Page 88 of Stealing His Cupcake

“Of course. Who do you think helped me find you? Don’t worry, Ethan is good people.”

“He’s a killer,” I protest, then concede the point when Amy quirks her brow. “Yeah, I know, I know. Wait. He was the one who killed Craig, wasn’t he?”

It makes so much sense now. Ethan was obsessed with Kayla and Kayla was staying with Amy. Craig was a danger to both of them, so Ethan took him out to protect his girl. “Fuck. Do you know how long I spent trying to figure out Craig’s murder? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Giggling, Amy rises to her tiptoes to peck my cheek. “Because I made a bet with Kayla on whether you could tell, obviously. Come on. Ethan’s making dinner.”

“Great.” Not sure if I’ll be able to eat anything another killer cooked, I follow Amy inside the house when my phone chimes with an incoming message.

Unknown

Time to pay your debt. Bring guns. S.

Slava. I sigh. I’ve been wondering when I’d hear from her about this imaginary debt I’ve apparently incurred while unconscious. On the other hand, it’s the perfect opportunity to cut this weekend short.

Amy frowns. “Trouble?”

“Ourfriendcalled in her favor. I’ll have to go. I don’t suppose I could borrow a gun?” I ask Ethan, since we’re apparently all cool here with being killers and all that. I can’t say that’s ever happened before.

Putting a large baking tray on the table, Ethan shrugs off a pair of oven mitts. “Sure. Need backup?”

What the actual fuck? What are we, best buddies now? Before I can vehemently protest, Amy is already agreeing. “That would be so sweet! Look at them,” she croons at Kayla. “Bonding already.”

“That is absolutely not what’s happening,” I say.

Ethan agrees. “Yeah, absolutely. But Amy would be sad if you died, and if she was sad, Kayla would be sad too, and I can’t let that happen, so I’m coming along.”

Both women squeal. “Yay, road trip! This will be so much fun.”

I exchange confused glances with Ethan. “You’re not coming,” he tells the women.

Kayla doesn’t blink an eye. “Of course we are. We’ll have a spa day or something while you deal with the icky murder stuff, and then we can do some sightseeing.”

“Exactly!” Amy chimes in. “It will be so much fun.”

Another exchanged glance with Ethan, this time a little desperate. It seems that neither of us knows what’s really happening, but one thing is for sure. Neither of us can say no to our women, which means we’re bringing this weird family on a murder trip. Talk about strange things happening.