Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 734

Charles leaned over from the passenger seat, grinning. "Sis, are you and your

boyfriend really that close? You have to check in with him every time you go out? I barely ever tell my brothers where I'm going-or when I'm coming back. I just do my own thing."

Clara felt her cheeks warm. She hadn't even realized she was doing it, but she had glanced back earlier and seen Dylan sitting by himself, looking so alone. The sight lingered in her mind.

She wished his world was always full of laughter and people, not so quiet-like he was always waiting for someone who never showed up. That lonely look on his face made her uncomfortable.

She kept her eyes on the road, already used to Charles's straightforward, almost childlike honesty. Other people thought he was a bit slow, but she never saw him that way. "Hey, want to come with me somewhere tonight?" she asked.

"Sure, wherever you go, I'll come along," Charles replied, sounding so sincere it pulled at her heart a little. She couldn't quite remember how they'd met, but being around him felt easy and safe.

Charles folded his arms and turned to the two dogs in the backseat. "You two better behave. If you make trouble, I'm never letting you ride in my sister's car again."

Milo and Buddy, both smart as ever, barked once and settled down instantly.

Clara drove them across town to Z's old place. The place was just a shell now, the remains of what used to be a home. A heavy rain a few days ago had washed away any lingering scents. If not, she might've let Milo and Buddy try to track something.

As they got out of the car, Charles looked around with his hands on his hips. "Someone actually lived here? This place is trashed. Why'd you bring us here?"

used to stand. Last time she came, Z told her it was for his brother.

glanced at Charles, not sure what he could do but hoping for something. "There was an accident here," she said quietly. "Someone I cared about

powder and sniffed it. "Someone set off a bomb here. I don't know how things work in this country, but back in North America, you need permits and paperwork for this kind of stuff. Guns, sure, but explosives? That's a whole process. Usually, you just track down who bought the materials. But here, with all the online

next to him. "It'd have to be someone powerful to make something like

nodded. "So, who was it?

hesitated, then said, "Someone

Dylan. He's crazy about you, you know. People think I'm slow, but I see things. When you were

herself smiling. She never expected

feel this comfortable around him. Somewhere along the way, she'd stopped seeing him

you mean by 'don't

hands, standing up with a little swagger. "You think he's

guess

her into things she wasn't ready for, she still pictured him as untouchable, above it

his foot. "Doesn't look that way to me. I ran into him once, back in North America.

to steer clear. Honestly,

just gave of this weird energy. Can't put my finger on

and Buddy sniffing around. "Can you