Embers (Dark in You 4)
“They’re not exes per se.”
“Excuse me, ex-bed buddies,” he said, voice dry as a bone. “What-the-fuck-ever. It has to bother you.”
Yes, it did, but she wasn’t about to talk of her relationship with Knox to another guy—especially one who so clearly disapproved of it. “Everyone has a past.”
“I heard that the encantada who was killed on the YouTube video was part of his past.”
Harper narrowed her eyes. “Did you now?”
“Well, see, no one—not even Devon—told me about you getting together with Thorne or any of the things that followed. I’ve been catching up fast since I got back to the US. I also heard that the encantada was always flirting with Thorne and insulting you like it was her job.”
Harper’s fingers flexed. “You think Knox killed her? Is that what you’re saying?”
Drew tossed her an incredulous look. “No. If he had, he wouldn’t have broadcasted it on YouTube. But it made me wonder … what if the Horseman killed her because she was once with Thorne? What if the Horseman will target women from Thorne’s past as he works up to the main event? And what if he then targets the woman in Thorne’s present?” Keeping his eyes on hers, Drew gestured at Asher. “You need to take that little boy over there and go stay someplace safe, lay low for a while.”
Her inner demon bristled, and Harper lifted her chin. “I don’t hide.”
He sighed. “Harper, you need to push your pride aside—”
“This isn’t about pride. This is about my need to be proactive in keeping my son safe. Hiding isn’t the answer. Finding the Horseman is what will keep Asher safe.”
“Thorne doesn’t need you for that. He’s not a guy who’d ever need anyone.” Drew’s eyes hardened. “Definitely not a guy I would ever have envisioned you with.”
She so didn’t want to have this conversation.
“Ma!” shouted Asher, crawling toward her, saving Drew from a “Back the fuck off” glower.
“Hey, baby boy.” She sat him on her lap and kissed his hair. “Done rolling around like a pup?”
As he squinted, nose wrinkling, his head abruptly snapped forward and he sneezed. Then he jumped, startled by the sound.
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Harper chuckled. “Bless you.”
He giggled, dimples deepening in that way that melted her heart. Drew laughed along with him, and Asher abruptly went quiet, studying him with a sober expression. It was almost like a … “Did I say you could laugh with me?” look.
Harper glanced at Keenan, who was smirking, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
The air chilled slightly as Asher’s eyes bled to black and his demon surfaced to study Drew with an unblinking stare. “Bye,” it said, voice young but flat. It wasn’t a farewell; it was a fuck off and get out of here.
Drew leaned back in his seat. “Whoa. Does it get like that around all strangers?”
“Only the people it doesn’t like,” said Keenan, offering Drew a toothy grin.
At that moment, the breakroom door swung open. Knox, Levi, and Ciaran entered the room. Demon retreating, Asher beamed. “Da!”
“What’s this I hear about you cuffing your mom, little man?” Knox picked him up, kissed his cheek, and then bent down to brush a kiss over Harper’s mouth. “Hey, baby. You okay?”
“Yeah.” She shot Levi and Ciaran a brief smile. “This is quite the surprise.”
“Ain’t it, though?” Ciaran ruffled Khloë’s hair. “Hey, bitch-face.”
“Touch me again and I’ll throw you out the fucking window,” Khloë threatened, matter-of-fact. Her twin just laughed.
Harper stared up at Knox. “What brings you here, I wonder.” Keenan called you, didn’t he?
Knox’s mouth twitched. He doesn’t like how friendly Drew is with you.