Page 96 of Orion Ruined

Where would she have gone if her friend hadn’t let her stay? And what kind of fucked-up person is Kirstie anyway, letting in anyone off the streets? Orion had investigated this Kirstie Stones. She and Maisy went to high school together, but nothing else. No connection since.

How we’d dealt with Maisy felt wrong but I wish she hadn’t lied to us for the second time. She must face the consequences, although I don’t know what those are because she’s still alive. And we’re still guarding her like rabid dogs.

Maybe she’ll remember that a clean room, clean clothes, and a private bathroom was preferable to that filthy pot-smoking dump. But would it make a difference to her? She looked skinny and pale smoking weed at her window, with messy, tangled hair and clothes she hadn’t changed in days. She was radiant before.

~

Tomorrow is the day the three of us officially meet. Publicly, for the very first time. Orion’s uncles are meeting him at noon, and we’ll meet later.

After a long day of work, hard grafting, punching, and maybe a tiny bit of torture (the asshole was asking for it), I take a quick get-the-blood-off-me shower and ride to Orion’s to discuss tomorrow’s meeting. There’s a chance that we won’t be alone and we have to make sure there isn’t a glitch in our communication.

As per usual, I leave my bike behind the shrubs and enter his house. He’d have seen me approach and left the door open for me. I head to the kitchen and see a half-bottle of whiskey on the table. I take a tumbler, pour myself a shot and bring it to my lips, instantly becoming warmed by the spice and full-bodied smoky undertones. I treat my taste buds to a second and take a third with me, crossing the room to sit down on the corner of the table. I take my leather jacket off and hang it on the chair, and put my booted feet on it.

“You’re here.” Orion strides in from behind me in his usual smart-looking attire. I don’t know how he does it, or Logan.

“I got Maisy,” he announces, sounding annoyed.

I leap to my feet. “She’s here?”

“Hold your horses, Casanova. Sit back on your ass.”

I realize I’m overreacting and sit down. “Why did you get her? I thought the plan was to leave her there for longer.”

Raging, he pours himself a shot. “Why do you think? She puts herself in these situations where men end up dead.”

I stare at him. “You had to kill someone?”

He nods angrily. “Of course. They were gonna… Yes. I killed them.”

“Well, you did what you could, I’m sure. Cheers.”

We clink glasses and down them in one go. Orion pours us another one.

“Logan?” I ask.

“He should be here any minute.”

Speak of the devil. He walks in as Orion takes another tumbler, fills it, and hands it to him.

“What are we celebrating?” Logan asks.

“Maisy’s here,” I grin.

His eyes twinkle. “Why so soon? I mean, not that I care.”

“There was a problem,” I reply. “Orion got her out just in time.”

We clink our glasses and drink up. I notice Logan looks buffer than usual. “Have you been working out, man?”

“Of course I have. I’m ready for war.” He sits on the other corner of the table, his foot on the chair.

“The Delgados know about our meeting,” I say. “What about the Vitalis?”

“They know too,” Logan confirms. “All of them want to take down Milan. They’re willing to play until Milan the Dog is down.”

I turn to Orion. “And the Cartes?”

“They’re game too. Not sure until when, but bottom line is we understand the need to take Milan down. And we will.”

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