Page 65 of Overkill

“She had plenty of security last night. And lemme guess. Griff is still out there?” I asked.

“So’s Lottie,” Goose said. “We worked out a security plan so you’ll have two extras watching the house.”

I walked out of the closet and combed my hair back with my fingers, pulling the tie from my wrist.

“Daria and I have been manning them from here.” Taz’s voice was muffled by the war. “You’re welcome.”

Their particular brand of ribbing while looking out for me felt…nostalgic. Like we were back in the old team room.

Before things went to hell with us.

Warmth grew in my chest. A mix of unexpressed gratitude and relief that, despite who I was and what I had done, they were here. Still looking out for me, even before I asked them to.

“We’re gonna need to work on this whole thing,” Daria said, pointing at me and my clothes. “Put a little effort into the courtship, please.”

The feel-good moment ended.

“She doesn’t care what I wear,” I grumbled.

“Sure,” Trinity said. “But she might get sick of the whole…lumberjack…thing.”

I rolled my eyes. “What, you want me to start wearing Hawaiian shirts with dogs on them?”

“Hey!” Goose said, looking to Daria and Taz for support. “I wear cats, too!”

“Listen.” I pinched the high bridge of my nose, shutting my eyes. “I’m begging you guys, please…”

I would have gotten down on my knees if I had thought it would have helped.

“Please, just be nice to her. Don’t scare her.” I dragged my hand over my face against the sudden tension coming on. “I like her. She’s one of the few really good things I’ve got going on. So…just don’t…you know…be…you.”

When I opened my eyes again, Daria, the weird-ass fucking freak of an assassin she was, had snuck up to me, pinning her hazel-blue eyes on me as she fixed my collar.

She smiled widely; her heart-shaped, pale face and bright eyes were full of mischief.

“I like her,” she said, her thick, plosive accent making the statement sound both threatening and complimentary. “I haven’t known you long, but I like you too. And I’m stupid romantic, and I like the idea of courtship.”

Then she lightly slapped me on the cheek.

“Go get her, tiger.” She winked and disappeared down the ladder, leaving me standing there confused and weirded out, but also a little…flattered? Confused and flattered.

“Don’t knock the Hawaiian shirts.” Goose got up and clapped me on the back. “Remember, I got the girl—and two kids—being the dingus I am.”

I swallowed, not wanting to say anything. Not wanting to mention his loss. His family’s loss. Our loss, too. Sandy was a good woman. That tragedy was one none of us would forget anytime soon.

Then he disappeared, and Taz was up next.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Taz said, grabbing my sleeve and fixing the buttons on my cuffs. I fucking hated them buttoned and usually opted to fold them up my forearms, but it was too frosty today, and the rain was pouring once again.

Another dreary day in upstate.

“We’re not just our pasts.” She tugged my sleeves down, took a step back, and gave me a once-over before pursing her lips to the side.

“Buy yourself a comb, VD.” She headed to the hatch, but before her head disappeared down the ladder, she added, “And shave your beard!”

“Never!” I called down.

I ran a hand over the scraggly thing I hadn’t shaved in weeks.