Page 17 of Conan

“Conan!” Kodiak shouts my name. Once again, I turn around to look my brother in the eye. “Be kind. Please. She’s… hormonal.”

“Did she know she catches shit on fire when she bakes?” I ask.

“Yes,” he sighs.

“Then she knew better, brother. If you want to keep her from bawling her eyes out, you need to get off your ass and come with me. Her feelings aren’t going to be my top priority.”

With that warning clearly issued, I run from the room as fast as my feet can take me and into the kitchen where I see Demi’s arms wrapped around Luna as she cries into her neck and our brother, Risk, putting out the fire with the extinguisher.

I level a furious expression at Demi and she stares back at me with a cautionary look I haven’t seen from her, at least not aimed my way. I’ve never been one who minds their Ps and Qs so I start my interrogation. “What the fuck happened?”

“The recipe didn’t go as planned,” Demi answers on behalf of Luna.

Crossing my arms across my shoulders and planting my feet firmly on the floor, I ask, “How so?”

“The brandy caught on fire in the oven,” my woman states. “It was accidental, Conan.”

“Is this something known to happen?” I snark. “Because my brother said it’s a known occurrence.”

“Did he now?” Demi returns, her eyes full of piss and vinegar.

“He did when I asked him about it,” I apprise her.

She remorsefully bobs her head and confirms what my brother told me. “It happens from time to time, but noteverytime.”

When I glance over at Luna, I lose my steam because she looks regretful, apologetic, and I have a feeling she’s beaten herself up enough and doesn’t need me to say anything to make it worse.

“Are you okay, Luna?” I ask my sister.

“Yeah,” she answers around her tears. “I’m so sorry, Conan. I followed the recipe to a T. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“But it did and everyone is alright,” I digress. “I’m sorry I came in like a bull charging the red flag. You can’t do shit like that to me, sister. The old beater can’t take it.” I tap my palm over where my heart rests and send her pleading eyes.

“Luna. Come here, baby,” Kodiak says as he shoves his way through the throng of brothers. Her steps are hesitant, but she eventually shuffles through the crowd and shoves herself into his chest. He leans down and whispers something to her, and sheresponds by nodding her head, wiping her tears and snot on his shirt.

It worked for Kodiak, so I try it for myself. “Demi. Come here, beautiful.”

She snorts at me and says, “Conan. You come here.” My eyes widen at her words because she not only said them in front of my brothers but did so with a disparaging tone. When she notices the displeased emotion coating my face she rolls her eyes and stomps her way over. “I’m not a dog, Conan. If you want something from me, ask, don't demand it and snap at me.”

“I didn’t snap,” I contend.

“Whatever,” she says, her sass dominating her voice. “You won’t leash me, Conan. Been there, done that, got the nightmares to prove it. It will never happen again.”

“Who leashed you?” I ask, my tone laced with venom.

“I told you about that,” she excuses.

I peer into her eyes, anger riding me hard enough I could spit fire. “You most certainly did not. I’d remember a conversation like that, Demi.”

“I’m sorry, Conan. I could’ve sworn I told you,” she apologizes.

“Well, you didn’t,” I humph. “But I think we should talk about it later. These are things I need to know so I don’t do or say anything to trigger you, Demoness.”

“Okay. I appreciate that but nothing you could do would set me off, Conan. Whenever we’re together, the ghosts from the past don’t rear their ugly heads. I know that you’ll take care of me and never let anything bad happen. I trust you.”

That declaration hits me in the gut like a sledgehammer, nearly bowing me over. “That makes me happy, babe. I’m glad I give you that.”

“Brothers, back to church,” Kodiak issues, pecking Luna on the cheek.

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