Page 77 of Crave

I’d seen that look far too many times to count.

It usually meant, he was in trouble…but what kind of trouble now? I slowly turned my head to the hallway and our sister’s bedroom. Only one kind would prevent me from going into our sister’s bedroom.

“Theo.” I snarled and wrenched my focus on him, searching his eyes for the truth. What the fuck have you done?

But it was too late, Gabe was already heading toward the bedrooms…with Penn Hargreaves in tow.

“She’s not leaving.” Theo warned.

I yanked my arm free and headed after them. “No, she’s not.” Not if I had anything to do with it.

I caught up as they turned the corner and strode past Gabe’s open door to Angelica’s.

“Angel.”Gabe called and stopped at her door.

Angel? No one called her that…except for Mom.

That ache inside me only grew hungrier.

Angel.

The cold rush of air filled my lungs as Gabe turned the handle and pushed open her bedroom door. Hargreaves didn’t waste a second, pushing into her bedroom and calling out. “Baby, where are you?”

“Here,” she answered.

I stepped in, scanning the unmade bed and searched for anything out of place. Theo had something that I knew. But what?

I followed Hargreaves as he headed for a reading nook against the large bay window at the far end of her room. She was there, her feet curled up underneath herself, buried underneath an oversized caramel knitted throw that covered her body.

“Are you okay?” Hargreaves stopped, tilting her gaze to his.

I didn’t like him touching her. Not like this.

“You don’t answer my calls.” The schmuck sounded desperate as he pulled the book from her hand, placing it beside her. “And now this text, telling me to stay away. That’s not you.”

He pulled her upwards, forcing her to stand to hug him. She did, but her gaze went to me. Her eyes were dull, lifeless…empty, just like she had been yesterday.

“Nothing.” She answered, holding my stare. “There’s nothing wrong at all. Everything is perfect.”

“Perfect?” Hargreaves pulled her away, forcing her to focus on him. “Your parents have just been murdered. I don’t think perfect is the word to describe you right now.”

I turned and walked out, not wanting to see a second more. Rage rippled through me, enough to feel more dangerous than I should be.

“Silas.” Gabe called as I turned along the hallway and headed for the kitchen. “Silas.”

I stopped and turned. “What?”

“You’re not just going to let him…be in there are you?”

“And what the fuck do you suggest I do, Gabe?” I hissed the words. “You seem to have some grand ideas on how to deal with…her.” I glanced behind him. “So, speak the fuck up. What do you want me to do?”

Deal with her.

I knew exactly what I needed to do.

But that didn’t mean they did…especially Gabe. He was too involved with her. Too…infatuated. I turned away and headed for the kitchen. One of us had to stay in control. One of us had to get to the bottom of this and it sure as Hell wasn’t any of my brothers.

I strode into the kitchen, glancing at the dirty plate left on the sink from the sandwich I made her yesterday and set to work. Gabe lingered for a minute before he left, no doubt heading back to his room so he could listen to whatever was going on.