“Holy shit,” Remy said.
“Will youpleaseshut the fuck up?” Poe said.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to leave?” Maeve asked. “Or maybe you just want Poe and Remy to leave.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “You’ll all know in the end anyway. And it’s partly their fault.”
Remy lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I swear to god I have nothing to do with Cassie’s virginity.”
“It’s your fault because there isn’t a single guy in Blackwell Falls who will fuck me. And you know why?”
“Because you’re Bram’s little sister,” Maeve said softly.
“Because I'm Bram’s little sister. And everyone knows if they touch me, the Blackwell Butchers will cut them into little pieces and bury them on the mountain.”
“Jesus christ, Cass.” Bram jumped up and started pacing. “There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin.”
“Easy for you to say. I’m twenty-four!”
His jaw was locked so tight I thought he might break his teeth.
“What about dating someone from out of town?” Maeve asked. “I’m not judging — at all — but the Hunt is no way to lose your virginity.”
“I tried that.” I sounded as miserable — as embarrassed — as I felt. “And guess what?”
“What?” Maeve asked.
“As soon as anyone found out I was a virgin they got all… weird. I should have just fucked someone in high school when everyone was a virgin and no one cared.”
“Can we please…” Bram looked at the ceiling. “Can you please stop talking about fucking?”
“Why? Because I’m your little sister? I’m not allowed to think about fucking or want to fuck or even talk about fucking?”
“Fuck me,” Remy said.
“I’m going to end you,” Poe told him.
Bram took a deep breath. “This is fine. I’ll tell the Hawks it’s off and that will be that. No harm no foul.”
I shook my head. “You’re not getting it. I don’t want you to tell them it’s off. I’m going to see it through, hold up my end of the bargain.”
“The fuck you are,” Bram said. “They didn’t talk to me. They let you come here alone.”
“Because I told them I wanted to talk to you first! And I’m not alone. They’re right outside, waiting to talk to you.”
“They’re…” Bram headed for the stairs again.
And this time there was no stopping him.
I jumped up from the couch and followed him down the stairs. “Please… just listen to them. Be reasonable.”
I couldn’t keep up and I was three paces behind him by the time he hit the concrete loading dock outside. When he didn’t see the Hawks in the parking lot, he hooked a left toward the security gate, climbed the fence like a maniac instead of punching in the security code, and vaulted onto the concrete on the other side of the wall.
I would have been impressed if I hadn’t been so terrified.
The Hawks, were standing outside, right where I’d left them, Vigo parkour-ing off the brick building while Hawk paced and Jagger leaned against the wall.
They must have seen Bram coming in their peripheral vision because they turned toward him all at once.