Crowed (Team Zero #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,58
Dad, but after a long talk, he said that he doesn’t mind. He’s my father after all, and although Crow hates him, he respects him for protecting his family. He’s also thankful to him because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Dad.
Crow was even the one who placed this picture here. ‘You look fucking adorable as a baby’ was his only excuse.
As Céline says, ‘Crow is a keeper.’
The scent of coffee and cake wafts from the kitchen. Crow has been spoiling me senseless. It’s all for my health, he says. I tiptoe into the kitchen, ready to hug him to death. The breakfast is on the table, but there’s no sign of Crow.
My pulse spikes up and unwelcome thoughts barge into my mind.
I shoo them away when I hear faint voices coming from the kitchen’s back door. Crow’s voice is amongst them.
My breathing calms.
I approach the ajar back door and make out Crow standing at the porch, his back facing me. He’s wearing a simple grey T-shirt that stretches over well-defined muscles. The view always causes my toes to curl. Add those bird tattoos peeking from the collar of his T-shirt, and my hormones go on overdrive.
The other voice belongs to Ghost who’s giving me his side profile. He’s wearing a casual suit and standing straight, but not stiffly. I have no idea how he does that, but he just does.
Crow talks to him over the phone, but this is the first time Ghost shows up in person.
Making sure to stay hidden, I cross the sweater over my belly and lean in.
“So you’re the fucking mafia now?” Crow asks, a notch of amusement in his voice. “I bet you love it.”
“Shut it, mate.” Ghost’s voice is mildly annoyed. It’s the first time I hear him talk in anything but his composed, calm tone.
Ghost has always been a mystery. A dangerous mystery. I’m just glad that he’s one of Crow’s friends, no an enemy.
“Is Hades still a pain in the arse?” Crow asks, and this time, his voice hardens.
“He won’t be coming here,” Ghost says. “He doesn’t have enough assassins left for trivial matters. He’s focusing on Team Zero because he can keep us on leech with Omega. But if he’s imprisoning half of our mates, then he’s desperate not to lose us.”
“Does he suspect you’re detoxing?”
“If he did, he would’ve locked us all up and shoved Omega into our veins.” Ghost pauses, his dark gaze lost in the distance. “He’s just suspicious by nature, but it’s gotten worse after yours and Storm’s death.”
“Just keep me the fuck out of this. I want nothing to do with Team Zero antics’ either. Don’t send me joker cards games anymore. I fucking hate that card now.”
My chest tugs, knowing it’s because of that time Xavier placed a joker card on me.
Ghost raises an eyebrow. “You’re abandoning your Team Zero family?”
“I have a new family now. This is the only place where I want to be.”
I clutch the door frame for balance, barely stopping myself from running to Crow and hugging him.
He said that before, but hearing him talk about it to his closest friend makes it a lot more impactful.
“You should try finding an alternative family,” Crow continues. “Team Zero isn’t exactly conventional.”
“Team Zero is the only family I need.” Ghost’s tone is non-negotiable. “Anything else is a distraction. I don’t do distractions.”
Crow lifts a shoulder. There’s a pause before he continues, “You’re my mate, Ghost. If you need me, I’m here, but you better only need me when you’re fucking dying.”
Ghost’s lips twitch in what appears like a smile but isn’t. Perhaps he doesn’t do smiling.
His eyes snap to me with the same welcoming look. I flinch. Merde. He knew I was here all along?
“Bonjour, Eloise.”
“Bonjour.” I smile, cheeks heating at being caught eavesdropping.
Crow whirls around. The intense blue of his eyes widen a little before he strides my way. He wraps his arm around my waist, and his lips brush a kiss on my hair. “It’s a bit cold outside.”
Ghost walks to stand in front of us and says to Crow, “Your reflexes are less sharp.”
“Well, I detoxed completely, not like you losers.”
“It works differently for all of us. You’ve got lucky somehow.”
“Lucky? You little —” Crow glares even though his voice is jokey. “You know what? Don’t call me when you’re dying, Ghost. I will just attend the fucking funeral.”
“Hey.” I stroke his chest. “Don’t say that.”
Ghost’s lips just twitch in amusement. He addresses me. “If you need