Page 122 of Heroes & Hitmen
Just as he reaches out to take it, a knock comes at our apartment door. We both freeze, eyes locking, alert mode kicking in. We’vebeen on guard for so long now that the reaction is practically hard-wired.
“I’ll get it,” Ares says, already moving.
I hold my breath as I watch him go, tracking the sound of the lock turning, the hinges of the door creaking faintly as he pulls it open.
Then I hear voices– familiar and safe.My sisters.
“Come on in,” Ares’ voice rumbles, and a moment later he’s striding back into the kitchen, trailed by Charlie and Blake– both of whom are clearly trying and failing not to ogle the six-foot-something half-naked Adonis in lace-trimmed pink.
I don’t even get a chance for embarrassment to register before my wolf surges up like a tide, possessive instinct rolling through me in response to the way my sisters are checking him out.
“Mine,” I snap, the word slipping out sharp and instinctive before my brain can catch up.
Charlie and Blake freeze, glancing at me, then each other.
They burst into giggles.
“Oh, weknow,” Charlie teases, her grin all mischief as Ares saunters toward me, unbothered as ever. He crowds into my space like it’s nothing, reaching over my head to grab mugs from the cabinet while I try not to melt in response to his body heat.
“Coffee, ladies?” he asks smoothly, pulling two mugs down and pressing a kiss to my forehead as if he didn’t just send my heart into cardiac arrest.
My sisters visibly swoon.
“Coffee would be amazing” Blake chirps, twirling a strand of red hair around her finger.
Ares fills their mugs, topping mine off too before replacing the pot on the burner and swiping up his own cup. “I’ll give you girls some privacy,” he says with a wink, pivoting on a heel and taking his coffee to go.
I watch him disappear down the hall toward the bedroom, then turn back to my sisters, who are both staring at me like I just grew a second head.
Hopping down from the counter, I usher them into the living room, balancing my coffee mug in one hand and waving them ahead with the other. We settle in on the couch and I grab my favorite pastel pink throw blanket, draping it over my lap.
Charlie takes a cautious sip of her coffee, then glances at Blakebefore speaking. “We just wanted to check on you. After last night…” her voice falters as she trails off, swallowing thickly. “Everything at the ceremony was… crazy.”
“Insane,” Blake adds, wide-eyed. “Like full on,is-this-really-happeninglevels of crazy. And then afterward, Jordan went missing.”
My heart stutters in my chest, concern taking hold despite her betrayal. “Missing?” I croak.
Charlie nods solemnly. “No one’s seen her since the ceremony. Her car’s gone, and she left her phone and all her stuff behind. She obviously ran away, but where would she even go? It’s insane.”
A strange silence falls over the room as I wrap both hands around my mug, staring into the swirl of steam.
“It’s probably for the best,” I say softly.
Charlie and Blake exchange a confused glance.
“What do you mean?” Blake asks, furrowing her brow. “I thought you two were besties?”
“Did something happen between you?” Charlie questions.
I shake my head, not wanting to get into this with them. It’s between me and Jordan, anyways.
“I… yeah, but it’s not something I’m ready to talk about. I’m not sure I’ll ever be. Right now, I just need some time to process everything.”
My sisters nod sympathetically, Charlie reaching over to set her hand on mine. It’s a gesture of comfort that does nothing to dull the ache in my chest left behind by Jordan’s betrayal. I’m sure I’ll get past it someday, forgive her, and move on… but not today. The wound’s too fresh.
“Wherever she is, I hope she’s okay,” I add. “I hope she’s happy.”
And I mean it. Because as much as she hurt me, I still love Jordan. I always will.
