Page 41 of Resolve
“Reid,” she whispers loudly.
“What’s it matter to you?” Alice snaps defensively.
“It matters to me that you snuck in here to kill your own brother and then attacked Raegan.”
Damn it, Reid.
Dane mutters something under his breath.
“You know she was forced to do it,” I reason. “I brought her here as my guest.”
“She had a choice. She just chose herself over the brother who died trying to save her and the rest of her siblings.”
“Howdareyou?!” Alice screams. “You don’t know anything about me or what I’ve been through! You have no idea what it’s like—”
Reid’s voice is hard when he interrupts. “I know more than you think. I heard you refused to help us even after ‘all you’ve been through’. That you blamed Raegan for your brother’s choice and for whatyoudid.” His eyes narrow. “I’ll never trust someone who shoves blame onto everyone else and then uses that as an excuse to attack them.”
Alice freezes.
“Wow!” Gabriel interjects, cutting through the thick tension. “She looks just like a mini-Reid, doesn’t she? You know… without the sharp jawline, chiseled body, and that perfected state of broodiness.”
“Reid, leave her be,” Tinsley urges softly. “If Raegan says she’s fine to be here, then you can trust her, right?”
His gaze pins Alice for another beat and then snaps to mine. I drop my chin in a small nod of agreement. I’m grateful Tinsley’shere since it seems she’s the only one he really listens to when he’s heated about something. She and Aiden. Sometimes me… unless he gets into big-brother mode, where he thinks he knows best.
Thankfully, he gives me an acknowledging nod. He takes Tinsley’s hand and walks away.
“Asshole,” Alice scathes, her body still trembling and hands clenched.
“I’m sorry about Reid,” I offer softly. “He has trust issues. Especially for anyone tied to Charles.”
“As if I had any choice in being born by him,” Alice argues hotly, then storms off.
I move to follow her, but Portia puts a hand on my arm. “I’ll go after her. We’ll go sit by that garden-looking area, okay?” She smiles and hurries after her. “Alice, wait up!”
Silas is the first to break the silence at the table. “Sooo, she seems like a real peach.”
Evie elbows him. “Don’t be a dick.”
Gabe hums. “I see her more as a lemon.” We all look at him for further explanation. “A bit sour at first but with the right amount of sugar sprinkled on top”—he motions sprinkling something over his other hand in a fist—“voilá! Citrusy sweetness.”
“No one eats lemons with sugar,” Silas counters. “Anyone who does must be a serial killer.”
Gabriel tuts. “So negative. I’ll bet you enjoy a fresh glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.”
“You didn’t say lemonade.”
Dane sighs, rubbing his hands over his face. “Don’t you all have something better to be doing?”
“Like kicking everyone’s asses at this game?” Silas jokes.
“Fabian’s the only one claiming that right now,” Evie muses as she picks up her cards.
Fabian shrugs and chews on his Twizzler.
“Where’s Cassandra?” I ask.
I found Zedd sleeping on the table behind Gabriel, so aside from Cibrina, who is most likely with Aiden, Cassandra is the only one missing.
