Page 110 of Queen of Spades

The layout of the kitchen and the living room.

Even the fireplace, with the picture of all of us.

The wall of windows straight ahead with the glass door that I know will lead to the other side of the wraparound porch.

I step out of Ward’s grip and spin in a circle as my hand flies to cover my mouth.

“Why is she crying?” Ranger growls. “You said she’d like it.”

I spin around in time to see Vale smack the crap out of Ranger right in the gut.

“She does like it, you goofball.” She gives me a soft smile.

It’s a very mom-like smile. One that I never would have seen cross my mother’s face.

I have absolutely lost my mind as I rush her, pulling her in for a hug. She doesn’t back away. If anything, I think she pulls me deeper into her hold. Maybe it’s because I’ve been surrounded by an insane amount of testosterone recently, but I really need the feminine energy in this hug.

Her strawberry scent floods my nose as her hand runs up and down my back.

Vale’s scent is similar to Lyra’s, and it makes my heart ache.

No matter if she sold me out or not, I still need her to be okay. Lyra had a rougher go of it in life than I did. She was just doing her best to survive.

“Say the things we practiced,” Vale says.

My eyes fly down to hers, but she’s looking at Ranger.

“Can’t you?” my brother mutters.

I almost snort at how petulant he sounds.

“It’ll mean more if you say it.” Vale pats my back and turns us until I can see Ranger’s face.

His cheeks seem slightly pink as he shrugs. “I thought I found you last year. There were enough accounts that it convinced me you were in DC. That’s a whole different can of worms. I had construction started on this with the intent of offering it to you as incentive to come home.”

“This is not what we practiced,” Vale says.

My eyes widen, and she smiles politely.

“I was going to ask you to trust me.” Ranger clears his throat. “Only, it wasn’t you, but someone who looked enough like you that, to the informants who had never seen you in person…”

“It really is striking how much she and Kate look alike.” Vale laughs. “I totally get why you weren’t having a single bit of people trying to ship the two of you.” She looks from Ranger to me. “Kate visiting me at work is how reports got started of you being in DC.”

“Kate is the omega that escaped Lucien Andretti,” Kane says, pulling me into his chest.

“And she’s the one who lives with you?” I ask, twisting to see Ranger’s face.

He nods. “Her entire pack does, for the moment. Once Lucien is handled, she’ll be free, but until then…”

“So, you know Kane and I took out Ezrah,” Grady says conversationally.

“Lexie confirmed he was among the bodies.” Ranger clasps his hands in front of his waist. “I have gained invaluable information from Kate. I feel confident that we can end the threat once and for all. I would like your pack to join me in the assault of the Andretti compound.”

My heart drops into my stomach.

That sounds way too dangerous.

“All of that can wait until my second gift arrives,” Ranger says. “In the meantime, you and Vale can check out the home you designed. It took me several weeks of flipping through your old notebooks to find it.” He gives a smile, but they always seem forced on his face. “I remembered you speaking with such enthusiasm when you showed it to me. The architect did take a few liberties here or there, but I hope you’ll accept it.”

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