Page 107 of Fallen Flame

I wanted to reach for him, but the moment passed as Alice accused Wrecker of sabotaging the game from the garage.

“I haven’t touched the damn game,” he called.

“That’s exactly what someone sabotaging the game would say.”

Wrecker walked into the room holding a wrench.

He stared at Alice.

She stared back.

He looked down at the black card in her hand.

“Read it,” she challenged.

“No.”

“You’re afraid.”

“I know better.”

“Coward.”

His eyes narrowed. “Give me the card.”

Alice handed it over with a satisfied smile.

Wrecker looked down and read it silently. His expression went completely blank.

“What does it say?” Alice asked.

He placed the card facedown on the coffee table. “I’m burning this game.” Then he turned around and walked back toward the garage.

By the time we finally packed the game away, the food Alice had prepared was cold, the cheese tray was empty, and Drew no longer looked like she was waiting for permission to belong.

She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, arguing with Bell about whether her last card should have won.

Demi was helping Penny steal cookies from a covered tray.

Alice saw them and didn’t say a word.

That was practically an adoption ceremony.

I carried empty cups into the kitchen while everyone reorganized themselves around the room. The guys had mostly come inside now that the game was over. Arlo and Jude were arguing near the bar. Pipe sat beside Nikki on one of the couches, his arm resting along the back behind her. Wrecker stood near the doorway talking quietly with Mason.

Oliver leaned against the kitchen counter with a bottle of water in his hand.

I noticed him before I reached the sink.

Of course I did.

“You survived,” he said.

“Barely.”

“I heard something about Grandma.”

I placed the cups in the sink. “Drew is secretly unhinged.”