Page 182 of Pretty When She Breaks

“You too?” Jewel asked, arching a brow. He leaned forward to fake whisper. “Don’t tell my sister or she’ll probably make us start a support group.”

He glanced at me and mimed slitting his own throat. I huffed as Ice snorted a laugh.

“That’s not a terrible?—”

“Juvie!” Kaos suddenly said. I turned to him.

“What?” I asked.

“I was wondering where I recognized that alpha out front. I think we were in Juvie together.” He gave satisfied nod, and grinned, bouncing on his feet. “I think he beat me up. Or maybe I beat him up? Just in sanctioned rut fights, don’t worry. Good times.”

“Right…” Ice said, as Kaos started humming to himself. “Okay, why don’t you pick what studs you want to start with.”

Ice had just finished the last of Jewel’s three ear piercings when a dark-haired alpha with yellow eyes poked his head in the door. He seemed familiar, somehow.

“You coming down? Takeout’s here.”

“Yeah, I’ll be down in five,” Ice said, and the alpha’s yellow eyes flicked from me to Jewel, and then back again.

“Huh,” was all he said before he closed the door.

“What was that about?” I asked, looking at Jewel. Jewel blinked a couple of times.

“Was thatViper Oxford?” he asked Ice. Ice shrugged. It was 100% Viper. There was no mistaking those yellow eyes. He was a bit of a recluse, but he was one of the richest people in New Oxford. And apparently living in a garage with ex-cons and a gold pack.

“Huh,” Jewel said, sitting back down a bit and staring at the door. “Bet his father’s real pleased.”

I snorted, and though Ice didn’t look up from gathering Jewel’s take-home supplies, I saw a smile flicker on his face.

“Good for him,” I said.

ONE HUNDRED THREE

LAUREL

We had three quiet days before we had to make a decision. Everyone was coming over for brunch and to talk about next steps. Casey had come early, insisting on helping Ocean cook, looking more well-rested than I’d seen him yet.

Jade and Jewel arrived a bit after, with an annoyed-looking Hugo, who immediately went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, and sat down.

“It’s ten a.m.,” Finch told him, eyebrows raised.

Hugo snorted. “Then get me some orange juice and I’ll make a shandy. Trust me, if you’d been listening to those two going at it all morning, you’d need a drink too.”

He waved his hand at Jade and Jewel.

“Going at it?” Jewel said, delight coloring his tone. “I wouldn’t mind?—”

“Don’t start,” Jade snipped, sitting down on the couch.

“You love it,” he said, blowing her a kiss. Jade mimed shooting it down with a finger gun.

He pouted and came over to the counter, where I foiledhis attempt to steal a strawberry. “Wait your turn,” I said, shooing him away with a spatula.

Casey stepped beside me to help me plate, but I shook my head.

“Casey, we’re good. Go have a seat until we serve up.”

I had to practically shoo him away with a spoon as well, and he took a seat next to Jade, giving her a shy smile.