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I hum in agreement. “I want to be an accountant.”

Dante’s hand stills in its petting of my arm. “Seriously? I wouldn’t have pegged you for that.”

“I want to be a forensic accountant. I like solving puzzles.”

“Makes a little more sense now,” Dante murmurs before tucking his head into the crook of my neck.

He noses around for a second before placing a kiss at the spot he bit yesterday morning.

A zip of electricity shoots down my spine at the touch of his lips to the bite.

“Hayden says you’re very smart. He doesn’t say that about people a lot considering he’s some certified genius type shit. ”

“Oh?”

Dante nods against my neck. “He’s getting some degree in math so he can work on going to space.”

“Interesting. And you?”

“Me what?” Dante asks in clear confusion.

I angle my head to look him in the eyes. “What’s your major?”

“Oh,” Dante says in surprise. He looks sheepish for a moment, then shrugs. “Engineering.”

“Right.” I knew that already, just wanted him to say it. “And what do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Structural engineer. Building bridges and tunnels.”

“That’s cute.”

Dante’s eyebrows lift into his hairline. “Cute?”

I nod while taking a slow sip of my coffee. Warmth spreads through me when Dante tracks my tongue swipe over my lip. For a moment I think he’s going to dip down and kiss me, but his gaze once again pings to the other side of the quad.

“Okay, why do you keep looking over there?” I attempt to turn my head to look, but Dante’s fingers on my chin stop me. “What the fuck?”

“Keep your eyes on me. Laugh, now.”

I laugh awkwardly. “What is going on?”

Dante smiles, but it’s not his real smile. This smile is terrifying and fake. The type of smile an alien would give when attempting to learn how to be human.

“We’re going to get up and walk back to my house, okay? Don’t argue with me. Just trust me, alright?”

Every single molecule in my body screams at me to argue.

But the firmness of Dante’s direction, the slightly frantic look in his eyes easily convinces me to keep quiet.

So, I listen. We slowly stand and Dante carefully removes my backpack to sling it over his shoulder.

When he takes my hand in his, it feels less like it did the other night, and more like he wants to ensure there’s no way for me to be taken away. His grip is so tight my fingers ache.

Fear washes through me, because Dante doesn’t seem the type to be worried. Doesn’t seem the type to run away. Dante is danger incarnate, so what in the world could ever spook him? The walk to his house feels like the shortest yet longest walk of my life. Probably because Dante is unusually quiet.

When we step inside, Dante grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me a little. “There is so much I have to tell you, but you are about to get a crash course in some very serious information, so just stay super chill. Okay?”

“I… what?”

Dante shakes his head. “There’s not enough time. Come on.”

He drags me into the living room where the three other boys are already waiting.

Their eyes snap to me, then immediately snap back to Dante.

Dante roughly manhandles me into one of the wingback chairs situated in the corner away from the window.

Scully meows from the ground and jumps into my lap, causing shocked gasps to rattle through the boys.

I pet between her ears, letting the softness of her black fur calm me.

A rumble of a purr escapes her and I smile, despite the harrowing situation I seem to currently be in.

Who doesn’t love a purring cat in their lap?

Dante steps over to the window and peeks out of the corner of the blinds. His fingers go straight, then flex as if he’s fighting the urge to punch something.

“There’s a tail on Reid,” Dante announces like that should mean something to me.

Three gazes immediately ping to me.

“Why is there a tail on Reid?” Parker asks with a furrow between his brows.

Dante shrugs. “I noticed it this morning. He followed Reid to the math building, waited outside, then followed us into the quad.”

Indignation rolls through me. “You were watching me still ? After the library?”

Dante once again looks unrepentant. “I never said I was going to stop. And don’t even try to say a word because I know you still follow me.”

“This sounds like foreplay,” Jacob interrupts with an odd little smirk.

“Shut up,” Dante and I say simultaneously.

Dante’s hard gaze lands back on me. “Why do you have a tail?”

“How the fuck would I know? I go to class, go home. I don’t go to clubs anymore. I don't have hookups. I haven’t done anything!”

“Maybe it’s because of you,” Hayden accuses, gaze firmly on Dante.

“Me?” Dante asks, clearly affronted.

Hayden stands from the couch and joins Dante by the window. He stares out the blinds for a moment, fingers anxiously tapping against his thighs. I watch on like a distant observer. This all might be about me, but why are they all so shaken?

Parker stands from the sofa, ignored by everyone else in the room. He nods toward the kitchen in a clear signal for me to follow. But I’m not sure I’m allowed to move. Dante plopped me down here for a reason. Parker sighs loudly when I don’t immediately follow.

“Reid, come to the kitchen with me.”

Dante’s head turns toward Parker, then his gaze swings toward me. He nods in permission, so I stand and slowly follow Parker to the kitchen. Scully plods along behind us as if she wants to be privy to our conversation as well. Sweet little thing.

Parker pours two mugs of coffee, then stands on his tiptoes to reach into a cabinet. A bottle of expensive whiskey is in his hand when he lowers back down. I swallow loudly as he pours generous amounts of liquor into both cups, then hands one of them to me.

I take a sip and grimace, it tastes more like whiskey than coffee. But I guess the occasion calls for it.

“Your brother, what does he do?” Parker asks, mug held to his lips.

I narrow my eyes. “How do you know about my brother?”

Parker grins. “I’ve got my ways. I probably know you better than Dante. I have to ensure anyone that one of my brothers is bringing into the circle isn’t a total waste of space. I deem you worthy, but your brother is a crack in the armor. Tell me, do you know what he does for work?”

“He…” I pause because I really don’t know.

Parker hums. “I couldn’t find it anywhere either. Found a lot on you, but not much on Mason. I know he became your legal guardian when your parents died.”

I gasp. “Who the fuck are you people?”

Of course that’s when Dante decides to swagger into the kitchen.

Dante looks between Parker and me, clearly taking in how both of us have our hackles raised.

Parker lifts his hands in defense, promptly fleeing the kitchen before Dante can lay into him.

I expect Dante to talk me down, do something to help me understand what’s going on, but all he does is tangle our fingers together and guide me back to the living room.

Hastily, I gulp down the coffee in hopes it’ll steady my nerves.

“Okay, so you know Robin Hood, right?” Dante asks as he shoves me back down in the chair.

“Sure…”

He sweeps his hand toward himself and the guys on the couch. “Meet your modern-day Robin Hoods.”