Junior was first. “Sooooo, Annie in your room?”
“Long story.” I lay down on the unmade bed and wiped my hands down my face. “Don’t worry about it.”
Serena was next. “You know, it’s okay to—”
“Finish that fucking sentence, and I’m pulling a gun.”
She snorted. “Please, I’ll just kick it out of your pathetic hand, you weak little lamb—besides, you’ve got a crush, which means you have a blind spot; I’d eat you alive cousin.”
I peeked through my fingers and burst out laughing. “Shit, you’re trying to get me to fight, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “Junior’s not rough anymore.”
“I could have gone my entire life without hearing that sentence, Serena,” I grumbled while Junior winked at her like he had plans later.
“Hate you guys.” I shot to my feet. “Where’s Valerian when you need him?”
“Actually, Dad said he’s flying down later this week. The Russians are concerned that if something happens to us, they’ll lose some of their most powerful allies.”
I frowned. “How sweet and uncharacteristic of them.”
“Exactly.” Junior snorted. “Oh, also, we’re staying for dinner too.”
“Is everyone staying for dinner?” I was already exhausted.
“With Annie and Tank here? It’s gonna be dinner and a show.” Serena rubbed her hands together. “And just so we’re all clear—you still hate her?”
“With every fiber of my dark soul,” I muttered.
Annie suddenly appeared at the door, her face blank. “Sorry, I uh, dropped my cell.” She scurried past Serena picked her phone off the floor, and then sprinted out of my room.
Most likely cursing me to hell the entire way.
“Did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I said to no one in particular.
“Course she did.” Junior winked. “She’s evil.”
“Aw.” Serena put a hand to her chest. “Thank you!”
“My evil queen,” he said gruffly.
“My wicked queen.” She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“Leave before I bleach my eyes!” I roared as they started making out right in front of me. “What the hell have I ever done to deserve this?” She was fucking climbing him like a tree.
And I wasn’t jealous.
At all.
Of the fact that they had each other and I had no one.
Or that even Tank—of all people—had the one person I hated more than anyone in this world.
So why had my heart felt like it missed a few beats when I’d thought there was a bomb?
And why did the thought of him touching her send me into an angry spiral that had me ready to break him in half?
Hate was a weird emotion.
But hate for the woman who you held responsible for your fiancée’s death?
Impossible to explain.
It could only be felt.
And I hated that every time I felt it—it felt wrong.
Chapter Four
Where do people go when they die? Somewhere down below or in the sky? ‘I can’t be sure,’ said Grandad, ‘but it seems they simply set up home inside our dreams.’— Jeanne Willis
Annie
Tank brought me back to my room and then said something about sparring down in the basement. He was so comfortable in this house, and yet I was the one who had lived here.
Who had a room here.
And I still always felt like I was an interloper.
Even though everyone treated me like family.
My room was the same, a dark navy blue with spouts of white on the walls, a gorgeous sitting area by a fireplace, and my own outdoor balcony.
I blamed that balcony for everything, so I gave it a wide berth as I slowly put my clothes away.
My eyes fall upon the cute pair of jeans I’d bought and the crop top that I’d been brave enough to purchase only because I’d had two full glasses of wine with my aunt before she took me to get new clothes.
Her idea.
She loved spending Chase’s money; she said so every time she swiped.
And maybe, just, maybe she knew that I felt too guilty to do said swiping, so took it upon herself to make sure it was used.
Both items still had tags on them.
Sad that I would probably never wear them.
“You’re wearing that.” Izzy’s voice fills the room.
“Agh!” I dropped the clothes. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
She waved me off, tossing her long dark hair over her shoulder. “Stop being dramatic. If I was trying to give you a heart attack I’d just inject you with one of the handy needles we keep in our cases, stops your heart instantly doesn’t even leave a mark, genius really—” She stopped talking, probably because I’d felt my body sway as all the blood drained from my face. She scrunched up her nose. “Sorry, I tend to get too detailed.”
“It’s okay.” I put a shaky hand to my chest. “Just not used to all the casual killer talk.”
“Meh, you’ll get there one day.” Her blue eyes lit up. “Okay so, I’m pretty sure Tank has the hots for you. He wouldn’t stop talking about picking you up the other day, which is weird since Ash was the one who— You know what? Never mind, Ash is an idiot; we don’t count him in this scenario.”