doesn’t involve working with Victor or these two.’
‘We shouldn’t split up. We need to stay together,’ Vero urged, dropping her voice. ‘They’re looking for us. We have more of a chance if we stick together.’
Evie tried to step past her to the door, but Cyrus was already there, blocking it. ‘Where are you going to go?’ he asked.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Evie mumbled, pushing right past him and out of the door. She started striding down the path towards the street.
‘Evie!’ Vero called after her.
‘Pussy,’ Selena hissed.
Evie kept walking, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and the house, but Cyrus caught up with her before she’d even gone fifty metres.
‘Hold up,’ he said, catching her by the arm and pulling her around to face him. ‘I’ll come with you,’ he said.
She couldn’t hide her surprise.
‘Why not?’ he responded, registering it. ‘Staying in a house with thong girl and Butthead frankly scares the crap out of me.’
‘As if you’re scared of anyone,’ Evie said, with a grudging smile.
‘Like you wouldn’t believe,’ Cyrus smiled back. ‘She has talons. And a cruel line in put-downs. You pussy ass.’
Evie punched him playfully on the arm. ‘I think you should stay. Vero and Ash need you.’
Hurt flickered across his face, though he hid it quickly. Was he hurt that she hadn’t said that she needed him? Evie shrugged off the thought. This new–old version of Cyrus was starting to confuse her.
‘Where are you going to go?’ he asked.
‘I know some people,’ she answered vaguely.
He glared at her, suspicion lighting his eyes.
‘I’ll be fine. Really,’ she said. ‘I’ll call you in the morning. I just can’t stay here.’
He was scowling now but then he let out a loud sigh. ‘Be careful, OK?’ he said. ‘And call me if you run into any trouble.’
He hesitated for a moment and she was convinced he was about to pull her into his arms for a farewell hug. Something inside her froze – whether in anticipation or fear she wasn’t sure and didn’t want to analyse. But then he seemed to think better of it anyway and, turning, ran back to the house.
Chapter 25
He had had to force himself to let her go. For a split second he’d wanted to pull her straight into his arms and … kiss her? Maybe. Well, hell, yeah, he wanted to kiss her. That was pretty much all he wanted to do when he was around her. Well, not all. But just then he hadn’t wanted so much to kiss her as to just hold her and take some of that damn hurt away. It was those eyes of hers, ocean deep, dangerous rip tides running just beneath the surface, which he knew he could get swept away in if he wasn’t careful.
She’s in love with another guy, he told himself for the hundredth time. A dead guy, the voice in his head piped up. She’s in love with the memory of a dead guy.
‘She’s gone?’ Ash asked as soon as he walked back into the house.
‘Yeah,’ Cyrus nodded, feeling like he’d failed in some way to prevent it. As if stopping Evie from doing what she wanted ever seemed to be an option.
‘Where did she say she was going?’
‘She didn’t. She said she was going to stay with some friends. Didn’t say who.’
‘Look, let’s just wait and see what Victor says, make a plan and then call her,’ Vero said.
‘Speak of the devil,’ Ash murmured, glancing over Cyrus’s shoulder.
Cyrus had already felt someone approaching. His gut was pulling in a strange way, a shudder running up his spine as though a great white shark was circling him from behind. He spun around.
Victor was standing in the doorway. Cyrus took him in. He was enormous – broad shouldered, all muscle, not an ounce of fat on him even though he had to be in his late thirties, maybe even early forties. He had sharp, intelligent eyes and the corner of his mouth was curled up in a snide smile. There was definitely something familiar about him, something that pierced the layers of fog, and not in a pleasant way. The memory was sharp and needling – acid tipped.
It was pretty damn satisfying to see the guy’s face as he registered who was standing in his hallway. The smile crumpled instantly.
‘Surprise!’ Cyrus grinned, working it some more, enjoying the look of astonishment on Victor’s face. He was frozen midstride, half in the house, half out, and he was carrying a long