Page 65 of Tainted Love

She reads everything she needs off my face. “Okay,” she says with a nod.

It’s strange to be back here. Almost surreal. The last time my siblings and I were here together, we were stacking these boxes. Elijah and me with packing tape. Lilah with a big, black marker, labeling each box on the off chance any of us ever came back here someday.

Elijah’s Junk. Dante’s Crap. Lilah’s Treasures.

That was ten years ago, give or take. We tracked down every record of this place and burned it to keep it safe. I’ve honestly forgotten what crap I decided was important enough to keep stashed away out here. I supposed that’s part of the job I committed myself to. No attachments. Take only what you need to survive. Who you are isn’t important anymore. The job is all there is. Your squad is all you need.

“I almost forgot about this stuff…” Lilah says, sliding a finger across the top of her own dusty box.

“You read my mind,” I reply. “Not sure I even want to know what’s inside anymore.”

“Could be fun to dig in again. Crack open a six-pack, laugh at our old photos.”

“Maybe.” My eyes linger on the walls around me, stalling so I don’t feel tempted. “Or this stuff was forgotten about for a reason.”

Lilah slides her boxes aside with her foot to get around them. “So, she’s pissed at you.”

I bite my cheek but push aside the frustration. “Yes, she is.”

“Does that have to do with her injury or you cuffing her?”

“Both.”

Her brows bounce. “Yikes.”

“There.”

I point upward, noticing the horizontal bars hanging on the wall above the side door, covered in dust and spiderwebs. I walk over to pull them down.

“God, I hated these things…” Lilah mutters, her button nose turning upward. “They were great for hitting you guys with, though. Fair warning to you.”

I go back to the house while Lilah pulls the door closed behind us.

Chapter 21

Lucy

“Well, that’s better.”

He extends his gloved hand to me as Dante’s hard steps disappear down the stairs with the mysterious redhead.

“Elijah Hart,” he greets.

“Lucy Vaughn,” I whisper, shaking his hand.

“When did this happen to you, Lucy?” he asks, looking back at my knee again.

I chuckle. “You tell me.”

He grins, chewing on his lip. “Couple hours. Five tops.”

“Not bad. So, you and Lilah are…?”

“Dante’s twin siblings.” He sifts through his bag again and pulls out a small, zipped-up case. “He didn’t mention us?”

I shrug. “I’ve known him for two days.”

“Ah.”

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