Page 12 of Haunted Hearts

I thought Alabaster hated him.

But maybe not as much as I thought…

“It’s your first time, don’t be so hard on yourself, big guy,” Jack says, nudging Alabaster with his shoulder; he doesn’t move away.

“When the hell did you have the time to master it?” Alabaster responds, his voice bored—but he doesn’t look at the screen. He’s looking at Jack.

“Muscle memory,” Jack says, his tone quieter now. Almost devious. His eyes flick up to Alabaster’s. “Very useful. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.”

Something about the way he says it makes my stomach tighten.

Alabaster slowly leans down until their faces are nearly touching. His mouth hovers near Jack’s ear as he whispers something too quiet for me to hear, and Jack stills. Alabaster lifts his chin slightly as he pulls back, his eyes dragging over Jack’s face like he’s studying him. Like he’s testing something.

My heart rate spikes. I lean forward without realizing it, my fingers gripping the doorframe as I try to see more without being seen. Despite the dark room, I can see Jack’s eyes. The bright baby blue with a black ring around them. They look the same—but different somehow. His expression, his demeanor. The way he is leaning into Alabaster—he’s too comfortable with him. Alabaster then seems to lock in on the game when the match is ready and he turns away.

Jack’s eyes shift suddenly—locking directly onto mine.

He smirks, he doesn’t look surprised. I jerk back instantly, my pulse roaring in my ears.

He saw me. He definitely saw me, or maybe he didn’t. He would have said something. Right?

But what exactly did I see? And why did I… like it.

My cheeks burn as movement sounds downstairs, snapping me out of it. I scramble back, quietly retreating into my room, shutting the door quickly behind me. I press my back against it, staring at nothing, trying to force the image out of my mind. I’ve been reading way too many MM romance novels. Alabaster loves me, I know that. There is definitely no reason I should be thinking about the fact that they looked like they were about to kiss. That’s laughable. He’s mine. I stifle a laugh.

Jack and Alabaster? No. I let out a quiet, breathless laugh. No way.

CHAPTER 5 CADE

I leave the library, scanning the living room and hallway. I don’t need anyone asking me questions right now. I have no good excuse as to why I’m sweaty and disheveled. Not that I’m complaining.

In the kitchen, I turn the faucet on, leaning over the sink as I splash the cold water over my face. Out of the corner of my eye I see a little black blur move on the counter. I rake my fingers through my hair and quirk a brow.

“Hey, baby girl.” My finger moves to scratch Karma’s chin, her favorite spot. She purrs, leaning into my touch so far that she almost falls off the counter, and I laugh.

“You have the survival instincts of a rock, you know that?” She meows, looking up at me, her eyes wide—begging for more attention.

I glance over at her bowl and notice it needs a refill. I lean down, opening the bottom cupboard on the island, and find an open bag among the variety of different cat foods I bought.

“You’ll have enough food to last you nine lives,” I grumble, rubbing my face as I grab the half-empty one labeled “indoor health.” Karma rubs my ankle, aggressively meowing.

“You realize I fed you like an hour ago, right?” I fill the bowl and she attacks it as if she is starved. “Poor baby…” I say, petting her back.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, pulling it out as I see an unknown number calling.

“Hello?”

“We’ve got a fuckin’ problem.”

“What?” I ask, frustrated.

“I don’t have time, so pay attention.” Ben’s voice comes through firmly, but he sounds rushed.

“I’m listening.”

“This morning we had a visitor, a fancy fuck asking questions about you and your sister. It’s got Rosa sweating. It looked like she knew him, but I’ve never seen the guy.”

“Do you have a description? A name?”