Page 13 of My Pucking Family

Roman speaks again, “Sweetheart, how about you grab your phone and we’ll go upstairs and sit under your twinkle lights, and I’ll call Benny to grab some dinner? What would you like to eat?”

“Oh, I'm starving. Can I have a big greasy cheeseburger with onion rings and a cookies and cream shake?”

Roman just looks at me like I hung the moon when he says, “I’d hand you the heart in my chest if you asked for it. I’ll have Benny get your food. Grab your phone.”

As soon as my phone is in my hands, he scoops me back up into his arms, and we head upstairs.

11

Each ring of the phone in my ear pisses me off even more until he finally answers. “You fucked up!” I screech.

“Stop acting like a banshee and explain why you’re having a temper tantrum, India.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You don’t know, do you?”

His silence causes me to laugh even harder.

“Care to elaborate what it is you’re on about?”

“You failed again, and we won’t get another chance, Avram.”

“I said, what is it you're on about? I’m growing irritated.”

“I said you failed! He has her. Roman has the girl. And better yet, he says she’s his mate!” I scream into the phone.

“I figured she might be when I stopped by the house and realized she carried the same scent as the first peasant. Elaborate on what you mean by he has her? I was just at the house yesterday.”

“What the fuck else could I mean when I say he has her, you pompous ass?! He has her. In his arms. Right. Now. I was just there to try and get closer to him in his time of need, and you fucked it all up again!”

My lips pull into a feral grin when he roars into the phone as I hang up to let him stew in his failure.

12

After finally dealing with India—the way I should have a long time ago—we all ate dinner together on the roof. When I asked Benny to bring Leera and me some food, I didn’t expect him to show up hauling multiple bags of food with everyone on his heels. We sat under the twinkle lights that she loves so much and had a meal together…like a family...because she’s finallyhome.Here with me, where she belongs. It may take her longer to get there, but it's only home when she's here. My men feel it too. The way her being here just makes everything feel right. Complete.

This is my family, and I'll do anything to protect them. I would take on the Goddess herself if she tried to take her from me again or take any of them.

We finished eating a while ago, and the men took thetrash downstairs and went to take care of their own business. We’ve just been sitting here in comfortable silence ever since, appreciating the moment while she texts with Zoey.

Leera shivers, and I realize that she's still just wearing my t-shirt and socks.

“Alright, time to go in. I saw that shiver,” I announce.

“You've been keeping me warm this whole time. It was just a little shiver,” she pouts.

I scoop her into my arms and make my way towards the stairs. “How about a bubble bath?”

Her eyes light up, and she melts into me. “Ugh, that sounds like heaven,” she groans, and I will my body to ignore it.

I figured she'd like to wash the experience off and come out feeling refreshed. Still holding her, I navigate the stairs and halls until I reach my room—our room—and lay her on the bed while I prepare her bath.

After Leera’s first overnight visit, I asked Matilda to stock my bathroom with girly things she might want or need. I even picked out a few things that were recommended on Pinterest again. She’s loved everything I found on there so far.

I rummage through the cabinets, and once I find everything I want, I set it all on the counter. I light a few candles, placing them around the tub. I fill the tub with skin-melting hot water—her exact words—and add some calming chamomile and lavender bubble bath for her.

While it’s filling up, I arrange a bunch of other chick shit along the counter for when she’s finished: some weird little pink things that say they’re eye masks, a strange, handheld machine that says it’s a facial massager, honeysuckle body lotion, a clean pair of fuzzy pink socks, three different kinds of panties tochoose from so she’s comfortable, and another one of my t-shirts.

When I return to the room, she's right where I left her. “Are you okay to get in by yourself or do you need my help?”

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