Page 93 of Until It Was Real

A spooky laughter rebounds off the cave walls as the area fills with smoke. The distant echo of boots on the rock comes next. It’s supposed to sound as if smugglers are moving cargo in the dark. In reality, it’s my brothers messing with me.

Dakota giggles, and I glare down at her. She holds up her hands. “Sorry. But this is hilarious.”

“What’s hilarious about my brothers being assholes?”

“They’re not assholes. They’re your brothers.”

And now I feel like an asshole. Dakota has no family, and here I am complaining about mine. I should be more mindful. I should apologize. Let her know my family is now her family.

“We like her,” a voice I happen to know is Miles says.

“We’re going to keep her,” another voice, I suspect is Zane, says.

Despite how annoying they’re being, I smile. My family likes Dakota. She fits right in.

She’s mine. There’s no denying it anymore. I love this woman. I would do anything to make her happy. Including spending a night in a cave with my brothers pranking us.

“I like your family,” Dakota says.

I’m glad because she’s stuck with them since I’m not letting her go. I should probably tell her how I feel. But we have time. We have all the time in the world.

Chapter 29

“If you put a dart in my hand, don’t be surprised when I hit you with it.” ~ Dakota

Dakota

Zane skips to a stop in front of my desk. “Come along, little sister.”

My heart skips a beat – little sister? Does he consider me family? Before I melt into a pile of happy goo on the floor, I sass at him. “I’m pretty sure I’m older than you.”

He pats the top of my head. “But you’re cute.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll show you how cute I am when I prank you.”

He rubs his hands together. “Another prank war? I’m in.”

Rhett growls as he pushes Zane away from my desk. “Stop bothering Dakota.”

“I’m not bothering her. I’m kidnapping her.”

I giggle. “Kidnapping me? Where are we going?”

“It’s Friday.”

“And?”

Miles strolls into the reception area. “Friday meansRumrunner.”

“Rumrunner? Are we going to smuggle illegal alcohol? And here I thoughtBuccaneer’s Whiskeywas a legit business.”

“It is a legit business,” Rhett insists.

“Color me confused.”

Zane picks up a marker from my desk. “Blue okay?”

Rhett slaps the marker out of his hand. “You aren’t coloring Dakota’s face.”

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