Page 1 of Last One Standing
CHAPTER ONE
ANGEL
I livedin a house with nine other people, and finding peace wasn’t easy, so when I came home from running an errand to a blessedly quiet house, I wanted to cry with joy. I loved every one of my brothers—which included Four—and their partners, but being able to sit down in the living room with a mug of coffee, a book, and silence was a rare commodity.
I rushed to the kitchen, vigilant as ever that one of them could pop up and ruin the bubble of silence. I placed a pod in the coffeemaker and while that was dripping, I went to my room to snag the book I’d been reading.
Five minutes later, I was sitting on the plush couch, drinking my java, and reading my book. This was a little slice of heaven.
“People!”
And now it was shattered.
“Where are all the people?” JJ chuckled. “Anyone catch my Drusilla impression from Buffy?” He was shouting, and no one was answering back.
If everyone was upstairs, they wouldn’t because their bedrooms were all soundproofed. There was no way I was getting away without JJ seeing me. I wasn’t in his sight yet but?—
“Oh, Angel…good, good.”
“Hi, JJ.”
“Why are you so glum? Oh, wait. It’s a day ending in Y—never mind.”
“I try to like you, but you make it hard.”
JJ beamed and he turned to yell again. “Where is everyone?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. They aren’t here, and I was enjoying the blissful silence, but I guess dreams are made to be pulverized into the dirt when you’re around.”
JJ narrowed his eyes. “You’re extra pissy today. What’s wrong?” Of course, he decided to sit next to me. “Tell JJ. I can help you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Mmhmm. You know who says they’re fine?” He quirked a brow.
“People who are fine?”
He blew a raspberry and lightly slapped my knee. “Funny guy. People who are in factnotfine.”
“I’m not doing this with you. Why are you looking for everyone?”
JJ pursed his lips and stared at me for a second, eventually sighing. “Keep your secrets, whatever. I was looking for everyone because I have a surprise.”
“You’ll probably have to wait until dinner. You know how they all scatter.”
He nodded. “Yeah, but it’s really quiet.”
“Which is why I was taking advantage of it.”
JJ smiled. “Okay, I’ll let you be, but I’m calling a family meeting. Don’t go far—it’ll be right before dinner.”
“Can’t wait,” I deadpanned.
When he left I could’ve gone back to my book, but that was not how things worked here in this house. He would be the first domino. I closed my book but remained seated, drinking my coffee, and waited.
Two minutes later the door opened, and Gabe and Mason walked in.
“I don’t understand, Gabe. You paid for the ultimate cleaning service for your car, but you vacuumed it yourself. It’s literally part of the package.”
