Page 14 of Shore Leave

Fucking hell, is a requirement for joining the club being hot? Loot and Kade are the other brothers I’ve gotten close to before. Clearly, I’ve been missing out.

My thoughts must be written all over my face because Aunt Dot shoots me a wink that has me slinking down even more into my chair.

The older man inclines his head slightly, his voice an intonation filled with authority, “Apostle. How can I help you?”

“Prez, this,” Apostle grips Aunt Dot’s shoulders and leads her back to her seat and helps her to sit, “is Mrs. Bisby. She works at the front desk at the school where Sioux works,” there’s a weight to his words along with a healthy dose of respect.

The younger of the two, who I can now see is Prodigal—and the VP—from his cut, grabs a fifth chair from close by as the three big men settle with us around the table. It’s almost stifling, but also thrilling in a sick, twisted sort of way.

What is wrong with me?

Lucifer and Prodigal are both wearing wedding bands and I’ve already met the woman Apostle is head over heels for. It’s not like I’m interested in any of them way.

Nope. My heart and body have decided there is only one man for us. Too bad he disappeared on me three months ago.

“Thank you for keeping an eye on our girl,” Lucifer’s voice is full of gratefulness. Apostle lets out a small growl that has me biting back a smile. All the older man does is shrug one shoulder like he doesn’t give a single fuck about Aposlte’s reaction. I’m sure he doesn’t. “What can we help you with?” He glances over at me, his eyes intently focusing on my body language before asking me, “Are you in some sort of trouble, honey?”

That has me sitting up straighter and I almost groan at how silly I’ve been acting. Does that stop me from saying one more little prayer about avoiding Kade? Not even a little bit.

“Not me,” I let him know, “my sister.”

Aunt Dot nods, her eyes sad and the expression on her face solemn. “Jennifer has always been a wild child,” she starts off her explanation about why we’re here and how long it’s been since she’s heard from my sister.

I kind of zone out a little as she talks. Not because I don’t care. I do care about my sister. Hell, I even love the woman. It’s just not easy for me because I made peace with the person Jennifer is a long time ago.

Jennifer is the embodiment of the Maya Angelou quote ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.’

I didn’t believe the first time because she’s my sister. I thought I was supposed to look past all the bad because of the bond we have forged in blood. I’ve learned that blood can betray you. Which is exactly what Jen did.

I do hope she’s okay, but I’m here more for my aunt than for my sister. Sad, but true.

I’m pulled from the memories of my sister—the spat words designed to wound, the lies she’d tell our parents, the way I found her fucking my boyfriend—when the atmosphere in the room changes. Goosebumps cover my skin and the fine hair on my arms stand on end.

Fuck. He’s here.

I want to look around, but I force myself to stare at my aunt. I don’t even look at the three men, who are wearing matching stoically sympathetic expressions, with more than my peripheral vision.

“Emery?”

I jolt a little and snap my gaze toward the man who just called my name. Not because it was Kade. Nope. Because it’s Loot.

I give him a small smile and murmur, “Hi, Loot.”

Since my client, and kind of friend, is standing next to the man who stole my heart three months ago in the span of only a few hours, I don’t miss the way Kade narrows his eyes and looks between Loot and myself. Loot doesn’t notice, but someone did because one of the men at the table with us mutters, “Well, shit.”

Kade’s voice is full off accusation which isn’t warranted at all, “How the fuck do you know Emery?”

Loot’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and he opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I look over to Lucifer. The man’s eyes are practically dancing with amusement. Yeah, I’m not interested in being their entertainment.

I grit out through my teeth, “Are you going to help find my sister? If not, then I think it’s time for me to take Aunt Dot home.”

Lucifer leans back in his chair like he’s thinking about it, and I glance over at my aunt who is staring at Kade in a way that has my skin crawling. There’s no interest there, but she definitely is studying him like he’s a puzzle and she’s about to solve him.

Which means she’ll solve me, and that shit cannot happen.

The need to run, which feels like fire licking at my heels, is almost overwhelming.

“I fucking asked you a question, Loot,” Kade growls.

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