Page 81 of Carnival Mayhem

“With our lives,” Nash and I say in unison.

“She’s been through hell,” I continue. “Survived things that would break most people. And instead of running from the darkness, she embraces it. Just like we do.”

“The way she worked that hammer last night?” Nash’s voice holds a note of pride. “That wasn’t just revenge. That was a natural talent.”

“She’s one of us,” I insist. “Whether you like it or not. And we won’t lie to her about who we are or what we do.”

Ty leans back in his chair, running a hand over his face. “Fine,” he says after a long pause. “If she’s in, she’s in. But I need to brief her myself. Soon. We’ll determine where her talents lie and how she can help the operation.”

Relief floods through me. Nash shoots me a knowing look—that infuriating “I told you so” expression I both hate and love.

“She’ll work with us,” I say quickly before Ty can start planning anything else. “On our side of things.”

Nash nods. “We’ve already seen what she can do. She’s perfect for our specialty work.”

“The enforcement side?” Ty raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that? It’s not exactly...”

“She has a natural talent for it,” Nash interrupts. “You should have seen her last night.”

“And she’s already proven she can handle extreme situations,” I add. “Plus, she’s got the acrobatic skills to back it up. Makes for a deadly combination.”

Ty drums his fingers on his desk, considering our words. “Alright. She stays with you. But I still need to brief her on the overall operation. Make sure she understands exactly what she’s getting into.”

I nod at Ty’s words, relieved this went better than expected. “Just let us know when you want to do the briefing. We’ll make sure she’s ready.”

Nash echoes my agreement. “She’ll take it seriously, Ty. You can count on that.”

Ty leans back in his chair, a puzzled expression crossing his face. “There’s something else I don’t get.” He runs a handthrough his hair, hesitating. “How the fuck does it work, sharing a girl? I mean, if anyone even looks at Sofia the wrong way, I want to murder them. Can’t wrap my head around it.”

I exchange a glance with Nash, understanding Ty’s confusion. It’s not something we’ve really explained to anyone before.

“It’s different with us,” I say carefully. “We’ve been partners for years. There’s trust there that goes beyond normal friendship.”

Nash nods. “Flora isn’t being shared—she’s ours. Together. It’s not about taking turns or splitting her attention. The three of us just... fit.”

I shift uncomfortably as Ty’s eyes narrow with interest. “Like what—you two play with each other too?”

The question hangs in the air. I glance at Nash, who meets my gaze with quiet understanding. We’ve never discussed this part of our relationship with anyone, but if there’s someone who won’t judge us, it’s Ty.

“Yes,” I admit, my voice steady despite the heat creeping up my neck. “All three of us are together. Intimately.”

Nash’s hand brushes against mine, a subtle gesture of support.

“But we’d appreciate it if you kept that information to yourself,” I add quickly. “It’s not something we want to advertise.”

Nash nods. “We know what the guys are like. Two men fucking each other isn’t exactly something they’ll be comfortable with.”

My stomach tightens at Nash’s blunt words, but I keep my face neutral. I’ve hidden this part of myself for so long. It’s strange hearing it discussed so openly.

Ty shakes his head, surprising me with a small smile. “I’m not so sure that’s true. Look, we’re not exactly your typicalcarnival crew, are we? These guys have seen and done things most people couldn’t imagine.”

“It’s different,” I argue.

“Is it? Sure, they’ll probably give you shit for it. There’ll be jokes and banter—that’s just how they are. But real hate?” He shrugs. “I don’t see it. Not from this group.”

Nash shifts beside me, and I feel some tension leave his shoulders. “You really think they’d be that accepting?”

“We’re a family of misfits,” Ty says. “Each one of us has something others might consider strange or wrong. But that’s why we work. We accept each other.”

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