Page 43 of Ruined

I couldn't hold back a smile at their obvious enjoyment of life.

It faded when I wondered if I'd be like that if not for Kurt. I had a vague memory of being more outgoing and bubbly when I wasn't sneaking around assassinating people. I might still be like that. I'd never know for sure.

"If we didn't say it before, we're sorry for what happened to you," Hunter said, in a rare moment of seriousness and sincerity. "That was fucked up. This might sound weird, but you're kinda like a sister to us. If someone does something to anyone in our family, we take it personally. Whatever it takes to deal with Lasalle, we're both in."

"Balls deep," Parker agreed. "Once again, not literally. If I meant that literally, Reuben would probably tear mine off. Since I’m attached to my balls, I will stick to speaking figuratively. But like Hunter said, you're like a sister to us, so that would be fucked up."

"You two are crazy, but you're sweet," I said.

They both grinned.

"That's what we keep telling everyone," Hunter said. "It's about time someone believed us." He offered his twin a fist bump.

Parker bumped, then offered him a high five.

I cocked my head at them. "I'm surprised you don't have a secret handshake."

"Who says we don't?" Hunter asked. "If we showed you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore. Although, if we were going to show anyone, it would probably be you. You're the cool, big sister we never had."

"No one has ever called me that before," I said. Tears prickled in the corners of my eyes.

"Which one?" Parker asked.

"Both," I replied. "Cool, or big sister. I'm the youngest in my family."

"You were the youngest," Parker corrected. "Now you're our family and we're the youngest. As far as we know."

If we kept talking like this, I was going to get choked up with emotion. That wasn't something any of us had time for right now. But I admit, this conversation made me feel warm inside. I'd be happy to have the twins as my younger brothers. From now on, I had their backs and they had mine.

I cleared my throat. "If we don't hurry, Damon and Gianni might leave without us."

They'd do exactly that if Reuben told them to. Honestly, I half expected to step out of the front of the house to see the SUV driving through the gates and away.

Instead, Gianni and Damon sat in the front of the dark vehicle, waiting for us with various levels of patience. Gianni looked relaxed, Damon looked on edge. So, the usual for them both.

I slid into the back and the twins walked around the other side to climb in with me.

Hunter clicked his seatbelt and rubbed his hands together. "It's party time."

"We're just going for a chat," Damon reminded him.

"That's where it starts," Hunter said. "We'll see where it ends."

I hoped a chat was all it would be, but I wasn't naïve enough to think anything would be that simple.

Nothing was yet.

CHAPTER 17

DAMON

"Try not to look too conspicuous." I addressed the remark to Gianni and the twins. I didn't have to tell Mina that. In spite of being stunning, she knew how to blend into her surroundings. She held herself with a casual alertness that wouldn't draw excessive attention.

Gianni and the twins on the other hand, did nothing to disappear into the background.

Hunter and Parker walked behind Mina, and Gianni beside her, looking like a guard of honour. Somewhat appropriate, given she was a queen, but in no way subtle.

"Have you forgotten this is Dusk Bay?" Hunter asked. "Everyone knows us here. They know who we are and what we do. At least three people have crossed to the other side of the road instead of walking past us, and we've only been here for a handful of minutes."

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