Page 6 of Mad Love

Elijah points a firm finger at her. “Stop doing that.”

Her hands quickly rise in surrender. “Sorry! It just tickles.”

“If you didn’t want to deal with itchy bandages then you shouldn’t have dislocated your own thumb.”

Lucy opens her mouth to argue but thinks twice. “Okay, you have a point.”

I set my mug down on the cabinet next to the coffee pot. “Don’t scold her for being a badass,” I say to Elijah. “I would have done the same if Dante pulled that crap with me.”

He glares. “As a medical professional, I have an obligation to urge members of my family to stop hurting themselves.”

“And as a woman who used to be outnumbered by her brothers, I have an obligation to stick up for the new girl.” I smile at Lucy beside me. “You go, Lucy. Girl power. Fight the man.”

She beams at me. “Thank you, Lilah.”

Elijah sighs. “Fine. Do what you want. Just don’t expect me to stitch you up every time.”

I scoff. “Yes, you will.”

“You’re right. Damn this familial love thing.”

“And to answer your question, Lucy…” I say. “Yes. I’m starving.”

“Good,” she says. “Bacon and scrambled eggs are coming soon.”

“You…” I point at her as I pour myself a fresh cup of coffee. “I like you.”

She chuckles. “The way to the Harts is through their stomachs.”

I never had a sister. Never really wanted one. But I adore Lucy Vaughn. Elijah is right. She couldn’t have come into our lives at a better time. After two decades of taking care of us, Dante’s finally found someone worthy enough to take care of him. It makes the idea of us separating again much easier to swallow.

Elijah points over his shoulder. “I’ll go grab my medkit,” he says, casting a quick glare at Lucy’s now imperfect bandage. “Don’t fiddle with it anymore until I get back.”

She winks at him. “Okay, Eli.”

He walks off, slightly stomping as he makes his way up the creaky stairs to the second floor.

We wait until he’s out of earshot before laughing.

“He really takes his work seriously, doesn’t he?” she asks me.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” I say, waving a hand. “You should see him if you accidentally rip out your stitches.”

She flinches. “Ouch. You’ve done that?”

I nod as I sip my coffee. “It was an unfortunate career hazard. I guess those days are over with now...”

Lucy cracks a few eggs into a mixing bowl. “What are you guys going to do?”

I’ve spent my entire adult life as an assassin for Snake Eyes. Daily life was a mystery. Any mission could have been my last. I never thought I’d live to even get the chance to experience a seemingly normal life. I’m not even sure I ever wanted to.

I shake my head. “I have no idea.”

* * *

“Does that hurt?”

Lucy doesn’t flinch as Elijah presses into her purple wrist. “No,” she answers.

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