Page 147 of X's and O's

I nodded. “We are. One of us has been outside her place every night, just making sure nothing is going on.She hasn’t gone anywhere in days without one of us tailing her.”

“Good. That’s good. I’m sure she’s about as thrilled as Kara is about not going anywhere solo, but better to be safe than sorry. And this has gotta all be over soon. Trig and the guys have crossed off quite a few of the names on the list lately.” He eyed me. “A shitload more than your team has.”

I scrubbed a hand across the back of my neck. “We’re slow and cautious,” I lied.

Gray saw right through it. “You’re all too busy fighting over Violet.”

He wasn’t wrong. But I doubted any of us were going to stop.

It was rare something, or rather someone, could rank higher than the sweet relief that came when you killed after your body craving it.

“I wouldn’t say we’re fighting, exactly…”

He raised an eyebrow. “I saw Whip’s shiner.”

Well, if he was going to get specific, I couldn’t really argue.

He glanced in through the window and smiled in the direction of where I’d left Hawk and Hayley Jade playing. “Listen, I’m going inside with my family. I don’t care if you guys aren’t getting as many kills as the others. All I care about is that Violet is safe.”

“She is.”

He nodded and went to walk inside, but my phone rang.

The burner that all the Murder Squad had.

Gray paused, clearly knowing it wasn’t my personal phone, and knowing this wasn’t one of the crew callingfor a meeting. That was always done by text, and we would have both got that message.

The fact that phone was ringing wasn’t usual, and we both knew it.

I hit the “answer” button.

“The omelet is out of the frying pan!”

I didn’t even have to have it on speaker for Gray to hear.

He pulled a face. “X?” he mouthed.

I didn’t know who else he thought would start a call like that.

I clutched the phone tighter. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Violet! She’s escaped!”

Gray raised a concerned eyebrow. “Escaped from what? I said to watch her and make sure she was safe, not keep her captive.”

I shook my head. “We didn’t. X, say words that make sense.”

“They tricked me! My van is surrounded by kids. I can’t get out. Her and Toby have taken off somewhere, and I can’t follow them until I make three banana sundaes, a choc top, and a strawberry shakey-shakey!”

Gray rolled his eyes. I tried to stifle a laugh. There were kids’ voices in the background, all of them whiningly demanding sugar like X was some sort of dealer.

“They’re multiplying!” He yelped. “Oh God, it’s like one of those zombie apocalypse shows where they all attract each other. It’s nearly ten o’clock at night, you crotch goblins! Why are you eating ice cream at this time? Have you no concern for a good night’s sleep?”

Gray moved to the front door again. “I’m leaving that to you.”

“Levi, help! They’re all so small and sticky!”

I was already striding back to where I’d left my bike. “You’re on your own, Ice Cream Ian. I’m going to go look for Violet.”