Page 60 of Wrath
They followed the noise of chattering from the foyer into the large open space living room where the family sat around an enormous gray sectional sofa. The big television screen they faced displayed the local news station on mute. Further into the apartment was a billiards table, and a shared kitchen they used when entertaining in the common apartment. He remembered many nights when all seven of them, plus Flint and Mary had gathered to share a good meal and shoot the shit.
A quick count of heads showed Tony and Grace as absent.
Behind the couch, at a small round table, Griffin sat with their parents Flint and Mary. Sloan hunkered down on the couch, half underneath a blanket, plugged into a handheld device, glowing cat-ear headphones, and playing a game. Evan sprawled next to her, one eye on her progress, the other vaguely interested in the conversation Parker was having with Liza and Lilo next to him.
Upon their arrival, all noise vacated the room. Everyone stared at Wyatt and Misha. A few gazes darted to their conjoined hands and then a chorus of smiles flowed around the room. Flint and Mary stood stoically at the back. Griffin came around to give Wyatt a handshake and clap on the arm. Lilo jumped up and raced to her friend for a hug, despite Misha’s wet clothes. They spoke too fast to ascertain, more at home with each other than Wyatt felt in that room.
“I knew it.” Evan stood up, fist pumping the air. “You tried to deny it, but I knew it.” Then he turned to Liza. “Pay up, sis.”
Smug little bastard.
The tall brunette rolled her eyes and fished into her pockets, pulled out a fifty and slammed it into Evan’s waiting palm. His cocky elation wasn’t shared with their sister. “I’m not betting against you again. You cheat,” she simpered.
“Don’t hate me because I’m smarter than you.” Upon seeing Wyatt’s glaring attention, Evan elaborated. “She bet that you’d hold out for longer, but she doesn’t understand what it feels like to find your mate. There is no resisting.”
Misha tensed beside Lilo, both had fallen silent.
“Whatever, Sparky.” Liza turned to Misha. “Nice to meet you again. Tony will be sad he missed you.”
“Nice to see you all again.” Misha stepped closer to Lilo.
“Oh, you poor thing. You look drenched,” Lilo said. “Come on, I’ll take you up to our apartment. You can have a hot shower while I find you something to eat and wear. Obviously I know why you’ve been ignoring me now, but we can talk about that in a minute. Oh, how silly of me.” Lilo turned to everyone in the room. “You all remember Misha from the opening night of Hell, right? Do I need to do introductions?”
“No, that’s not necessary. I think she’s met everyone.” Parker came over to stand next to them. “I’ll have some food sent up for lunch. We might be here a while.”
“Great.” Lilo stole Misha away, and a jolt of panic went through Wyatt.
Their idyllic morning was officially over. He intercepted them just before they entered the elevator. He wanted to tell them to go up to his apartment, because that’s where she belonged, but he reined in his urge.
“Don’t be long,” he whispered to Misha.
Seeing the alarm in his eyes, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’ll be fine. Don’t overthink it.”
He watched the doors close, wondering how the hell he matched with such an easy going woman, and how the hell he seemed to like it.
Wyatt went back to his family.
Mary immediately left her husband’s side to round the big couch. As she passed Sloan, she slapped her on the head, dislodging her headphones and mumbling for her to get off the game.
Grimacing, Sloan rubbed her dark shock of messy hair. It was long, split-ended and possibly matted. Her disheveled hair wasn’t the only worrying sign. The weight she’d stacked on when Wyatt had last seen her was now gone, but not in a good way. Knowing her sin was sloth, she most likely had lost the will to keep herself fit, fed and washed. She slowly wasted away. Her trickster attitude was nowhere in sight.
Feeling his eyes on her, Sloan looked up and scowled. “What? You’re the only one allowed to have a mental breakdown?”
Wyatt’s jaw dropped, but he failed to speak.
Sloan slid belligerent eyes toward Parker. “Can I go now?”
“What do you think?” he shot back.
Liza had returned to her phone, swiping and making sexual cooing sounds. When Wyatt turned to Griffin for answers, he replied awkwardly. “Tinder.”
Right. His two sisters were falling under their sins hard, and his absent brother… “Tony?” he rasped.
Shocked eyes snapped Wyatt’s way.
“Yes, I can talk,” he said, cleared his throat, then met eyes with Evan. “Thanks to Grace’s handiwork and our biology. Remind me to thank her later. And you, Evan. I owe you an apology.”
Evan’s cheeks pinked, and he nodded curtly. “Grace’ll be back tonight. Tony’s on set. Filming for some new movie he started. Haven’t seen him around much since Hell opened.”
