Page 11 of King of Tides

It was how Mack made sure to keep the lights on. At the time, he had three of us runaways to look after. In those days, Hydra was where the nightlife was. He didn’t much like us kids around all of that. Especially not me. Eddy and Carson loved to sneak downstairs from the apartment we lived in over the gym.

That particular night, Eddy had dared me to join them as they snuck to watch one of our favorite fighters in a match. I took the dare and ended up in the middle of Candido extorting that same fighter—trying to get him to throw the fight. Candido and his men had threatened to place a duffel full of coke in his locker to frame him. One of his men caught me watching in shock and brought attention to me.

To this day, I can’t remember the face of the guy who stepped in to save me. I can remember the cut he wore, nothing else. It was an Immortal Iron Brothers cut—something I only remembered after running into my neighbor for the first time.

Since running into him, a few things about that night have come back to me. I remember the guy being upset because Candido wanted to off me. They argued about making me forget if they weren’t going to kill me. The biker had been upset about both options.

While I can’t remember what the biker looked like. I never forgot that Candido Ricci was an asshole and an evil man. Whatever the biker did, he didn’t erase what I had learned about Ricci.

That’s what made me become a cop. I remembered his evil ways and wanted him to pay for what he did to that fighter andwhat he tried to do to me. I have seen Candido for the man he is since that night.

The problem is no one else does. People sing his praises all the time. I know better and have been trying to get my commander to see what I know deep down inside. If we were to dig into the Riccis, we would find so much more.

“Hey, you going for a swim or are you just going to investigate the water? What crimes did it commit?” Eddy taunts, pulling me from my thoughts.

I place my hands on my hips and frown as I turn to look up at him. He has a smile on his handsome face. Eddy was Mack’s last stray but he’s the oldest out of the three of us.

“Shouldn’t you be flying a plane somewhere? I thought you were going to Fiji or something.”

He releases a short laugh and shakes his head. “That was two months ago. At least you care enough to know I’m a pilot.”

“I care, you know I care,” I say and scowl.

He opens his arms and waves me over to him. I go to move into his embrace. He engulfs me in his big, strong arms.

I still remember the day I allowed him to hug me for the first time. I had been upset about a fight I had with some girls at school. It wasn’t actually a fight. They tried to jump me and failed.

I had broken down and cried after I whipped their asses and made it home, where I could lick my wounds. I hadn’t done anything to any of them. One of them had been a friend, or so I thought.

Eddy had just been the first to find me. I was vulnerable in the moment, and he took me by surprise when he hugged me. It was foreign at the time, but something I needed. We’ve had a bond ever since.

“I know you care in your own way,” he says into the top of my hair as he towers over me. “Mack’s worried about you. He feelslike you’ve been pushing everyone away more than usual. What did I tell you about that shit?

“We’re your family. I know you can handle yourself, but we’re always here to protect and support you. You don’t have to be alone, Billy.”

“I’m fine. You guys can stop worrying about me.”

“We will always worry about you. You’re our little sister and Mack’s little girl. Besides, I get it. I know where we come from and how important it is to do things on our own.” He pulls away and looks me in the eyes. “We just need you to remember that you have people who care. Don’t let the job consume you, sis.

“It’s okay to keep up with us and know where the fuck we are. Fiji?” he snorts and shakes his head.

“I know you were in London. I just don’t want you thinking too much of yourself,” I say with a smile.

“You’re the only woman who hasn’t had a crush on me and demands to cling to me. It’s why I love to see this face.”

“Ew, you’re my brother and that’s totally gross.”

“Not your brother by blood and Carson has known you longer than I have.”

I shrug. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know he’s crazy about you. Yet you keep shutting him down.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys are upset that I’m shutting y’all out as family? Could you imagine what it’s like dating me? I’m doing him a favor, trust me.”

Eddy places a hand over his belly and laughs. I punch him in the shoulder. With a smile, he wraps the crook of his arm around my head and tugs me in.

“Come on. I want some tacos. Let’s hit our spot.”

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