Page 120 of Possession

Tim points to the left. “Here.”

My chest seizes, and I pull Landyn to a stop next to me.

She looks back at me and whispers, “What is it?”

Damn. I didn’t expect coming back to be as hard as it was to leave.

Tim slaps me on the shoulder. “No one can get in here without an ID. Micah will be back soon to stay with you tonight. I need to get back to the wire room to monitor what’s going on without you there. You good?”

I turn to him. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to get me here. I know this isn’t easy.”

He gives me a chin lift and glances at Landyn. “Let me know what you need. I’ll check back with you tomorrow before your meetings.”

“Brax?”

I look back through the glass, and Bristol’s gaze meets mine. She moves, saying something to Brittney on her way out the door.

“You’re here.” Bristol throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Landyn is forced to take a step back.

I wrap up my oldest sister in one arm because Brittney has pushed her way in and I’m forced to catch her with the other.

“You look like a different person.” Brittney’s eyes are glassy. “Mom would die if she could see you right now.”

Bristol leans back and shoves my other sister. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

Brittney rolls her eyes as she wipes a tear. “You know what I mean.”

I hold them back far enough to get a good look at them. “I can’t believe I’m here either.”

“I might not let you go back,” Bristol says. “I don’t care what Micah says.”

Bristol is the oldest, then Brian, followed by Brittney, and then me. What I don’t say to my older sisters is that they look like shit. I’m sure they’ve been here since they found out about mom yesterday. Anyone would look like shit after spending twenty-four hours straight at the hospital.

Bristol slaps me on the chest but looks straight at Landyn. “Who is this?”

“This is gonna be fun,” Tim mutters.

Bristol puts on a frown, and Brittney’s eyes widen. I turn to their focus and find Landyn nibbling on her bottom lip while hugging her middle.

Since I’m pretty sure she won’t come to me, I close the distance and do what’s become natural when she knew me by another name—put my arm around her. “This is Landyn. Chica, my sisters. Hellion one and two, also known as Bristol and Brittney. Our parents did everything they could to confuse teachers and grandparents when naming us. We’re like the tongue-twister family.”

When I give her a squeeze, the word “Hi” pops out like a squeaky toy.

Brittney’s expression grows into a huge smile. “Holy shit.”

Bristol’s does not. The oldest Cruz kid deepens her frown. “Yeah. Holy shit. Is she a party favor from the cartel?”

“Bristol,” I bite.

Landyn stiffens further in my arms.

“Don’t be a bitch when mom just had heart surgery.” Brittney smacks our obnoxious sister in the shoulder and turns to Landyn. “Don’t pay attention to her. She’s been this way since Brax’s high school girlfriend broke his heart their freshman year of college.”

“Oh … kay,” Landyn mutters

I’m shocked that she’s shocked into silence by the Cruz sisters. She handled herself just fine with the president of the Jackals. This shit should not faze her.

---