“So...” Actually, I had no idea. Alexei was too clever for me. And the weather? It was cold as hell, the first frost of the year sparkling on the ground as the daylight faded far earlier than I was prepared for. “Never mind. Did Nash come in with you?”
“I have not seen him.”
“What about Cam?”
“No.”
I frowned, sensing a tone that made the world feel more wrong than it already did. My brother’s lovers were extraordinary men. Hard to decipher and predict. But the sense that Alexei was low-keyfuriouswith Cam had been hanging over the compound for as long as Locke had been home—he’s not home—and it set my teeth on edge. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Alexei’s cool gaze flickered to me. “Talk about what?”
“About whatever my pig-headed brother has done to upset you.”
“I am not upset.”
I leaned closer, peering into Alexei’s complex eyes. “Saint is.”
“I know.”
“And you can’t fix it?”
“Not without time. You know this better than anyone.”
That he was right wrenched my battered heart and I found myself looking over his shoulder, scanning as much of the yard as I could see for any sign of Locke’s tousled blond hair.
“He is not here,” Alexei said. “I believe he went to Willow’s college today.”
“You believe?”
“Figure of speech. Iknow.”
Of course he did. He tracked all of us as much as he could without invading our privacy. Because he loved Cam and Cam loved us. And maybe, as the months and years ticked by, becauseheloved us.
Didn’t make him any less annoying. Huffing, I reached for the doughnuts and stuffed one in my mouth while Alexei watched, amused, an emotion that looked so good on him that as the day progressed and he chose my dubious company instead of searching out my brother, I ate another three.
“For someone who hardly eats, you’re a fucking feeder.”
Alexei shrugged, giving away nothing but sugar and a smirk, and it was annoying enough that I tossed a doughnut at his smug face.
Saint caught it. Popping up from literally nowhere, as though he’d been born to guard his lover from hormone-propelled cake.
I reached for the vodka and unscrewed the cap.
He gave me alook.
I ignored him and tipped the vodka down my throat. “Don’t start.”
As if he would, but I was feeling crabby. It was Saturday and the sales desk had been quiet since lunchtime, leaving me plenty of time to wonder when... if Locke and Nash were ever coming back.
I miss them. Longing for what Priesthad stolen from us—fromLocke—hurt my heart, and I sought comfort in the doughnut box. Found none and cajoled Saint into eating the last two for the sake of my ever-expanding thighs.
He got sugar on his lips, tongue snaking out to clean himself up.
Alexei couldn’t cope.
He muttered a low Russian curse and abruptly disappeared.
Despite my heavy heart, I laughed. “You have no idea, do you?”