that was enough for me.
The dam broke, and I fell all the way.
I’d have it no other way.
From: Tazsters
To: Brenners
Subject: first saying it here that I’m super glad you’re safe
That’s it. I’m done emailing.
We’re FaceTiming from now on.
Also, is this the wrong time to tell you that there’s something sexy about a guy in the white mask. Yes, scary as fuck. Yes, there’s creep vibes too. And most definitely dangerous, but yeah… kinda hot and I’m saying that in a whisper so don’t be mad at me.
SO WISH we’d known about the impromptu party at Casa de Cain.
OH! I know I called before, but I’m repeating again that Race and I are good. Miscommunication. He’s clueless when other girls try to flirt with him. I have since educated him, and he now treats them as if they have a virus.
The Best Twin
Two days later and I took the garbage out, when a shadow moved.
I whirled, not knowing what to expect.
Bonbon was there. There was no wind, nothing, and yet, her hair was moving around like she had her personal fan. I had no clue how she did it.
She raised her eyebrows up, dressed in camouflage, and she smiled, her teeth flashing in the dark. “The van option is there. Always.”
“Jesus Christ, Bon!” Hawk came up behind me and moved toward Bonbon. She took her arm, then turned to me. “Sorry. So sorry. She called me and insisted I drive her over. She was going to leave a casserole. That’s all.”
Brock told me that he was going to have me ride with Hawk on our bail jumps from now on, and I was excited for it, but I still had no clue how I felt about Bonbon.
“Uh. Yeah.”
Bonbon pulled her arm from Hawk’s hold and almost seared me with her gaze. “And you tell your man, chopped liver and garlic. He’ll know what I’m talking about.”
Hawk cursed again. “Okay. We’re done. No more late night scavenger hunts with you.” She began guiding Bonbon past me, giving me a tired and exasperated smile. “Again, so sorry. I’ll see you at the office later.”
“Yeah.” I watched them go. “Later.”
A whole uneasy feeling took root in my chest. I had no clue if I wanted Bonbon as an ally or an enemy. She was terrifying in both cases.
BREN
We had another shocking moment when a month later, after Cross went on a bail jump with me, after he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and he was alone against the bail jump. Cross got in the way. The guy outweighed Cross by two hundred pounds, but hadn’t mattered.
Cross took him down, but he didn’t get out of that fight unscathed. And Brock swore that all my guys would get the right training because we couldn’t take in our bail jumps already roughed up. Shit happened, but apparently that was frowned upon.
That night was when our surprise happened.
CROSS
Someone was pounding on the door, and at the same time, ringing the doorbell.
They sounded as if they were alternating. Pound. Ring. Pound. Ring. They were jabbing at the bell.
Bren and I were coming out of our room, and at this point we weren’t hurrying to the door as fast as we would’ve a few days ago.
Zellman got there first and yawned before nodding at the door. “It’s your brother.”
My brother.
I was jolted at hearing that, but I didn’t know why.
As soon as he said it, he turned back to his room and we heard a female speak from inside.
Bren and I shared a look.
Zellman was drowning his sorrows the only way he knew.
The basement door swung open and Jordan came out. “What’s going on?”
Bren asked, “You alone down there?”
“What?”
Pound.
Ring.
I went for the door, flipping the light on as Bren commented, “Never mind. It’s Blaise.”
“Oh. Gotcha.” And Jordan swung around, the basement door shutting once again behind him.
There was a pattern here.
As I opened the door, I glanced at Bren. “You can head to bed, too, if you want?”
Her answer was to take a perch on the couch’s armrest and she smiled, the same bags under her eyes that Zellman had. Yeah. We all looked the same.
It’d been a trying month, lately with Zellman since he learned Sunday was already in Florida to be with her aunt.
Then I turned around, and my brother was standing frozen on the front step.
His gaze was stuck on my face and he sucked in his breath. “Holy shit.” His jaw clenched. “Who did this?”
That jolt happened again, but this time