“I hope you’re hungry, because I made enough to feed an army.” He dumps an enormous stack of pancakes onto a plate and pushes it over to me.
“I approve. I’m an entire Roman legion desperate for my posca.” I reach for the maple syrup.
“What’s posca?”
“It’s vinegar from wine gone bad, mixed with water and herbs and shit. It was basically the Gatorade of the Roman Army, kind of like how pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup are the Gatorade of the Mackenzie Malloy army.”
“Personally, I’ll give the moldy wine a miss, although those Romans sound like they know how to party.” Gabriel comes up behind me and rests his head on my shoulder so his cheek touches mine. My fork flies out of my hand and maple syrup dribbles over the edge of my plate as a rush of heat impales my coordination.
“You’re really interested in all this Roman history stuff?”
I’m startled by the not-violence in Noah’s voice. My once-bitter enemy slumps into the stool on the end of the breakfast bar, as far from me as he can possibly get. Those coal-black eyes study me, hard and intense. But I don’t get that sense of danger from him, of rage rolling off his body like waves ready to sweep me away.
I shrug. “My father was into it – Caesar and Augustus and all the emperors. I read all the fancy-ass books in the study. I might not be able to pass a Calculus test, but I do know tons of super useful facts about Ancient Rome I’m sure will be applicable in everyday life.”
Gabriel laughs as he helps himself to a pancake stack twice as high as mine. “What are we doing with our little stowaway?”
“Plotting Alec’s downfall.” Noah accepts a plate from Eli.
Eli looks me up and down, this worried frown on his face. “We should take you to a doctor, make sure you’re okay.”
“You should, but you’re not going to.” I jab a forkful of pancake in Eli’s direction. “Not unless you want another visit from my family friends. I’m not having some stranger root around in my lady bits.”
Noah grinds his teeth, and I notice he hasn’t touched a bite. The air twangs with tension, like a bowstring pulled taut. Gabriel slouches over the end of the table, but even he looks uncomfortable.
“What?” I glare between the three faces. “How was I supposed to know you’d all turn into my knights in Armani armor?”
“I’m not hungry.” Noah pushes his plate away and stalks off to the bathroom. A moment later, the door slams behind him.
Eli winces. “He just got a call from the hospital. His stepmom, Grace, is being discharged after the scare your ‘friends’ gave her.”
“If you want me to feel sorry for doing that, it’s not going to happen. Alec came to my house and hurt my cat.”
Eli taps the table with his fingers. “I’m starting to wonder about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did Alec really do it? He would’ve boasted about it if he had, posted photos on Facebook, nicked some of your panties.”
“Gross.”
“Exactly. That’s Alec for you, and that’s why it’s odd that none of us heard a peep. And since I didn’t tell him about the secret entrance—” Eli glares at Gabriel, silencing him before he can say something crass, “—how did he get in?”
“I haven’t decided I believe you about the secret entrance,” I glare at him. “I saw Alec run away – he vaulted the wall like a pro, and he was wearing his letterman jacket.”
“Alec had his jacket stolen,” Eli says.
I snort. “Oh, sure. I believe that. He can’t wear it because it’s covered in my cat’s blood.”
“Is it possible that Alec wasn’t responsible for breaking into your house?”
“Who else could it—” I choke on my pancake.
I know exactly who it is.
Brutus.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuckedy, fucklestein.
I’m an idiot for not considering it before. I thought we had him under control, that there’s no way he’d be able to connect the dots. But with my face in the news, he might’ve put everything together. He might’ve stolen Alec’s jacket. He might’ve seen me use the secret entrance.
If he’s figured out our plan, he might be back to finish what he started.
He might be here to bury my secrets for good.
35
Mackenzie
Gabriel wants me to stay and hang out for the day, and as tempting as that is, I need to get home and call Antony and check on Queen Boudica. Eli offers to drop me at Malloy Manor, and against my