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“Doesn’t matter,” Torr said. “I will protect the Cheld with my life, until they turn. And when they do . . .” He finished his wine and pushed his glass forward for a refill.

They were going to need another bottle.

“They will die.”

Lawrence didn’t doubt it. His brother’s voice had taken on the same hard edge that had once made his enemies drop their weapons and run.

“In the meantime, what’s happening here? Did you ever learn anything more about the break-in at the shop?” Laria asked. To clear Torr’s confusion, Lawrence and Toni brought him up to speed. A break-in where nothing was stolen. A “thief” with connections and a relative with an interest in the Cheld.

“Something just doesn’t sit right,” Lawrence finished.

Torr made a face as if to say each and every person in the kitchen, other than him, was daft. “Doesn’t sit right? You said the family is as old as dirt, the great-great-great—”

“We get it,” Toni waved her hand. “Move on.”

Lawrence and Laria laughed as Torr expelled an aggravated breath, though with his lips curled into the smallest smile. “I doubt it’s a coincidence that the family has some connection to supernatural beings—”

“The grandmother is just obsessed with them,” Toni cut in. “Like my aunt.”

“Maybe.” Torr frowned. “But I suspect there’s a tie there.” Looking back at Lawrence, he added, “You need to figure out what it is. It’ll give you something to do, anyway, after spending the day picking out barstools—”

Laria swatted him.

“I think your plan’s fantastic,” she said. “In fact, I’m going to stay as long as possible to see the bank transformed. Your bar, or taphouse, or whatever, will be the toast of the town.”

It wasn’t how he’d planned to ask her, but it was as good a segue as any.

Turning toward Toni, who seemed remarkably at ease with his siblings, not that he was surprised, he went for it.

“Our bar,” he said.

Toni just stared at him, her hands going toward her wrist and playing with the hairband there. He smiled.

“I have a proposal . . . You have some great ideas for the place, and at least one less job these days. You would make as good of a business partner as a girlfriend, Toni. If you’re interested—”

“Yes!”

When she threw her arms around him, he tried to ignore the feel of her breasts pressed against him. There would be time . . . plenty of time.

Pulling back, she looked up at him. “Was that the question you mentioned at Elmwood?”

He nodded. “Yep, I—”

“Holy sweet Jesus,” she said, laughing, though he didn’t get the joke. “This is amazing. Lawrence, I’m so excited.”

Her excitement was his. “As am I.”

He looked at his siblings then, grateful to have both of them in the same room as the woman he loved. The woman who would be his partner in every way.