The elevator opened, and there stood Rayna in an all-black jumpsuit with a hood and mask. Only her eyes were visible. She waved a plastic sword and posed in what I could only describe as a ninja pose with one leg up, and her hands over her head, her sword ready to strike. We all jumped back. Tyler gasped. Maddox instinctively stepped in front of us. Thankfully, I wasn’t carrying, or I would have pulled my gun.
“Rayna!” Tyler clutched his chest. “You scared the shit out of us.”
“Language, Tyler.”
“Sorry, Daddy.” He stepped around Maddox and pushed Rayna’s sword away while wrapping her up in a hug. “Hi, Rayn drop.” Instead of ending the hug, he hoisted her onto his shoulders and ran back down the hall.
“Tyler, stop!” she yelled. “I’m going to throw up. Uncle Maddox, help.”
“Tyler, be careful.” Maddox laughed and grabbed the bag Tyler had abandoned. “You break her, you have to explain it to her daddy.”
We arrived in the apartment to find Tyler on the huge leather sectional, sitting on Rayna. “Do you promise to behave?” he asked.
“I don’t have to. You’re not my Daddy.” Her legs flailed as she attempted to push him off her. “Get off me. You’re wrinkling my gi.” She had lost her hood and mask, and her hair was escaping her slicked-back ponytail.
“Tyler.”
“Fine.” He stood up. “But stop scaring people. Especially from your own clan.”
Rayna adjusted herself on the couch, “That’s not a rule. Besides, scaring Daddy is no fun, and I can’t scare Tinley or she’ll never leave the house again, so you’re the only one left.”
“You don’t know if Kylie likes to be scared.” Maddox added.
“She carries a gun, so she’s not scareable.” Strange logic.
“That makes no sense.” Tyler agreed. “I’m hungry.” There were more pressing matters to attend to.
Maddox pulled the food out of the bags and arranged it on the dining room table. Tyler had regained his composure, and he and Rayna hugged in a fit of giggles and joined Maddox at the table.
Battle postponed. I relaxed and followed.
I sat in the same seat as before, across from Rayna. The pizzas came in triangular boxes with lids that folded down to double as plates. He placed a tub of ranch in front of Rayna.
“What slice was yours, Kylie?” Maddox set a slice of pizza with all the meat on it in front of Tyler. He gave Rayna her pepperoni.
“Pepperoni and mushrooms.” I grabbed one of the individual packets of hot honey. Rayna copied me.
“What are we drinking, guys?” Maddox asked.
“I’ll get it.” I got up.
Maddox put a hand on my shoulder. “Enjoy your pizza; I’ll get it.”
“Sprite please, Uncle Maddox,” Rayna said.
“Kylie?”
“Oh, I’m all set,” I answered and shook my cup.
“Ty.”
“Does my brother have apple juice?” He asked Rayna.
“Yep.” She dipped her pizza in the ranch and then in the round of hot honey at the point in her box of pizza. The honey quickly turned white. I never thought of mixing them together. I copied her, and she laughed. Her laugh was infectious.
“Okay, what are we going to play after dinner?” Tyler asked.
“We can find something in my playroom.” Rayna danced while she ate her pizza. “Or watch a movie.”
