Page 85 of Sharing Silence

“Bullshit.”

I whirl to face him. “I love your brother.”

“I know.” He closes the space between us and cups my face, and I can’t look away, can’t pull or fight or beg him to stop, because … because … “And I think you love me, too.”

His lips crash to mine, and all my doubts, my fears, my inhibitions—they’re snatched from me. I don’t hesitate, not even for a second, before kissing him back. I lace my arms around his neck, and he pulls my body flush with his.

His kiss ruins me.

Tears fall free, and I cling to him like I might fall apart if I don’t.

Fears and feelings rush to the surface, his words pulling free truths I’ve tried so hard to bury beneath my loyalty to Zayden.

Because I do love Xavier.

And Yale.

I love them all, and I shouldn’t.

Xavier breaks the kiss, and I sob, tears rolling down my cheeks. He kisses them away, nuzzling my nose. “This can work, Q.”

“It can’t,” I cry. “I’ve ruined all of you.”

“You didn’t ruin us, Q. You fucking made us.” He kisses me again. “We’ve waited our whole lives for you.”

My lip trembles. “I keep waiting for you to say ‘psyche.’”

He laughs and kisses my cheeks. “Not happening.”

This feels like a fever dream. It wouldn’t surprise me if I blinked and was back at home, the morning of my birthday. No Ryker. No safe house. None of this.

But the thought isn’t a comforting one, because the fear is worth it if I finally get them.

All of them.

“Yale really loves me?”

“Obsessed,” he whispers, still kissing me. “Not as much as me, but close.” I can’t help smiling and clinging to him. My phone starts ringing, and he groans. “Ignore it.”

I glance over at the bed, my phone screen lit up. “It could be about work. I called earlier to let them know I wouldn’t be back for a while. Steffi might be worried.” I pull from him and pick up the phone, answering it. “Hello?”

“Hey, Silence.” My smile vanishes. Ryker’s chuckle is low, and a chill skitters down my spine. “Sorry to interrupt yours and Xavier’s moment.”

I lock eyes with Xavier and mouth, “Ryker. He can see us.”

“No point warning him,” Ryker says. “I just called to say if you stay put, you might survive.”

I’m unsure what hits me first.

The sound, or the heat.

My feet are no longer on the ground.

My ears feel punctured, the pressure sending a wave of darkness across my vision and through my brain.

The last thing I feel is pain. The last thing I taste is blood.

And then everything goes black.