I don’t respond as I swipe the screen to unlock it. I’m not at all surprised to find a picture of Brandon flexing in the mirror already set as the home screen. I swipe over to find a bank app, tapping on the icon quickly. It takes a few second for the balance to load and I audibly gasp out a “Holy fuck.”
“Is it not a sufficient amount?” Max asks with real concern in his eyes, as if the abundance of commas in my bank account isn’t enough money for a lifetime.
“This is too much, you have to take some of it back.” I hand him back the phone as if it’s made of cash itself.
“It’s not too much, it’s the amount we agreed on. You’ve been paid for each hit you’ve executed, you’ve attended training, and your attendance is impeccable, so you also received a bonus.” Max shrugged.
“Maxi pad, I live here.” I roll my eyes, “Obviously I have good attendance.”
“You have better attendance than Brandon.” He adds as if it dilutes my argument.
He stretches the phone out to me, and I take it back with a grumble before I slouch myself in my chair, “At least let me start paying rent.”
This seems to be the wrong thing to say when he shoots daggers in my direction, “Don’t be ridiculous, Harpy. I don’t want your money, nor do we need it. Can’t believe you’d ever be so possessed to ask such a thing.”
I choose not to respond when I slide the phone into my pocket and shift to start making my plate. Brandon swats my hand away and starts to pile the food on the plate for me, Teddyleaves and returns with a glass of chocolate milk, and Dean butters a slice of toast for me.
That’s when it hits, I have grown on them the same way they have wrapped around me. They have let their poison ivy stretch and bend and swaddle around my body, until I have wholly become one with them. I have nothing to be guilty over, because I know I am just as dedicated to them as they are to me. My men, my unit. Mine.
I choke back the realization when I catch all four of them staring at me with concern as my eyes blur with fresh tears. I blink them away quickly, clearing my throat while I accept my plate from Brandon.
“Okay,” I breathe out, “What’s the plan for today, Max?”
35
T = D/S
Max
Max.Just Max. Not the insipid nickname, notboss.Max. The moment my name leaves her lips, I feel a string of chills curl around the base of my spine then shoot up my back between my shoulders. I know without looking that every hair on my body stands on end, and there is a warmth that spreads in my chest that I’m not quite familiar with.
Ignoring the sudden flow of bodily reactions, I decide I’ve taken too long to answer Zoe’s question, “Jessica and Drake are waiting in the garage. We have to attend to a few of our regular routine items. We’ll be going into the city to follow up on owed dues, and we have a standing lunch at Antonio’s, then we need to check in on the warehouses to see how things are running after we removed Darren.” The group nods along as they eat when Zoe perks up at the mention of Darren.
“Teddy,” She starts, “Do we know if the Cambions got the heads?”
Teddy finishes his glass of chocolate milk before answering with, “I know it got to the warehouse Deangelo had mentioned to us, but the Cambions have yet to retaliate or respond.”
Zoe nods and turns back to her place, a pensive look on her face.
We all finish our meals in a comfortable silence, but there is a static energy in the air. Some sort of buzzing around us that I can’t quite figure out. I stand from my chair and check my phone to be sure nothing has come up, and sure enough no notifications except from Angelo reminding us to stop by today.
“Okay,” I clap my hands together to get everyone’s attention, “Dean and Brandon will run to pick up the dues with Jessica, and Zoe and I will head to the warehouses with Drake. Teddy will finish up here with Tiger. That should leave us with plenty of time to make out lunch at Angelo’s.”
Everyone nods in agreement and stands from the table. “Who cooks and cleans?” Zoe asks.
“Sunjay?” Me and my brothers say in unison.
“Who the fuck in Sunjay?” Her brows furrowed in confusion, making me mirror the same expression.
“Our housekeeper? You should know this, Harpy.”
“Never, not once have you mentioned a housekeeper. I just assumed it was one of you.” Zoe shrugs.
“As if we have the time? Come on, that makes no sense, clearly you aren’t that observant of your surroundings.” I let a chuckle slip from my lips as I passed her to head to the garage, I can hear her grumble something under her breath, but I ignore it.
Teddy plants a kiss on Zoe’s head before disappearing back into the house. I observe how they all move around her, how I move around her. As if we are all tethered by someinvisible string, just floating in her gravitational pull. I want to be annoyed by it, or even concerned, but I can’t help but admire how easily she snuck in and fit so well with us. Zoe is a Karma, and it’s time we start making sure she knows it.
Brandon gives Zoe a hug I can only dream of feeling from her, and Dean ruffles her hair at the crown of her head as if he didn’t absolutely destroy her insides yesterday.
