Rule Breakers (Off Limits #2) - Nicky James Page 0,75

launched onto my lap with a squeal. “Uncle Harley’s here.”

“Hey, princess.” I kissed her cheek and gave her a tight hug.

“I am not a princess. Ignore the stupid dress. Mom made me wear it.”

“Hey, lippy,” Vanya said to her daughter, brow quirked. “Enough out of you. Go tell your brother to tidy up his LEGOs. We’ll have dinner soon.”

Regan rolled her eyes but bounced off my knee and hugged Denver too. She kissed his cheek before spinning once, sending her dress spiraling around her, and darting off to the stairs and the second floor, yelling for her brother.

When she was gone, I smirked at my sister. “She’s got the whole eye roll thing down to a science.”

“I blame you.” Vanya yanked me to my feet and engulfed me in a strangling hug. “Where the hell have you been lately? I missed you.”

I squeezed her back and ignored the way my heart stuttered and started again. I didn’t know what to say, so I just said, “I’m sorry.”

Denver’s fingers brushed my calf. More reassurance. He knew my insides were in a knot.

Vanya pulled away and took my face into her hands. She was several inches shorter than me and had to look up and angle my head down, but it was daunting how much authority she could squeeze into a single glare. She squinted and studied me, and I held my breath, working an innocent smile onto my face. It didn’t work.

She dragged me to her level and pecked my lips, whispering, “We’ll talk later.”

I was helpless to do anything but nod.

She patted my shoulder and yanked Denver to his feet too. She gave him a tight hug, saying hello and thanking him for coming, before vanishing into the kitchen.

Dan shook Denver’s hand then mine. “Can I get you guys a drink? There’s beer, but you work tonight, right?” he asked me.

“Yeah. Just water or Coke or something is fine.”

“I’m on it. Den, you want a beer?”

“Sure. Works for me.”

Dan followed his wife which left Denver and I alone with our parents. They didn’t jump up to greet us. I glanced between them and pasted on a smile. “Hey.” I did not offer hugs or kisses. We didn’t do that anymore.

Denver might ordinarily, but he’d already made himself comfortable on the couch the second a spot had opened up and made no move to stand. Mom and Dad usually lavished him with attention. He’d been their favorite until Vanya had given them legitimate grandchildren. Since then, Denver had slipped down a position in their eyes.

Mom didn’t waste a moment. “So.” She paused, sipping her red wine and dragging out the moment, her laser focus turned on me. There was always accusation in her eyes. “I hear Edison is working at a bar?”

“A club,” I corrected. “A gay nightclub. I’m very proud of him.”

“You would be.” She tsked, and her nose wrinkled.

“Why would you allow him to drop out of college?” Dad asked. “He needs an education. At this rate, he’ll be no better off than you.”

I tightened my jaw, reminding myself that lashing out wouldn’t get me anywhere. “It was his choice. He’s an adult. He doesn’t want to take policing or join the military, and I was wrong to push that on him. He needs time to figure out a direction, so he chose to work instead. And what the hell is wrong with what I do?”

Everything, according to them.

“Like father like son.” Mom didn’t say it kindly. It was more of an insult, seeing as we all knew what they thought of my profession. “He’s one step away from taking off his clothes for money. Is that what you’re promoting, Harley? Why doesn’t that shock me?”

I frowned. “Stop it. He’s bartending. What does—”

“Dinner’s ready,” Vanya said from the doorway, her voice sharp and pointed. “And if we could save the fights for a day that’s not my daughter’s birthday, that’d be great.”

Mom held my gaze for a beat before looking away like I wasn’t worth her time.

“Reagan wants to be a veterinarian when she’s older,” Dad mused. “Like her father. Now that’s a commendable profession.”

“Reagan’s twelve,” I snapped. “She has no fucking clue what she—”

Denver grabbed me by the back of the neck, squeezing and hauling me closer to whisper in my ear. “Enough. Let it go. Not worth it.”

But I wasn’t done. Before we gathered around the table, I had one last thing to make clear. “Drop this whole thing. Don’t mention it around Edison. He’s worked hard,