Page 8 of Vicious Addictions

He’s raised me to be my own woman—independent and free from such outdated conformities. In fact, I know that his biggest dream is for me to lead The Firm when the day comes for him to step down. However, I’m not sure if The Firm is ready to be given orders by a woman. Crime syndicates aren’t exactly known for being open-minded or progressive.

Fortunately, I have plenty of time to think about that since Daddy isn’t retiring anytime soon.

All I know is that I won’t be taking Aunt Pippa’s advice, no matter how many times she shovels her misogynistic ideologies down my throat.

I bet if Jude asked you to be his eye candy, you wouldn’t say no.

As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I glance out the window and spot Jude sitting on the grass, relishing the cool autumn breeze on his face.

He really is something.

“You’re drooling again,” Remus taunts, pulling my focus back to the room.

“Mina has a crush. Mina has a crush,” Rolo starts to sing like a damned first-grader.

“Will you quit it?!”

“You know he’ll only stop once you admit you got the hots for pretty boy over there,” Remus says, pointing out the window towards Jude.

“I do not,” I reply adamantly, my voice firm.

“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” Rolo chimes in, his laughter ringing out like a hyena’s cackle.

“I’m not lying!” I protest, feeling the flush creeping further into my cheeks. “If you must know, he intrigues me. That is all,” I finally concede, anxiously glancing around, hoping my cousins lower their voices before someone overhears us.

“Oh, heintriguesme,” Rolo continues to joke, saying the word as if I were some posh spinster.

“Will you please act your age?!” I reprimand.

“You first.” Rolo laughs before imitating me again. “Look at me. I’m Lady Mina Crane, and I get off acting like I’m an old woman.”

“It’s called having decorum, asshole. You should try it sometime.”

“No, it’s called being boooooooring.”

“God, I hate you.” I jump up from the nook and walk to the other side of the room just to get away from the pest.

Remus is quick to do damage control by walking over to me, wrapping his arms around me from behind, and resting his chin gently on my shoulder.

“Don’t be angry at him. You know Rolo’s just teasing. We both are.”

“Well, I don’t find it funny.”

“You really should,” Rolo goads from the other side of the room, making it clear he’s eavesdropping on us. “All that scowling is going to give you frown lines. It’s one thing to sound like a hag. It’s another to look like one.”

I turn around to see my annoying cousin sprawled out in my reading nook, his hands resting behind his head, with a Cheshire cat smile stitched to his lips.

“You really are nothing but trouble,” I scold, only for his smile to widen.

“You call it trouble. I call it having fun. Who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong.”

“Enough, Rolo,” Remus reprimands with a stern tone.

Rolo opens his mouth, ready to say something, but when his twin gives him a death glare, he wisely decides to keep whatever new taunt he came up with to himself.

Figures.

There’s only one person in this world who has the power to bring Rolo to heel, and that’s Remus.

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