Page 49 of F*ck Steal Kill

“Hey, baby girl. How’s my favorite niece doing?” I asked, pretending like I hadn’t just yelled at her.

“Oh, it is you! I got an A on my science test and made the soccer team. Mom’s taking me out for froyo to celebrate,” she cheered, her voice returning to the happy child I loved.

“That’s awesome, sweet girl. I’m so proud of you. You’ve been working so hard.”

“Thank you, Uncle G. I just couldn’t wait to tell you.”

“I’m so glad you called. I miss hearing from you,” I said, my heart rate returning to normal.

“I miss you, too. When can you visit again? Will you bring Uncle Max and Uncle Q?” she asked, hitting me squarely in the heart.

The guys weren’t just my teammates but my family. I had to fix this. I had to push my prejudices aside and figure out my crap like Q had said. He’d been right, just like he usually was.

“Soon, baby girl. I’ll make sure we bring you a souvenir. Where I am right now, there’s a giant toilet bowl that people go to just to flush.” I laughed, the anger leaving me in waves.

“That sounds gross and awesome!” Her giggle filled the tiny speaker, and I took a deep breath to soak it in. “Here, Mom wants to talk to you. Love ya, Uncle G.”

“Love you too, Bella.”

Sounds of rustling greeted me as she passed over the phone, and my sister answered as the phone disconnected from Bluetooth, the wind picking up as they climbed out of the car, her locks engaging as it beeped behind her.

“Hey, baby brother. How are you doing? I know today is hard for you.”

The second gut punch of the day hit me as I realized what she meant. It wasn’t an excuse for my behavior earlier, but at least it made a little more sense why I’d reacted so strongly.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. It’s fine.” My voice strained as I tried to push away the memories that wanted to surge. I rubbed my jaw, the feel of my stubble grounding me.

“Uh, oh. I know that tone. Who were you an ass to?”

“What?” I spluttered, checking over my shoulder like I expected my sister to be there. Her sixth sense rivaled Quentin’s at times.

“Listen, I know you don’t like to talk about it. But it’s been five years. You can’t keep killing yourself with your job. You can only outrun your demons for so long before they catch up with you, Grady.” Her voice was soft and caring, striking me in the chest. I didn’t deserve kindness.

“Yeah. I know. I’m just so close.”

“I know you feel you have to do this. But will it bring you the closure you desire?” Dora asked.

“I…”

Green eyes flashed in my mind, the color and depth so magnetic as Holland had pinned me beneath her stare. It jolted me back to life. She made me feel something, and that was why I pushed her away.

It didn’t seem fair to feel something for another woman when I still hadn’t redeemed the first one stupid enough to fall in love with me. I couldn’t protect Holland anymore than I could Camila.

“It’s all I have,” I finally answered, realizing I’d been staring at the graffiti.

“You sure about that?” she asked with a hint of sadness.

My sister and I had always been close, and losing Camila had been just as devastating for her as it was for me. But I couldn’t stay in our small hometown. There were too many memories and things that reminded me of her—of the life I’d never have again.

So, I’d left, joined the Shadows, and hadn’t been back home for more than a night before I was off again.

I might’ve lost Camila, but my sister had lost us both.

When I met the guys and brought them home for a visit, she seemed hopeful that I’d moved on and found new people to care about. And I guess, in some ways, she’d been right. But it was our focus and pursuit of the Savages that bonded us, pushing all three of us to hunt them down and make them pay for the pain they’d caused our families and so many others.

Dora knew I wouldn’t let Camila’s death go, but she had no idea the danger I constantly placed myself in to exact that revenge.

“The guys are angry with me at the moment,” I mumbled, giving her a crumb so she wouldn’t look too closely at what I wasn’t saying.

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