closed the album and straightened away from the counter. The amusement in their eyes caused a ball of dread to form in her stomach.
“Oh, I’m sure you have a few minutes to spare,” Kyle said as he kicked the door shut with his heel.
When he grinned at Cassidy, she ground her teeth together until she was sure they’d break. He was smiling now, but she would make him pay for this. Oh yes, she would make him pay.
“I’m sure Dante wants to tell us more about himself,” Kyle said.
Dante glanced at his watch. He wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of her brothers barraging him with questions, but he’d rather face it now than later because he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ve got five minutes to spare. What would you like to know?” Dante asked.
“See, sis,” Kyle said. “Dante doesn’t mind if we get to know him better.”
Cassidy plotted her revenge as Kyle rubbed his chin, and Julian walked around the counter to give Aida the papers. She handed him his breakfast and rose on her toes to kiss him.
“What are your intentions with our sister?” Kyle asked.
Cassidy lowered her head into her hands as Julian laughed. “Don’t answer that,” Cassidy said.
“We only have your best interests at heart,” Kyle said.
“I’m going to make you pay.”
Fear flashed through Kyle’s eyes, but he quickly covered it up, and Julian laughed. When Cassidy turned her scowl on him, he held his hands up.
“Hey, I am not messing with the queen of the prank wars,” Julian said.
“Prank wars?” Dante asked.
Cassidy smiled sweetly at Kyle, who gulped. “I told you we like to torment each other,” Cassidy said. “We used to pull pranks on each other, which escalated over time.”
“And Cassidy came out the victor,” Julian said.
“She’s devious and mean,” Kyle said.
“I had to be if I was going to survive with you guys,” she protested.
“You didn’t have to dump rats on me!” Kyle exclaimed.
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “They were fake rats.”
“They squeaked, and they had real fur. Real, bristly fur, and scaly tails.” Kyle shuddered.
“You’re such a baby.”
Kyle gave her the finger, and Cassidy returned it.
“As you can see, we’re a pretty close-knit family,” Julian said to Dante. “So we like to learn as much as possible about anyone our sisters and brothers date.”
“I bet you can’t tell me the name of one of the countless women Kyle has been with,” Cassidy retorted.
“It’s not countless,” Kyle said.
Cassidy gave him a disbelieving look, and Julian appeared dubious.
“Besides, we’re not talking about me right now,” Kyle said. “We’re discussing you and Dante. So, what are your intentions, Dante?”
Oh yes, she was going to make him pay.
“I intend to make her happy,” Dante said.
The words were so unexpected they broke through her irritation with Kyle and stole her breath. She had no idea how to respond, so she stood with her jaw hanging open.
They hadn’t exchanged blood, so the mate bond wasn’t complete, but at that moment, she had no doubt what he was to her. And then, unable to resist, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
Dante pulled her close and closed his eyes as he rested his chin on top of her head. She felt so unbelievably right in his arms. He didn’t know where his answer came from, but the truth of it struck a chord deep in his soul.
“We should go,” he said.
“Yes, of course,” Cassidy said and reluctantly released him.
Heat didn’t burn her face when she looked to her brothers and Aida again. Kyle no longer looked amused, and Julian hugged Aida closer as he smiled at Cassidy. However, there was a sadness in his eyes too, and she understood it. They were all growing up.
“Do you need help?” Kyle asked.
“No, we’re just going to talk with someone,” Dante said.
“If you do end up needing help, or have to go back into another vamp bar, call us,” Julian said. “We’ll come.”
“Thank you,” Dante said.
Then he realized her brothers had accepted him. They weren’t going to interfere with their relationship and were welcoming him into the family. He suspected they would still dump a heap of crap on him whenever they got the chance. However, now they would do it because they considered him family, and not because they were questioning if he was good enough for their sister.
He couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
Chapter Thirty
The taxi pulled up in front of a brick apartment building in Roxbury. The neighborhood wasn’t exactly the best, but the streets were tranquil at this time