Page 63 of Behind the Shadows

“I do,” I interjected. “Aren’t I the one you should be asking?”

“I agree. This conversation is with Kip, but I do support him at this point. And so, what if she says anything about the dead dude? When Kip is done, there won’t be any evidence left. It’s her word against ours. All of ours.” She paused and looked at me. “Right? Even yours?”

“If you’re questioning my loyalty to you and Death, don’t. I won’t ever betray you. Not for anyone.”

“He loves her,” Death added.

“So? You loved me, and it didn’t jeopardize your friendships. It all turned out well.” She reached up and touched the back of his hand. “Kip, why don’t you see if Holland is still here. If not, then the chase is on.”

“Better fucking not be.” I walked out of the room and down the hall, my throat dry, wondering if she’d bolted out the door as soon as Ella’s back was turned. My body vibrated with tension, trying not to play out the worst scenario in my mind.

I rounded the corner, and to my relief, Holland was cracking open the air fryer and checking on dinner.

“Will Death and Ella be joining us? If so, I need to pop in a few extra potatoes.”

My legs devoured the distance between us, and I pressed her firmly against the countertop. Grasping her chin, I tilted her face upward and claimed her lips with a fervent kiss. She didn’t fucking run. She was checking the damn potatoes.

“You didn’t leave when you had a chance,” I murmured, my words thick.

Her warm palm found its way to my chest, resting over the pounding rhythm of my heart.

“No. I decided you were worth the risk,” she replied, her voice steady and resolute.

A raw, primal growl tore from my throat as I lowered my head, whispering with a fierce intensity, “Your loyalty will be rewarded.”

With a deliberate touch, I trailed my hand down her thigh, pressing against her pussy through the fabric of her jeans.

“Oh, good. You’re still here. Can I help with dinner?” Ella asked from the edge of the hall.

I kissed Holland again, then turned my attention to Death.

“We should talk … outside.”

Death walked around the body as if it weren’t crumpled and bleeding on the floor.

Once outside, the soft chirps of crickets filled the evening air.

I crossed my arms and stared into the darkness. “I need your word that Holland is safe.” My tone was clipped. I wasn’t fucking around about her. I needed to focus on other things, like learning who I killed and Mother.

“As long as she doesn’t turn on us, you have my word.”

Death was a lot of things, but he was brutally honest, and his word was ironclad. It was one reason we’d been friends for so many years. We trusted each other.

“That’s fair. I won’t jeopardize any of us.”

“I know that. It’s why Holland is still alive. Between us, Ella could use another friend.”

My brow arched. Death wasn’t the sentimental type except when it came to Ella, and then, it was only brief moments like this.

“She has Cami.”

“Yeah, but she can’t share her … as Ella calls them, our dates.”

I chuckled. “I get that. It’s not like she can call her and say hey, guess what sick fuck I killed today.”

“Exactly. If Holland has the same darkness, which I suspect she does or you wouldn’t have brought her here, then they might be good for each other.”

I rubbed my jaw, the new stubble scratching my fingers. “She didn’t come by choice.”