Rafe
The air smells like ocean even though we’re not exactly on the coast. I stroll along
the wall’s perimeter on the outside of the protective ring. The pines loom, strange
and knobby, tightly packed.
Devlin and Kellan walk with me. Devlin somewhat ahead, Kellan at my side. My
youngest brothers got in an hour ago, right after I finished my workout.
“Haven’t been here in a while,” Kellan says, tone gruff and low. He’s thick,
covered in muscle, littered with scars from dozens of fights. “Not a fan of the country
houses.”
“He’s a city boy.” Devlin throws a rock at the pines. It cracks off bark and bounces
away. My youngest brother’s lean and fit, his dark hair cropped tight. “Can’t stand all
this natural beauty.”
“Give me skyscrapers. And fucking honking horns.” Kellan lets out an annoyed
growl. “Not all this—“ He gestures around vaguely.
“Fresh air?” Devlin picks up another stone and arches his brows. “Clean water?”
He sends it spinning into the trees.
“Enough,” I say wearily. If I don’t interrupt, they’ll go on trading insults all day.
Sometimes they end up beating each other bloody, and that’s
preferable. At least that finishes their bickering. “We need to focus.”
“On what? There’s nothing here.” Kellan shoves his hands in his pockets. “That’s
the point, isn’t it?”
“We have other issues.” I glance back at the walls and lower my voice. “You both
know why I’ve come here.”
“Yeah, you took the wife on a honeymoon.” Devlin laughs at his own joke.
“Seriously, where’s she at? I gotta admit, for some random ass girl, she’s good
looking.”
“Better be careful,” Kellan warns. “He’s already got that pissed-off look.”
“Uh-oh. Am I enraging the Don?”
“I may be your Don, but I’m also your big brother, and I swear I’ll fucking punch
that smirk off your face,” I snap, annoyed with myself for letting Devlin get to me.
That’s what he does and he’s good at it.
Devlin barks a laugh, clearly amused, and even Kellan grins and shakes his head.
“Someone’s a little protective,” Kellan says, raising his eyebrows. “You got a thing for
the new wife, huh?”
“She’s convenient, that’s all. Now would you two fucking focus?” I slam a fist to
the wall and stop walking, glaring at them. “The photograph. The one that kicked all
this off.”
Kellan seems thoughtful. Devlin’s hunting for another rock.
“There aren’t many people who could’ve plausibly gotten into your office.” Kellan
leans beside me, arms crossed over his chest. “Some staff. Silas and Theodora.”
“You think either of them might be in volved?”
Kellan dismisses that with a wave. “Not remotely, but I’m being thorough. That
leaves staff. I’ve already vetted everyone working that day and I can’t seem to find
any who might have a motive. Nothing was picked up on the cameras either. Not that
we have many in the main house.”
“It’s bothering me.” I grit my teeth as Devlin hits another tree with a rock.
“Whoever left that threat is inside our family.”
That sobers Kellan. He watches the trees with a grim expression. “We’ve been
lucky all these years. We haven’t had to deal with traitors.”
“But the business is changing.” I push off the wall and start walking again. “We
need to be pr epared. The picture was only the beginning.”
“I can handle it.” Devlin cuts in. He meets my dubious stare with a big, vicious
grin. “Come on, boss. I’ve been so fucking bored lately.”
“I need you two focused on getting our distribution channels locked down.”
“Kellan’s got that.” Devlin wanders closer to the pines. “You ever wonder if the
stories about this place are true? Not the Jersey Devil shit, but look at it. You got to
think a lot of bad, dark things have happened in those woods.”
I grit my teeth. Devlin’s always been attracted to the dark side of life. Not that I
can blame him. My youngest brother was born in fire and raised in blood. It’s all he
knows.
“Let Dev look into it,” Kellan suggests. “If we really do have a traitor, we need
them found sooner rather than later.”
I don’t love it, but he’s got a point. “Alright, Devlin. Run this down for me. Check
out everyone working at the house that day.”
“Yes, captain, my captain.” He salutes sarcastically. “Now, when do I get to meet
the new family?”
We continue talking business but soon I take my brothers back through the walls
and into the main compound. Nunzio is waiting on the driveway, a few of his soldiers
standing off to the side, while Hattie draws ponies with laser cannons attached to
their backs and unicorns with magic wands and a whole lot of what looks like
explosions all around them.
June seems very unhappy about all this and watches warily as we approach.
“I see there are more of you,” she says, eyes locked on me.
“Sister-in-law, allow me to introduce myself.” Devlin ignores her scowl and holds
out a respectful hand. “I’m Devlin, the smartest and best-looking brother.”
“My balls you are,” Kellan says gruffly but flinches at the look I throw. “Sorry,
sorry, not used to watching my mouth around kids. I’m Kellan, nice to meet you.”
June shakes Devlin’s hand. “June. The unwilling wife.”
Devlin bursts out laughing. “I love it! The unwilling wife! I’m going to write a
romance novel with that title. I bet it’ll be a best seller. You ladies are absolute sickos
for psychopaths, right?”
June’s locked jaw softens. “You don’t seem like the romance novel type.”
“Why not? Especially the dark stuff.” Devlin swoops over and crouches beside
Hattie. “And who are these beautiful creatures?”
“That’s Lord Cornish of the Unicorn League and that’s his arch rival King
Chesterton.”
“I like the stars. Is that a jetpack?”
“Blastbomb shooter.”
“Sick. You’re cool, kid. Can I draw too?”
Hattie gives him the blue chalk very seriously. “Be careful. They’re in a war.”
I watch in bewilderment as Devlin gets to work, he and Hattie chatting at each
other as he sketches what she tells him to. June wanders to my side and Kellan
dismisses himself to go get something to eat.
“Your brothers seem...” She trails off, finger to her chin.
“Nice probably isn’t the word.”
“No, but... look at them.” She smiles and for the first time, it looks like some of the
weight on her is lightened. My heart sings, real joy in my chest. This is what family is
meant to be. Not a burden. Not a problem to be solved. But a solution.
“Devlin’s good with kids. I think he’s still a kid himself.”
“Doesn’t look like one.”
“Don’t let it fool you. He’s got a good heart.” Somewhere underneath all the black
rot, hate, and ash.
“He’s got letters on his fingers—“ She squints at Devlin’s hand. “Same word you
have. Ashes.” She turns and looks curious. “What’s that mean?”
“Another time.” I put my hand on her lower back and steer her from Hattie and
Devlin. I don’t want to start talking about the fire right now, but I’ll have to tell her
eventually. “I made you a promise yesterday.”
She lights up when I press a phone into her hands. “Is this for me?”
“There’s one number in it. You can reach Marnie’s guard. He’ll put her on for you.”
Her face falls. “Her guard?”
“I’m protecting the people you care about. I won’t let what happened last time
happen again.”
“Really? You’re doing that?”
“You’d hate me if I didn’t.”
She gazes at me and there’s no anger for a moment, but she quickly turns away.
“Damn right I would. I’m going to call her now. Would you... take care of Hattie?”
My guts clench. “I’d be happy to.”
“Thank you.”
June walks off the driveway toward a big tree growing nearby. I turn to watch my
brother and my daughter drawing together. Devlin laughs at something she says, and
Hattie punches him in the knee, which only makes him howl louder.
I haven’t felt like this in years. Watching my daughter and my youngest brother
together wakes something in my heart. I thought that part of me was
long dead... but there’s warmth in my stomach...
Devlin comes over a few minutes later. “Good kid. I like her.”
“Then find the people who tried to take her away.”
His expression sharpens. That manic smile of his turns to a savage excitement.
“We’re going to make them scream, brother.”
I glance at June, talking to Marnie and crying with happiness, and over to Hattie,
still drawing.
“Damn right we will.”