Page 141 of Silver Sweet

Him.

Music.

Thisamazingalbum. We are one song from the finish line.

I don’t have to ask which of his brothers like me hanging around the apartment and which wish I would evaporate. Eliot asks me if I need condoms when I exit the bathroomalone.

“I have enough, thanks,” I say, “and I’m not fucking your brother.” I don’t tell himTomis the reason why we haven’t gone any further. Of what I’ve gathered, Tom shares most of his life with Eliot.

It’s very clear Eliot knows I’ve blown his younger brother. I can just see it all over his face. But at least he’s grinning and not looking like he’d prefer to slit my throat.

The next day, when I descend the elevator to leave, the doors ding and slide open on the lobby level. Beckett is standing right there.

Shit.

He immediately sees my damp hair. Because, yeah, I did take another steaming hot shower with Tom.

His piercing eyes are pure threat. “Stay.”

I would rather not. I’m so fucking tired; there is a violent hammer in my temple. But I adjust my helmet under my armpit and remain in the elevator.That’s his older brother,I remind myself. Beckett joins me with his bodyguard. And I’m ascending back to the twenty-first floor in an uncomfortable, brutal silence.

32

PHOENIX ST. PIERRE

“You need to ask me something or is this just intimidation?” I question Beckett.

“I need Charlie for this.”

I frown. “For what?” He isn’t answering.Fine.Except, when I’m this sleep deprived, each second is so excruciatingly slow. It drags, and my eyes hurt under the brighter elevator lights.

When we reach their floor, Charlie is already waiting outside the elevator. He hops aboard with his bodyguard—the one who drove us from The Trench. Oscar, I think. I acknowledge him with an up-nod.

He says and does nothing in return, and I can’t tell if that’s standard bodyguard protocol or if he’s as apprehensive of me as Charlie and Beckett are.

Right when the elevator shuts, Charlie hits the emergency stop.

Awesome.

“Empty your pockets,” Beckett says.

“Again?” My face twists in confusion while I set my helmet between my feet, and I turn out my pockets. “No drugs.” Imotion to Oscar with hostility. “You need to pat me down? Or are we good?”

“This’ll be a lot easier on you if you don’t come in hot,” Oscar advises.

My short fuse is directly related to my lack of sleep right now. “Excuse me for feelingattackedwhen I’m being cornered in a fucking elevator.”

Charlie props his arm against the wall. “You think we should trust you with Tom? Beckett isn’t so sure.”

“Yeah, I think you should.” Though I understand why they wouldn’t considering I’ve been arrested. I can see Beckett clearly isn’t wavering, so I ask Charlie, “And what about you?”

“You’re as relevant to me as the fifteen-day lifespan of a housefly.”

“Glad I asked,” I snap, then I stare down Beckett. “What have I done since the club that’s put you on edge?”

“Your eyes are bloodshot.”

“I’m tired.”