Page 15 of The Twins

I’ve simmered down, and he’s grown better at pretending.

Grey grows anxious when there’s tension between us, so we don’t fight much or at all if we can help it.

That doesn’t mean that we forgot how we spent five years nagging at each other. I know my brother better than anyone, although I can’t read him.

He’s keeping something from me, the one person he should fully trust on this earth.

And I’m not fucking having it. But I must keep it cool for my sugar puff.

“No, I don’t. Look, I have to get back to….” To work. But he doesn’t see it as work. He doesn’t recognize how important he is to the task force. His self-value is shit right now, and it doesn’t matter how often Grey picks him over all of us—like he’s the only one who always deserves her full attention—Remo doesn’t change. He remains full of doubt. “Charles is looking for me. We’ll see you in the morning. Make sure she eats all her dinner? Tell her I miss her.”

“Of course,” I assure him. He hangs up hastily, not waiting on any further response from me.

The PP task force is my bosses’ route to annoy the fuck out of me. It’s not Remo who should feel left out. This task force was designed to exclude me. I’m paying for my mistakes, my breach of contract.

My bosses haven’t forgiven me for what happened over five years ago. Make it seven.

I’m a troublemaker.

After Big Daddy’s main office let me go, I still worked for Big Daddy, but it was a well-kept secret. I did things I’m not proud of, all in the name of my future sugar puff. If I wanted to keep access to the gadgets and protection, I’d have to do the dirty work.

I’m a dramatic man. I don’t randomly act out. My moves are planned, and for as much chaos as the time before my sugar puff provided, I always had a clear vision of my goal…

Which was to piss off people and, most importantly, my higher-ups. When my cover was blown in San Ricardo, they decided to replace me. Good riddance.

Officially, I’m still on leave and not supposed to intermingle with the PP task force.

I’m not that guy, though.

Courtesy of my glory days in the past, I have connections. I upkeep my contacts, constantly researching and finding new ways to assist my family in their fight against the scum of society. Since it’s not my main job, I get more days off to enjoy our girlfriend.

Where…

Oh.

Grey waltzes out from the hallway that leads to the restrooms with a pep in her step, one I should find exciting, but I don’t have a good feeling.

My instincts don’t lie.

It’s my gift to read situations, after all.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Behind my woman… Fuck this shit!

I attempt to focus on Grey and her happiness. It’s rare to see her find comfort in other people’s presence. She’s a homebody, and she loves us. Unless Tara drags her along somewhere, there’s no space for friends outside of her business and other extracurricular activities. Since Grey’s dialed down on her job, having her nail salon run on its own. At the same time, she occasionally checks in and mostly makes house visits. Her social contacts have been scarce.

I want Grey to have friends, but this woman…

No.

Grey reaches me, sliding onto my lap and hugging me like a madwoman in front of her new girl bestie.

A bestie that’s tall, magnetic, and two seconds away from throwing a fit.

“Vegas, I want to introduce you to somebody,” Grey says to me. Did she just lick my ear in public? What did this woman give my sugar puff?

“Uh-oh?” I can’t find any words to describe how fucked I am.

I’d rather meet ten of my exes at once than this… Woman.

“Wait… What’s going on here?” Grey’s new bestie asks. She takes a couple of steps back, gasping for air.

Clearly, she has realized who I am.

Likewise.

“Vegas? I know this man as—”

At the same time, her new bestie, Grey, proclaims in double time, “Vegas, that’s Kamila Ruby Wraith. The Queen of Katantia. She’s here with her husband and his team, but we’re not supposed to tell anyone.”

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