Page 153 of Savage Suit
“I would never bad-mouth you,” I exclaimed, just as Noah said, “She’s said nothing but positive things about you.”
Armani continued to stare between us, blocking our path into her house.
“Are you letting us in?” I demanded, tired of standing on the doorstep. “Orrrr?”
She stepped aside. “You know I am, Ryan. Show our guest to the dining room, and I’ll be with y’all in a moment.”
As Noah and I entered the house, Armani turned away and started toward the hallway. Boisterous voices floated to me, and I knew all my siblings had arrived.
“Hey, Armani!” I called.
Turning, she placed her hands on her hips and lifted a brow as I locked the door.
“Is it okay if I check in with my nieces and nephews?”
“It is not,” Armani said. “You will see them when they come out for dinner.”
“Come on, sis,” I said, offering her a winsome smile. “I’ve watched them more than any of our other siblings. I have it on good authority I’m their favorite aunt.”
“You still can’t disturb them. You’re the aunt. I’m the mother.”
Was she ever a mother! And not of the family kind.
Fuck, I bit my lip so I wouldn’t throw those words at her.
At my silence, she turned around and continued down the hallway.
Noah looked at me and frowned.
“Don’t fucking ask,” I grumbled.
He nodded. “You and Quinn are so close. I thought it would be the same with your older sister, too.”
“Armani is, uh,interesting.” To say the least. I didn’t know how to describe her.
Smiling, he pulled me into his arms for a quick kiss. Suddenly uncertain about Noah’s presence, I broke away first and glanced around the living room.
Since my parents’ deaths, I’d been in the house, this very room, so many times. Tonight, though, felt different. Countless memories slammed into me.
Until I was eight, the place belonged to my paternal grandparents, but that year my grandfather had a massive heartache. My grandmother had died so long ago, I barely recalled her. I remember being afraid to live here, convinced it was haunted.
My father would lift me into his arms and swear I hadn’t anything to fear. “I’ll let nothing harm you,” he’d say.
Mama would sing lullabies to me. Corny to some but comforting to me.
In this room, I’d also sometimes find Daddy deep in thought. So much sadness lived inside him, it seeped through his skin and hung in the air.
My parents had drilled my first date in here. Well, Daddy had. Mama would either nod in agreement or add a comment here and there. They’d announced how they were going to help me with my first car.
Armani had opened her big fucking mouth in here.
And I’d been sitting in Daddy’s chair when we’d gotten the call about the accident. That chair was long gone, but besides a few updated furniture pieces, the house remained identical to the way it was when my parents had still been alive. Even the wood floors and cream wallpaper hadn’t changed since I’d moved out, taking Quinn and Logan with me.
Noah caressed my cheek. “Are you okay?” he asked.
I swallowed. “Yes.” I tried to smile, but failed, so I nodded in the direction of the noise. “This way.”
In silence, I led him toward the small formal dining room.
