Page 21 of Broken Princess

“I’ll see what I can do. Anything else you can think of?”

“I’m guessing this is my room for the foreseeable?” I nod. “In that case, the coffee machine lives here now. And I need something for streaming and… a book.”

“On it,” I say and turn to get started on her list of very reasonable demands. As I pass the couch, I pick up my e-reader and take it to her. “Don’t fill it up with girly shit.”

“Don’t tempt me,” she smirks. As she skims through my library, she raises an eyebrow in judgement. “What is all this closed-door bullshit?” She starts tapping away at the screen. “Time to completely fuck up your recommendations algorithm.”

I roll my eyes and leave her to it, heading upstairs to forage for her supplies. I make a pit stop in my room for a tablet and make sure my streaming accounts are logged in. After which I swing by Nico’s & Benny’s room. Technically, Benny has his own room but he’s always in Nico’s. It’s more theirs than his. I knock and wait until I hear Nico shout for me to come in.

“Is one of you free to take some stuff to Aurora and keep her company?”

Nico stirs from his slouched position by the headboard. “I am. Enzo has some jobs for Benny, so I’m this afternoon’s babysitter.”

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” I snap. “She does not need to think we begrudge her anything, you got it?” I shout a little more aggressively than is necessary. I know him well enough to know he meant nothing by it, but Aurora isn’t an imposition, and I won’t have him implying she is.

“Sorry,” he grunts, sounding pissed-off but his expression is sheepish.

I shake my head and glare, but ultimately it fades away as I hand him the tablet. “She wants to watch something so, I don’t know, take some snacks and hang out.”

“I swear if I get stuck watching The Notebook or some shit, you’ll pay for this, Sin,” he half jokes.

“Like you didn’t love watching it,” Benny pipes up, walking in from the bathroom, towel slung low round his hips.

“Watch yourself, Bambi,” Nico says, glaring hard as Benny curls himself around him. “Quit dripping all over me, you dick.” Nico squirms out of Benny’s hold.

There’s a bit of me that smiles internally at watching these two bicker like teenagers. Nico can be one of the meanest, most lethal bastards I know, and Benny’s fascination with blowing stuff up borders on compulsive. How they behave may appear immature on the surface, but they have a deep respect for each other. They truly care and it’s… I don’t know… reassuring, comforting, refreshing… It’s something. I like that they’re a part of our family.

That’s what this is—a family. A collection of the discarded and unclaimed. No one wanted us, and somehow we found each other—and more importantly—we kept each other.

“Anyway, go watch some trash and bring her snacks. Oh, and her med schedule is on the chart down there. In a few hours, she’ll need more painkillers and antibiotics.” I turn to Benny. “You got a full schedule, or can I add something to your list of errands?”

“Whatcha’ need, Sin?”

“Underwear for her,” I cough out. “But you can’t be seen buying women’s underwear.”

“Judgemental fucker.”

“I don’t mean like that, you twat. You can’t be seen buying provisions for a woman right now.”

“Oh, yeah, well… that makes sense. I’m on it.” He nods and turns to grab his gear—dark pants, black tee.

“What are you up to tonight?” I probe.

“Recon. Locating and observing some of the capos to help us figure out their current loyalty. Seems a bit pointless in my opinion. I don’t think we should trust anyone. But information is power, I guess.”

“Be careful, you’re beginning to sound like Zo. And here I thought you’d hang on to your Peter Pan complex like a security blanket forever,” I mock.

“Fuck all the way off, Sinclair.”

“I’m out of here. Copy me in on any info you think could help my surveillances.”

“Already got that order from Zo,” he confirms.

As I leave the room, I can hear the unmistakable sound of someone shoving their tongue down someone’s throat and I shake my head with an amused grin on my face. Ah, young love.

Time to get to work. We need information. We need leverage. We need to know what the fuck we’re up against.

No matter what it takes, Max will pay for this. I’m going to make damn sure of it.

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