Page 106 of The Rowdy Ones

“It’s Rowdy. Fuck, he’s freezing cold,” Uncle Atticus growls. “Destiny, warm him up and calm him down.”

Panicked and still unsure of what’s happening, I make my way around the furniture until I find where Rowdy is seated. His pant legs are wet with snow and he’s really cold. I set my cane down and crawl into his lap. Someone tosses a blanket at us.

“What happened?” I demand, nuzzling against his chilled, wet hoodie, hoping to bring some warmth to him. “Did something attack you?”

The only tell that he’s coherent is his palm that finds my hip and squeezes. I feel around on his face, which is icy, in an attempt to discern his mood. My fingertip touches something sticky on his cheekbone. Blood.

I suck in a ragged breath. But before I can freak out, Rowdy finally speaks.

“He grazed me with a bullet, but I’m fine.”

A bullet grazed his cheek? A little to the right and he could be dead. I could have lost him.

Tears burn hot in my eyes and my chin quivers. “Who? Evan?”

I hear Uncle Atticus’s booming voice while he speaks to his brother, Will. Wild’s cologne scent is nearby, but he’s being oddly quiet.

“Wild, who shot at him?” I choke out when no one answers me.

Wild finds his voice, clearing away the emotion. “Said it was Alex. He stumbled into the RV a few minutes ago with blood on his face and shivering like crazy. I haven’t got much else out of him aside from the part where he wants to hunt him down.”

Alex?

Why would Alex shoot at him? Rowdy told me Alex had confronted him at Talia’s party, but I didn’t think it was that serious.

“He…” Rowdy says through gritted teeth, “thought I was…sleeping with Evan…behind his back.”

“That’s stupid,” I say with a huff.

“We all know who Rowdy’s really sleeping with,” Wild mutters under his breath.

I ignore his remark. “So he thought he’d kill you? None of this is making sense.”

Rowdy’s strength returns slowly and his grip on my hip tightens. “He’s the Brawny Slasher.” He curses under his breath. “Jealousy consumes him to the point of murder.”

“Are you for real?” Wild demands. “And now he’s out there, free to kill again?”

Uncle Atticus returns and grunts. “Will’s got an APB out on him. The fucker will turn up somewhere and they’ll haul him in.”

“He’s the serial killer,” I blurt out. “Text Will and tell him. Alex could kill again. He almost did tonight.”

“What the fuck? He’s the one who’s been committing all those murders?” Uncle Atticus hisses. “Are you serious?”

“Drink,” Aunt Eve says, voice coming out of nowhere. “Now, Rowdy.”

I try not to shudder at how she sneaks up on me all the time. Everyone else makes a ton of noise. Not her. She’s stealthy like a fox.

The scent of coffee fills my nostrils. It’s the same brand Gwen got for me. Everyone around here is a fan of the stuff. I reach toward the heat of the mug and take it from Aunt Eve’s grip. Then I bring it close to Rowdy’s face. I use my nose, rubbing his, to judge where I need to put the edge of the cup.

Rowdy’s other hand, sticky with blood, comes to cover one of mine, steadying the mug as he sips. “Ahh, that’s nice and hot.”

I urge him to drink more. “What if he comes back? Will he try to hurt Rowdy?”

“Since Rowdy got away,” Wild says, “I seriously doubt he’ll come right back to the scene of the crime. The police will be here soon to take statements.”

I’m happy the police are on the way, but I hate that Alex is still on the loose. Those poor people died because Alex was jealous of Evan’s ex. So horrible. I think back to the day when I stumbled over the body of one of the victims.

He was half-naked.