Chapter Nine

Christmas music filled the air. People jostled everyone else from every direction. Kids screamed while their stressed parents tried forging ahead. Every year, London wondered why this particular holiday still held such a high level of importance to people. He was certain no one actually enjoyed it. Their debt got higher, spending money on people they barely tolerated. They spent even more money on alcohol just so they could stand to be around them for longer than an hour. It was insanity. This was the first year he felt any holiday cheer.

With a smile lingering on his lips, he watched Casper flit from aisle to aisle, oohing and aahing over everything he came to—like a child high on sugar. He was adorable. It felt like longer than two months since they met. Vic and Olek had been thrilled to learn Casper intended to stay with him. Sometimes, he would catch the pair smiling at him knowingly. For a second, he would wonder if they had somehow known. Somehow planned for London to fall the way he had. It was like they purposely set London in Casper's path. Maybe they had, or maybe he had just been given a miracle.

Casper had lasted two weeks after agreeing to stay with him before deciding he would give up his duplex. They hadn't told Carver yet. Casper worried about his twin's reaction. Even though Casper hadn't been there in months, and Carver knew he already stayed with London, the pair had never officially lived farther apart than next door. London didn't think he had anything to worry about. He had a feeling that closeness had always been more for Casper's sake than Carver's. To him, Carver seemed like the hyper independent type. They were twins, though. London knew they were close. He would handle things however Casper wanted.

"Look what I found." Casper's eyes swam with happiness.

London pasted on a supportive smile. He wasn't much of a shopper. He eyed the outfit Casper held. It was form-fitting and black lace over a nude-colored material. The outfit was a shirt and shorts one-piece combo. He assumed it was meant to look as if the wearer only wore strategically placed lace. His eyebrows rose. "I could see you in that."

Casper laughed. "I meant for my mom. She's still every bit as beautiful as she was at the height of her career. She dresses like it too." Casper eyed the outfit. "I might be able to pull it off too, though." He glanced around. "I wonder if they have a dressing room."

London spotted the sign. "That way."

He followed on Casper's heels and played the put-upon man while Casper headed inside the dressing room. Truthfully, as long as they were together, London was always happy to do whatever. Existence was better for him than it had ever been. He knew how lucky he was to have Casper.

His phone rang. London checked the face. It was Ransom. He pressed the device to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, London. It's Ransom. Do you have a minute?"

"Yeah. Casper is trying on clothes."

"Good. He's safely with you."

London's eyebrows rose at the comment. "Yes. Why do you put it that way?"

"I just heard back from my contact at the bureau. He's been slammed and couldn't reach out sooner. They did an autopsy on Diego. The dude's been dead for close to three months."

London's heart stopped before speeding into overdrive. His gaze moved toward the dressing room. "That means—"

"He can't be the twins' stalker," Ransom finished for him.

The dressing room door opened. Casper's smiling face peered out. He waved for London to join him.

"I'll take care of Casper."

"I know you will. But I still wanted to give you a heads-up."

"Thanks, man."

"Anytime."

London stuffed the phone back into his pocket. He headed Casper's way. Nothing had happened since Casper came to live with him. But London knew now he had to stay vigilant. He couldn't let Casper out his sight. While London had no clue what was happening, he knew Casper was safe. He would never let anything bad happen to him, as long as they both lived. They were good.

Keep an eye out for part two, Treat . Tricky and Treat have concurrent running timelines. Part two will start back from the beginning from Carver's point of view.