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“You’re not far off.” We share a laugh, then he adds, “No, I’m just kidding. It was only hell when they were all going through puberty at the same time. Mostly because I was, too.”
“Jesus. How close in age are you all?”
“I’m the oldest by seventeen months. Then it’s Tina, Morgan, and the baby of the family, Jolie. There’s about thirteen months between Tina and Mo. And Mo and Jo are Irish twins, born nine and a half months apart.” He snorts. “Dad couldn’t stay off Mom for a few years there.”
“Mo and Jo.”
“They hate being called that, but what are big brothers for if not to ragebait their siblings?”
“Right,” I say, probably unconvincingly.
“So if you need any pointers, let me know.”
“Ragebaiting?” I’ve got that down to a science.
“Or just being a brother. Everyone’s talking about Kota’s new stepbro. Fire mug shot, by the way.”
Goddamn it. I’m supposed to be flying under the radar here, but someone—probably Guy—searched me up and is spreading the good fucking news. I’m sure Kota’s already seen my rap sheet and has her opinion, too.
“Thanks?” I guess. “But I seem to be doing all right with the rage part already.”
“With Kota?”
“Mm. We got off on the wrong foot.” Wrong foot but right hand.
“Give her some time. She’ll get used to you.” Dude sips from his cup before adding, “Or kill you. You never really know with women. It’s a very fine line with them, even on their best days.”
Sounds exciting.
“You know her pretty well because of Tina?”
“Kinda. My family lives right down the street. Shit. I don’t think I introduced myself. I’m Dex Mathews.”
We bump the sides of our fists again.
“Khaos Pierson,” I say, still feeling strange telling someone who isn’t a cop my last name.
“I know. Mug shot, remember?”
“So everyone knows everything about me now?”
“Just your name and that you got heavy hands. I just hope they’re not heavy toward women.”
“No, never.”
“Good to know. I talk a lot of shit but the women in my life are everything to me. Don’t tell Tina but I miss my sisters like crazy after moving out last year.”
“Where’d you move to?”
“The guesthouse.”
I wait for the laugh but it never comes. Not even a smile.
Right.
“How long have you been neighbors with the Rhodeses?”
“Oh, since the moment I was born. Seraphina and Thomas, her first husband, lived here before Kota was born, then she got the house in the divorce.”
