Page 43 of Orion Ruined

“And?” I’m grinding my teeth now.

“And, that’s it.”

“Did he try to do anything?”

“No. He was a drunk. He needed someone to drink with.”

I exhale the breath I’ve been holding. My mind goes straight to a drive-by with a semi-automatic where anyone having filthy thoughts about Maisy gets sprayed with bullets.

“What about you?” she asks. “When did you last have champagne?”

I take the bottle and top up her almost-empty glass, then mine. “Let me think. Ah, yes. Almost ten years ago. When I was eighteen. Kai, Logan, and I got together and went through seven bottles of Dom Perignon.” I chuckle. “That was a fucked-up night.”

“What’s your go-to drink, then?”

I cock my head to one side. “You don’t think it’s champagne?”

“Haha.” She punches my arm playfully. “Tell me!”

“Why don’t I bring you a glass for you to try it? I drank champagne for you. You’ll drink McCarthy’s single malt whiskey for me. Deal?” I offer her my hand.

“Deal,” she laughs, and we shake on it.

I head to the kitchen yet again, and this time I pick up the broom from the corner and sweep the broken plates into a pile, making some space for me to pour the whiskey.

I take two tumblers from the glassware cabinet and pull the whiskey bottle from the bottom drawer.

“So, that’s where you keep your alcohol,” comes Maisy’s teasing voice.

I didn’t even notice her come in. Fuck! Am I drunk? She certainly is. “Mind the shards, Maisy.” I point at the few I missed when sweeping.

She doesn’t have the ice pack with her, but instead is sporting a big lump on her cheek that’s yellowish in color. She giggles and totters around, bumping into me and wrapping her arms around my waist to steady herself.

I turn to her, hungry for her kiss, and see her eyes suddenly go wide. She releases me and her eyebrows shoot up; she’s gaping at someone behind me. I reach for my holster, which stupidly I forgot upstairs. Being drunk, I wouldn’t have time to shoot anyway.

I turn to fight whoever’s there, and see Lisa, my sister, standing frozen in the doorway. Her mouth’s hanging open as she stares at us. At the mess in the kitchen. At us again.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarl. She should fucking know better than to turn up unannounced.

“I came back. I told you I’d be back in the morning.” She’s not even blinking. Still shocked at the sight, I suppose.

“Fuck! Is it seven already?” I check the time. Goddamnit, I’ve never gotten this ridiculously carried away.

“I’m Lisa…” She’s obviously curious, but I don’t fucking care.

“I’m Maisy,” Maisy giggles, and I could bend her over my knee and spank her until she can’t walk for being so foolish.

“No,” I interject, raising my hand, and then point my index finger at my sister. “Lisa, there’s no one here, is that clear?” I glare at her; she knows in our world there are no second chances.

Lisa nods silently, not looking at Maisy.

“I need you to say it.”

“There’s no one here, Orion.”

“Now leave,” I order. “We’ll talk later.”

Lisa leaves just as she came, quietly. I turn to Maisy, whose cheeks are wet with tears.

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