The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,30
is exactly what will get us his full attention.”
“We won’t come up short,” Clay clipped.
The triplets filed out, leaving us to our afternoon activities. Royal stretched out on top of me.
“He’s stubborn.” I cradled his neck and brought our foreheads together. “Clay believes he has to take care of everyone on his own.”
“We do have to take care of everything on our own. In our world, no one comes to save us.”
We shared a kiss that awakened more than just desire in me.
I’m going to save you.
ELI WAS OUTSIDE MY door the next morning.
“I’m guessing you’re not here to indulge my wish to walk you to class every morning?”
His pinched lips answered that question. “I don’t need to be walked to class. And I want to know about the key. Did you figure out what it opens?”
I peered over my shoulder. Camila was in the bathroom getting ready for breakfast. We wouldn’t have to worry about her picking up our conversation.
“Come inside.” I shut and locked the door behind him. “I will tell you as soon as I know something, Eli. I promise. Don’t stress about this.”
“But I can help you.”
“You can’t,” I said and signed it, getting my point across. “There are a lot of people willing to hurt me to get their hands on this key. You are not getting caught up in that. As soon as I find out what it leads to, I’ll tell you. Until then, trust me.”
Eli planted his feet when I tried to steer him toward the door. “Did you think about the bus station, gym, or the bank?”
“Yes. Now go to breakfast.”
He danced around my grasping hand. “And the lake house? The key doesn’t have to open something in town. Remember Dad had that shed that he kept padlocked.”
“The police would have busted in there already.”
“Doesn’t mean Mom and Dad didn’t hide something there that they missed. You have to check the lake house.”
The lake house was a five-hour drive up the coast. The feds, and a thick layer of undisturbed dust, confirmed my parents hadn’t stopped by the lake house on their way to the airport. But...
“I will go to the lake house and check it out.”
“I’m coming with you,” Eli replied.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“How’s that going to happen, Eli? I can sign myself out, but you need permission from Aunt or Uncle. What are we going to tell them about a five-hour trip?”
“We could say—”
“Oh, hey, guys.” Camila broke into our argument. “Were you waiting for me? I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“We could say we want to be somewhere that feels like home,” Eli plowed on. “I could cry to sell it.”
“This kid,” I muttered. “It’s not happening, so drop it. I have to keep you safe whether it pisses you off or not.”
“Who asked you to?!”
Eli slammed out the door.
I sighed. Is this karma for all the trouble I caused my parents as a teenager?
Camila came out of the bathroom. “Ready. Where did Eli go?”
“He left to meet up with his friends.” I eyed her as she donned her backpack and grabbed lip gloss off the dresser. “Have you talked to your brothers yet?”
“No. Why?”
I shut my mouth. Her carefree attitude made sense if she hadn’t seen what was done to the boys. I didn’t know how much Camila knew or how her brothers wanted to explain this.
“Just asking,” I said simply.
Camila’s sunny morning ended on the bottom floor. We exited the dorm just as Royal, Cassius, and Clay rounded the building.
“Oh my god!” Her backpack crashed on the concrete. “What happened to you two?!”
“We’re fine, Cam,” Clay tried. “Don’t—”
She burst into tears.
The boys gathered her up, carrying her inside and away from prying eyes. I thought Royal would wait for me, but he loped off, disappearing through the back door into the main building.
I went to breakfast by myself. Camila was in a state. Eli was steamed at me. Royal was off being Royal. That left just the two of us.
“Hey, Em— What happened to your head?” Brandon’s touch was gentle on my forehead. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine when I’m not clumsy. I got banged up tripping over my own feet.” Into the butt of a gun.
We stepped up to the food line, grabbing trays, cups, and forks as we went. “How was your weekend?”
He shrugged. “Hung out. Did homework. Played video games with my roommate. The usual.”
Our table waited for us at the back of the senior loft. It wasn’t empty. Gabriel Lighthouse sat there speaking to the