Page 15 of Fatal Vengeance

I gave Creed and Griffin a quick peck on the lips, blushing like a virgin because Genevieve watched me do it, and then I avoided Asher’s eyes and all but ran into my sister’s room.

I take the ice cream with a smile, shoving a big bite into my mouth and then mumbling, “About what?”

She raises her brows at me as she digs her spoon into the tub. “If you have something more shocking than a harem of guys all drooling after you, then I’m all ears. But if not, then you know damn well what I’m curious about.”

I give her a flat look. “I think being hunted down by a bunch of psychos is more shocking than three guys wanting to get laid,” I drawl.

Genevieve rolls her eyes and sinks her spoon into the ice cream so she can tie her hair up into a messy bun. As she does it, she says, “Yeah, but we’re not talking about that tonight. Tomorrow, we can all get back to real life and the danger you four have potentially dropped me into, but tonight I want to get to know my sister and talk about stupid shit until we’ve eaten enough ice cream to make us sick.” When she’s finished, she drops her hands into her lap and gives me a sheepish smile, murmuring, “I’ve always wanted a sister and now I have one, so I’m sorry, but I fully intend of making up for lost time. So start with the easy stuff — boys — and we’ll go from there, hmm?”

I only need a second to think about it and then I’m grinning around my spoonful of ice cream. “What do you want to know?”

She bites her lip like she’s holding in her glee, her eyes lit up with excitement. It’s enough to make me laugh and also worry me about the slew of dirty questions I’m surely about to get.

“Which one fucks the best?” she whispers conspiratorially, just diving right into the deep end.

I nearly choke on my mouthful, being very careful to swallow the sugary goodness down properly while I fight my crimson cheeks. “Um, I wouldn’t know. I’ve only been with Creed. I’ve done… other things with Griffin and kissed Asher, but I’ve only slept with Creed.”

She hums and nods, looking back at her closed door as if she can see the guys through the wood. “But you want to sleep with the other two, right? Even Asher?” she asks carefully, trying not to sound judgy, but her nose crinkles up when she says Asher’s name.

I breathe out a strained laugh, shaking my head at myself. “Yes. And I know that’s awful of me. I mean, Asher bullied me for months, we’ve been at each other’s throats, and yet…” I trail off with a helpless shrug. I have no idea how to make it make sense for myself, so I can’t very well explain my feelings to someone else.

But my sister nods again like she gets it, and there’s not even a trace of judgement in her eyes. “And yet, you want him. Despite everything. I saw that kiss; I know passion and need when I see it.” I must look guilty or something, because she puts her hand on my knee and squeezes, and then adds, “Feelings are complicated. The line between hate and love is scarily thin. You don’t have to try to explain that to me.”

I’m shaking my head before she even finishes. “I don’t love him. That line is thicker between Asher and I. I’m pretty sure I still mostly hate him. Like, I fantasize about ramming my knee into his dick as payback for all he’s done to me. I just… want to sleep with him. Get it out of my system so I can stop drooling over how fucking hot he is, you know?”

She purses her lips at me, a clear sign she isn’t believing me at all. “Right. Well, here’s my totally unsolicited advice. Fuck him, hard and angry. Get all that bad energy out, and then I think you’ll realize you don’t actually hate him. But make him work for it. After everything he did, even if it was at someone else’s command, that guy needs to crawl on his hands and knees through broken glass before you let him between your legs or anywhere near your heart.”

I sigh and shove another huge spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. It’s mostly me eating it, but fuck it, I need it. “I know. You’re right. The other day was… fuck, I don’t know. I was tired and horny and still high on adrenaline from having to run again. I acted without thinking. But he’s not going to win me over that easily.”

Even if I have to remind myself of that every single day.

“Good. Okay. So, want to hear about my high school dating horror stories? Liking boys and girls made me a fucking disaster.”

I grin, feeling like a normal person for possibly the first time in my life. “Absolutely,” I tell my sister as I get more comfortable on her bed.

We spend the rest of the night talking about nonsense things like crushes and school and the best ways to style our matching red hair. Nothing serious or depressing, as if our lives aren't one big, giant shit show. It’s exactly what I needed and for a few hours, at least, I forget all about The Celestials trying to murder us all.

12

Griffin

"I'm going to bed," Creed tells us, looking like a sad fucking puppy at the thought of Prudence hiding away with her sister all night. I know, like me, Creed is happy for Prudence to have met Genevieve, but he's also very attached and protective over her. I can't say I blame him, because I get twitchy if I don't have my eyes on her for too long, but I also know she's safe and right down the hall. Creed just needs to mope it out and he'll be fine.

"Night, man," Asher drawls, and I salute him in farewell.

Once the guest bedroom door shuts, and it's just Asher and I out here on the couch, he looks over at me. "What do you think about Genevieve?" he asks quietly, just in case the girls can hear us, but I highly doubt it.

I lean back and spread my legs as I get comfortable on the couch and think that over. Shrugging, I say, "I like her. And I'm glad you found her. I think she'll be good for Prudence. She deserves to have at least one family member who isn't dead or dangerous."

Asher mulls that over, slowly nodding as he puts his arm across the back of the couch behind me. "I like her too," he says casually, and when I shoot him an incredulous look, he breathes out a laugh. "What? My default setting isn't hate everybody, you know."

"She's been busting your damn balls from the second you walked into this cabin," I point out with a smile.

Asher rolls his eyes, but he's smiling too. "Yeah, I know. That's how I know those two are really related. And she might get under my damn skin, but I like the way she steps in to protect Prudence when I'm being an asshole."

I raise my brows. "Which is all the time."

"Shut the hell up," he laughs. "Only like ninety percent of the time."

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