, assessing me after sharing a loaded look with Silas. I hate the way they can have entire conversations with a glance.
“I can set up a forwarding number,” Noctis offers, holding out his hand. “It’ll only take a moment.”
“Perfect.” Tempest beams, finishing up her own margarita with extra lime. “Your creepy brother won’t know, and you won’t be bombarded with his constant hounding.”
“I don’t know,” I say, swallowing against the nerves twisting in my stomach. Because even if Noctis blocks Jonathan without his knowledge, my half-brother has ways of keeping me quiet—secrets and shame that have kept me complacent for years.
“You don’t have to,” Tempest murmurs, her brows softening. “But you’re also allowed to live, Evie. You’re not alone anymore.”
Daring a glance around, I’m surprised to find each of the Seven staring back at me, silently showing their agreement. Something twists in my chest as tears prick my eyes. I swallow them down before any can fall, but hold on to that foreign feeling of belonging.
For nineteen years, my family tried to erase everything that I am, cutting off parts of me until I fit the image of what they wanted. But here—surrounded by a group of people I’ve barely known for more than a few weeks, all of whom have done reprehensible things—I feel seen and heard and valued.
Unlocking my phone, I place it in Noctis’s waiting hand.
My mouth runs dry as I watch him give Silas a silent nod before disappearing inside.
The others ease back into smooth conversation.
All except Silas, whose gaze I can feel searing into my back.
Bane—the Italian one with the orange hellhound tattooed along the inside of his wrist—makes a call inviting a “few friends” to join us.
“I’m not sure a house party is a good idea,” Tempest protests, and I hate the way her worried glance cuts to me. “Maybe we should go out instead.”
“Agreed,” Silas rumbles.
The scent of leather and spice swirls from behind me as pricks of electricity tingle along the back of my neck.
It’s intoxicating being this close to him.
Silas is the serpent in the grass, the dark voice whispering in my ear to give in to my wicked fantasies.
And just like my namesake, I’m not strong enough to resist temptation.
“Worried you’ll see other women throwing themselves at me and finally be forced to admit you’re jealous?” Erik asks, looping an arm around Tempest and ignoring Silas.
“In your dreams.” Tempest rolls her eyes and shoves him off. “Not everyone wants exhibitionism or voyeurism, you savage brute.”
“You’ve never minded before,” Erik teases, his smile faltering only after Tempest whispers something too soft for me to catch. His eyes flick to me, and I force my smile to be a little brighter.
“I’m fine with it,” I say with forced bravado, trying to recall what they’re referring to.
I’m pretty sure it’s sex in public, which isn’t something I’d want to be a part of.
At least, I don’t think I would, but this place is huge, and Tempest already showed me the guest suite we’ll be using tonight.
If anything gets out of hand, I’ll go to bed early and enjoy what’s sure to be a comfortable bed with silk sheets.
“No, you’re not fine,” Silas counters, trailing his fingers down my spine until his hand rests just above my ass. He’s barely touching me, but I feel his possession as if I’ve been branded.
“They’ve already been invited.” Bane grins, orange hellhound flexing over his forearm.
“Then uninvite them,” Silas growls through clenched teeth. His shoulders tense, the gentle caresses across my lower back stilling as he stares down his brother.
“How about this,” Adrian chimes in, holding up a golden coin etched with a dragon’s head. “Heads we stay and party. Tails we’ll go to a local sex club and leave you two lovebirds here.”
Silas’s nostrils flare, and Tempest looks like she’s about to protest, but Adrian flips the coin before either of them speaks.
He snatches it from the air as it begins its descent, pressing it to the back of his hand with his palm.
He looks down, Bane and Erik leaning in to see which side is staring back.
“Tell me, Evie,” Adrian says, grinning at me, “do virgins like watching things they’ve never done?”