Page 47 of A Very Addicted Christmas

DURING CHAPTER 37 IN SINFUL LIKE US

We listened to "Nothing Else Matters" by Miley Cyruswhile writing this bonus scene.

Character List:

Jack Highland - 27

Jane Cobalt - 23

Maximoff Hale - 23

Charlie Cobalt - 21

Joana Oliveira - 19

Bodyguards:

Oscar Oliveira - 31 Omega(Current Client: Charlie Cobalt)

Farrow Keene - 28 Omega(Current Client: Maximoff Hale)

Tony Ramella - 28 Epsilon(Current Client: Jane Cobalt)

Thatcher Moretti - 28 Omega(Current Client: Xander Hale)

O’Malley - 27 Epsilon(Current Client: Beckett Cobalt)

Paul Donnelly - 27 Omega(Current Client: Xander Hale)

Akara Kitsuwon - 27 Omega Lead(Current Client: Sullivan Meadows)

Quinn Oliveira - 21 Omega(Current Client: Luna Hale)

OSCAR OLIVEIRA

“COME ON THE TRIP, Joana. You can be my plus-one, Joana. You’ve never been to Scotland before, Joana. Don’t you want to spend time with your big bros, Joana? It’ll only be a week, Joana,” my baby sis mimics me with a deep, nasally voice. “Twenty snowed-in days later…” She tightens hand-wraps around her wrist with forceful frustration.

I lean on the banister while she’s seated on the carpeted staircase, stuck inside the chilly Mackintosh House. It’s early morning, and I went to her room to check on her—and I found her here. White boxing gloves at her side while she wraps her hands.

I tell my sister, “If you want to imitate me, you can go less hard on the Kermit the Frog voice.” Jo almost laughs, but I power on. “And let’s not forget that you accepted the invite in two seconds.” I touch theYaleletters of my sweatshirt. “I didn’t need to grovel or use handcuffs to drag your ass here.”

Her lips rise into a fleeting smile.

She knows I’m referring to Beckett Cobalt, who was legitimately handcuffed on the plane to Scotland. But I don’t want to breathe out his name in front of my sister. Alluding to him is already way too much.

Beckett has been staring at her enough this trip, and I’d rather not push Joana into the New York scene that he’s a part of.

She can find a different friend group. Something less…that.

Jo loops the wrap between her fingers, then looks at me pointedly. “I actually wanted to come, so yeah, you didn’t have to drag me here.”

Before the trip, I FaceTimed Joana and told her that Maximoff Hale was letting all of us bring plus-ones, and I wanted to know if she’d like to go to Scotland with us.

Jo sounded shocked. “Really? With you and Quinn? To Scotland? What should I pack, big bro?” I saw her fling a suitcase on the bed. “This is like a work thing for you, so Maximoff Hale is going?—what other family members are going? How many Cobalts? Hales? Is Sullivan Meadows going? When is it?”

She wantedallthe details, but only after she already accepted the invite.

Underneath all the teenage attitude this morning, I understand why she’s been disgruntled.

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