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I snort. “Right? But they’re not like you. I mean, something happened to you. You had no control over it. But my brothers…hell, for a while there I felt like they wanted to fuck up their lives. Like that was their goal. And I tried to keep it from happening, but everything went south anyway.”
When I found out Dash and Leo got caught in a hot car, that they were in jail and waiting for trial, something in my chest crumpled. I’d failed them, and I couldn’t help.
Now they’re out, and Dash has cleaned up his life.
But I’m back to trying to save Leo.
“Well, I can’t say I know what that feels like, since I’ve only ever been the kid sister. But—” Violet taps the neck of her bottle to mine. “—even when my brother goes overboard with his protective shit, I can never get too mad. ’Cause I get that he’s doing it all because he loves me. Which is why I may give Manuel a hard time, but I don’t try to duck him or anything. Which I bet I could do now that I’m taking your lessons.” She winks at me, and we share a laugh. “Anyway, I’m just saying, if your brothers are any kind of smart, they realize what you do for them and appreciate your love.”
Suddenly, my cheeks grow very warm. No one has ever complimented me on my loving ability before. Normally I get called a bitch, and I embrace that moniker.
“Maybe,” I mutter before sipping my beer.
“And now you have Charlie!” She holds her beer up as if in a toast. “He seems like a capable guy. You’re not protecting him too, are you?”
My mouth pops open, then slowly closes as I consider her words.
In the beginning, I thought I would be. Providing him a place to live and paying him part of my inheritance. Being his sugar momma. But this past week together, I haven’t felt like his caretaker. Maybe we’ve fashioned together a different kind of relationship.
“He’s more like my partner,” I admit.
Violet reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. “That’s great. That sounds like exactly what you need. And after a few drinks, I’m going to ask you for all the dirty details, but right now I need to show you the real reason I asked you to come.”
There’s a twisting in my stomach. This is where Violet asks me about security measures for her apartment or to rate the foods in her pantry based on their nutritional values. Things I’m not opposed to doing, but I’d hoped this interaction could deviate from my professional life.
Violet hops off her stool and jogs over to a giant TV. Woven baskets sit on the bottom of the TV stand, and she pulls one out, removing crinkly, folded mats that when unrolled reveal huge arrows pointing in different directions.
“Have you ever played Dance Dance Revolution?”
“I—what?”
“DDR. I tried playing by myself, but it’s no fun that way. And Manuel said I could double his salary and he still wouldn’t step on—these are his words—that electronic monstrosity.” She gives me the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. And Dash can lay them on thick when he wants. “Will you play with me?”
Suddenly, I start laughing. I don’t know where the sound comes from, but hell, does the bubbling joy of it feel good. I let the sound roll through me, then I throw back my beer and wipe away the dribble from the side of my mouth.
“You better not be a sore loser,” I taunt.
Her returning grin has a hint of evil I’ve never seen on her sweet face. “Cocky much? You might be able to take me down in the gym, but this is DDR.” Violet arranges the mats in front of the entertainment center. “Get ready to get your ass kicked.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
LUNA
“We’re just going to tell them we’re married.” I try to say the statement with utter surety as I meet Charlie’s eyes where he sits in the passenger seat.
“Whatever you want to do,” he says. Supportive, as always. “I’ll follow your lead.”
Guess this is happening. I climb out of the car.
Dash and Paige’s home is a cute little thing. Not a house I ever imagined my brother living in, but to be honest, I never thought he’d live a domestic life. I just worried about him living, period.
Now he’s married, got a house and a dog and a full-time job he loves. Working on cars, true. But not like Uncle Mike. Dash is legit. Manager of an auto shop. Maybe a strange job for a guy who used to steal cars.
Or maybe the most natural thing in the world.
“Hi!” Paige opens the door before we knock, waving us inside. “Dash and the dogs are out back. Food is in the living room. I made plenty.”
My sister-in-law gives Charlie a one-armed hug around his waist, then leads us through the warmly decorated living space until we reach the sliding glass doors. When we step outside, I watch as my younger brother plays tug-o-war with two pit bulls simultaneously. From the way they whip their strong heads back and forth, trying to wrench the ropes away from him, I know my brother will have sore shoulders tonight.
