Page 119 of Inhuman Nature

Kit’s jaw tensed, but he said nothing more, so Rake spoke up again. “What about our jobs? Our lives are here.”

“You’re dead,” Boris said. “You cannot go out in sunlight. How were you planning on getting to your job?”

Oh. That hadn’t occurred to Rake yet. “We’ve missed work today,” he said, slightly horrified by how much fear that struck in him. “Our managers will be wondering what the hell has happened to us. They might have sent the police round already for a welfare check.” Knowing the cluelessness of their managers, however, Rake guessed they’d just assume they’d forgotten he and DJ had booked some annual leave.

“Boris, please give them longer to sort this all out,” Shaun said, voice strained. “I’ll go tonight, but they can’t just disappear. It’ll look suspicious.”

“You’re not leaving without us,” Rake argued.

Boris grunted. “Fine. Be out of Brighton by next month, or you’re going to be facing a bigger problem than having to quit without notice. We’ll help you deal with it if the police have got involved. You know where to find us.”

Winnie stood up, a vase cradled in her arms. Most of Lynette’s remains were gone from the carpet. She nodded to Boris and the others. “Let’s go.”

Boris gave Rake a hard stare before ushering the others out. Julia was the only one to look back, though the devastation on her face made Rake wish she hadn’t. He’d been so close to having to deal with that emotion himself that it overwhelmed him.

He looked down at Shaun and DJ, where they sat together on the sofa. “I love you both,” he blurted. The prospect of losing either of them made him want to hurl himself on the mercy of the sun.

“Me?” Shaun said, pointing to himself, like Rake was confused about who he was speaking to.

“Yes, of courseyou. Both of you.”

“Aw, I love you both too,” DJ said, reaching out to grab one of their hands in each of his and squeezing tight.

Shaun’s eyes began to stream with blood, and Rake panicked until he noticed the smile on his face. “I don’t think I knew what love really was until I saw you two interact at the club,” Shaun said. “I feel it now.” He rubbed at his chest. “It’s a lot, isn’t it?”

“It’s right,” Rake insisted.

“It is,” DJ agreed.

Rake noticed Kit leaving the room out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from his guys. He stayed focused on Shaun. “Are you going to say the words?”

“Rake, you can’t make him say he loves us until he’s ready!” DJ hissed.

“He’s ready,” Rake said, confident.

After a brief hesitation, in which Shaun seemed to psych himself up, he said, “I love you both so much.”

DJ nudged his shoulder against Shaun. “Yeah, you do.”

Rake smiled to himself, then kicked at a stray cushion, wincing when it hit a decorative plate on the mantel, knocking it down with a resounding smash. “Whoops,” he said, then looked around the room. “What a fucking mess.”

“At least we don’t have to clean,” Shaun said. “I don’tthink I’m emotionally ready to hoover up Lawrence.”

A quiet snort of laughter sounded from the hallway. Despite everything, Rake felt like they mightjust all be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

DJ

“What are we going to do?” DJ asked. He needed someone to tell him, because he had no idea.

Kit appeared in the doorway. “I’m going to get us some food. I need blood, and so do all of you.”

“Will you be all right on your own?” Shaun asked.

Kit gave a mirthless laugh. “Always am.”

DJ wanted to offer his help, but a groan from Shaun distracted him. “What’s wrong?”