Page 19 of Crucible
Khalil impatiently edges around me and into his room when I continue to block the doorway. He’s beelining for the closet to check for monsters when Seth speaks.
“I didn’t know it was my birthday, boys.”
Khalil stops dead in his tracks, his head slowly pivoting toward Zeke’s body.
“The plane crash was a bit much, but I appreciate the surprise.” Seth reaches out and curls Zeke’s hand around the girl’s ankle. She doesn’t so much as twitch.
Jesus, she’s out cold.
“It’s not your birthday, and she’s not for you.” The hostility in my voice can’t be shrugged away. Seth may look like my brother, but right now, he’s my worst fucking nightmare.
“No?” Seth coos without taking his hand or eyes off her. “Shame.” His hand slowly moves up her leg, curling around her calf. “I would have enjoyed playing with her.”
Except there would be nothing fun or joyous about the games Seth likes to play—at least, not for this girl who helped herself to our cabin. We never considered needing a Keep Out sign, but I’m thinking about it now.
Maybe one that says Beware of Dog.
I’ve got the leash out and ready for Seth when his eyes flare wide with surprise. I watch as Seth pulls his hand back to examine the crimson coating his fingers. “Fuck, she’s already broken.”
My gaze searches her leg for a wound. “She’s hurt?”
“Who gives a shit?” Khalil snaps. “Who is she?”
“How would I know? She’s either lost or right where she wants to be. Either way, she’s a problem.” Khalil doesn’t respond, but his expression twists as he stares past me, drawing my gaze back to Seth. “No, don’t—”
Seth slips Zeke’s bloody fingers between his lips and hums.
Khalil gags even as he walks over to the bed for a closer look at our trespasser. “Zeke, you know I love you like a brother, but you got to reign in the weirdness, man.”
“She tastes like the sun.”
Khalil’s weirded-out gaze flicks to him. “Or not.”
“He’s not Zeke.”
Khalil’s frown deepens, and then he gives Ezekiel a careful once-over. He’d heard the variation in Zeke’s tone and accent earlier but probably dismissed it.
Khalil isn’t ignoring it now.
He takes in the new confident posture, the wildness in Seth’s gaze that replaces Zeke’s melancholy, and the dark hair now slicked back instead of shielding his green eyes before Khalil explodes.
“Aw, fuck. Fuck! FUCK! FUUUUUUCK!” Khalil takes an astonished step backward and then forward again. “Seth?”
Seth sketches a mocking bow. “Been a long time, bitches. Missed you.”
Khalil just looks at me for an explanation.
I shrug a little too casually, considering shit just got exponentially worse. My head is already throbbing. “Zeke must have seen this bitch and split,” I explain with a nod to the sleeping girl on the bed.
Khalil turns back in time to see Seth crawling onto the bed. He’s already sneaking a hand up this foolish girl’s dress.
Who the fuck does she think she is, letting herself in and making herself at home? This cabin and mountain are ours.
Khalil’s reflexes are legendary, his aim precise as an arrow as he lunges, catapulting himself over the girl and tackling Seth off the bed. Khalil’s arm rears back once they hit the floor, and then I hear more than I see the punch land. A rapid flurry of vicious blows follows.
“Zeke!” he calls in between punches. “Zeke, you fucking coward. Get out here!”
If only it were so simple.
