against the armrest, when V looked up from his Four Toys.
“According to the tunnel’s security camera, we’ve got another visitor.”
“Like Grand Central here this morning.” But Butch didn’t care. There was no sleep to be had. FFS, he couldn’t even pretend to be dozing. “Who is it?”
When there was a subtle knock, they both called out, “Yup!”
The door up from the underground tunnel opened, and—
“Balz,” V said as he refocused on his monitors. “How’re ya.”
The Bastard glanced down the hall where the bedrooms were. “You got a minute? Are your shellans asleep?”
“Nope.” Butch pushed himself up a little higher. “Marissa’s staying the day at Safe Place.”
“And Jane’s at the training center.” V sat back in his ass palace. “What’s up.”
Balthazar was the kind of thief who, after he’d been in your crib, you’d probably want to perform an inventory of every single thing that was worth more than five bucks—even if the guy had been right in front of you the entire time. Fortunately, he was also the kind of thief who had an off-limits safe list, and all members of the Brotherhood and the Brotherhood’s household, were on it.
“Have a seat,” Butch said as he bent his knees to create room. “You look like I feel.”
Balz came over and took a load off, groaning as he sat back. But instead of launching into whatever topic was clearly constipating his pie hole, he crossed his arms over his chest. Worked his jaw like he was trying to wear down the ridges of his back molars. Rolled his shoulder until it cracked.
“So your cousin was just here,” Butch murmured. “Did you miss Syn on purpose? Or is it luck.”
When the male didn’t say anything, Butch got to his feet and went to the kitchen. “Scotch?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Hand-rolled?” V offered from the computers.
“Yes. Please.”
The poor Bastard didn’t speak until he had drank half the Lag Butch poured him and smoked half the cigarette V gave him.
And when he decided to talk, he still had to clear his voice. “So, Butch . . . I understand that you’re a direct relation of Jo Early, the half-breed—”
“Please don’t call her that,” Butch said.
Balz inclined his head in deference. “My apologies. The female.”
“Thanks. And yeah, she’s my sister.”
“Indeed . . .” Balz tossed back the last of the scotch. “Look, there’s no easy way to say this. Syn has asked me to be the one who attends to her. In the event the change comes.”
Butch sat up. “Excuse me? No offense, but what the hell business of it is his—”
“He’s bonded with her.”
Easing back into his recline, Butch decided he was really done with life’s little curveballs. Although . . . “You know, in a way, this is a good thing. I was getting ready to have a super-fun conversation with the guy—’cuz there’s no way I want him alone with my sister.”
Balz took a drag on his hand-rolled. “He’s never done anything like this before.”
“You mean fed a female in her transition?”
“No, watched out for one like this.” Balz tapped his cigarette into his empty glass. “And I’m the closest one to him. Which is why he asked me.”
“What’d you say?” V asked.
“I have a bad habit of cleaning up after my cousin. So of course, it was a yes. I figured you”—he glanced at Butch—“would be witnessing the transition if it comes for her. You and Manny, that is. No matter what Syn’s saying, you two are in charge. She’s an unmated female, and you’re her closest male relations. It’s ultimately your choice.”
Butch stared at the guy with fresh eyes. Funny how you considered a male differently when he was going to get close to your sister.
The only opinion he’d ever had about Balz was that you wanted to chain your wallet when he was around—preferably inside your pants. Other than that? The fighter was brutal in the field, quick with the snark, and you had to respect the way he looked after that loose cannon cousin of his. So all the way around, he was a good addition to the roster.
Now, though, Butch thought the Bastard was a little too good-looking. Too well-built. Too well used—and by that, he was not talking about in-the-field hours.
More in-the-sheets was what he was thinking.
“You will witness it,” Balz repeated. “Nothing will happen other than her at my wrist. I swear on my grandmahmen—who is the only female I have ever honored.”
As the Bastard looked over, his eyes did not waver. And after a tense moment, Butch