scares me.”
“I don’t want to scare you, Breeze. That’s the last thing I want to do. I promise to work on it, okay? I just can’t handle the pain sometimes.”
“Not to be cruel, but you’re going to have to find a way to get your shit together. Punching walls doesn’t bring her back. Neither will drinking yourself into oblivion.”
“I know. I know.”
I gave him a hard look before changing the subject. “Well, I guess we can test your restraint with some information. Kai and I talked…”
Chase steeled his expression as if preparing for a slap to the face. His only acceptance of what I was about to say was a single nod.
I told him everything. About the diary. About Kai not being the father. About Lex. About the deal Kai made with the police. The drugs. Kai’s desire to distance himself from his brother. About my feelings for Kai. I spilled the truth at Chase’s feet, and he absorbed it all with a blank expression, stopping only with the occasional question for clarification. The waiter brought our food, but neither of us touched it as I spoke. It was a purging of information.
When I was done, Chase let out a low whistle. “I can’t believe Kai would do that for Violet. After everything… Are you sure he’s telling the truth?”
“He wants answers just as much as we do. He’s hurting. It’s a different kind of hurt, but it comes from the same place.”
Chase ran a hand through his hair. “I kind of feel like a dick. I don’t like him, but I’m shocked he’s doing all of this.” At that, my phone buzzed and I picked it up, smiling when I saw a text from Kai.
Kai: You safe?
Me: Yeah. At lunch with Chase.
“Who is that?” Chase asked.
“Kai. Just checking to see if I’m safe.”
Chase bit his lip, and I waited for him to speak. I wasn’t sure how he would take the news of Kai and me being together romantically. Even though we didn’t put labels on what happened, it still felt awkward to be open in front of him. “What’s going on between you two? And don’t just tell me you’re working together on finding Violet’s murderer. Your face lit up like the Fourth of July when that text came through.”
I wanted to lie. Squirming in my seat, I eased into an answer. “I like him. It’s new.”
Chase gritted his teeth. “I’m going to be a good friend right now and keep my mouth shut. I just want you to be happy. And safe.”
Another text message came through, and I looked down at it.
Kai: I’m still running an errand for Lex. Can you stay with Chase tonight? I want to throw my phone across the room suggesting that, but I don’t want you alone. If there is anyone—literally anyone—else you could stay with, that would be preferable.
I reluctantly smiled at his message, making Chase lean over the table to see what had me grinning. “Of course you can stay with me—in the spare bedroom. I’ll keep you safe, Breeze. I’ll even hold you if you get scared.” Chase waggled his eyebrows. “In fact, can you tell him that? Type that Chase will happily tuck you into bed and protect you from the monsters.”
I was definitely not typing that.
Me: I trust Chase. I don’t really have anywhere else to go. I’ll stay there. I miss you. Are you safe?
Kai: If he puts a hand on you, I’ll break both his legs. And I’m fine. Not my first wave, Little Whisper. I miss you too. I miss the way you moan my name when you come.
My cheeks blushed, and I slammed my phone down so Chase couldn’t see, though I’m sure he could see the heat flaring across my cheeks. Chase cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “What did he say?” Chase asked mischievously.
“Nothing,” I replied, albeit a bit too quickly.
Chase tipped his head back and laughed as another text came in. “You are so transparent, Breeze. Look at that blush. You like Kai alright. You like his dick.”
“It’s more than that, okay?” I replied. I didn’t want Chase to think this was just some weird physical release. This wasn’t like what he had with Celeste. “I really like him.”
Chase frowned as I checked the message Kai sent.
Kai: I want to taste you. Your sweet little cunt is mine as soon as I get home.
I squeezed my thighs together. Oh hell. These messages were not helping my case.
“Damn, Breeze. Seeing you flushed