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Once the seatbelt sign went off, Rueben scooped me up, holding me close. I soothed my hands over his arms and beard, running my fingers through the short hairs.
“I thought you’d been shot,” he whispered, his voice pained. “Then that douchebag tried to stop me, so I went feral on him. I don’t think he’ll be peeing standing up for a while.”
Gasping, I leaned back and assessed him as I peered into his eyes, seeing every emotion he felt. I ran my fingers over his face, his eyelids closing at my touch. I loved that Rueben spoke more to me, even if it was in whispers. I knew it meant he trusted me with his words.
“I’m sorry you were scared. It all happened so fast. I had to focus on Phoenix so I didn’t crumble. I hated that you weren’t with us, but I’m glad you kicked him in the nuts. That jerk deserved it. I would’ve done worse. So, he’s lucky he can still pee, even if it is sitting down.”
Rueben smiled, his big paws cupping my face as he tilted me back and forth like he was scanning every inch of me. When he was satisfied, I curled up in his arms and laid my head on his chest. This mission had been draining, and I was glad it was over. Having some downtime to prepare for the last one would be just what we all needed.
* * *
Gentle rousing wokeme later as I was moved to a seat and my lap belt buckled into place. Blinking, I rubbed my eyes, noticing we were landing. Bright lights of the city flashed around us, and excitement bubbled in my belly. I was going to see where the guys lived and where Loxley Crew stayed during their off time.
Rueben carried Phoenix off the plane and placed him in a waiting SUV. I crawled in, wanting to be close in case he needed me. Porter scooted in next to me, his arms going around my middle as he looked at his brother.
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did,” he whispered, his chin resting on my shoulder.
“I’d do it for any of you. It was the fear of losing him that pushed me past the trauma of my past. I don’t know if I’m cured, but it felt like a giant step in the right direction.”
“I was so proud of you, Cutie-Pie. You were so brave at that moment.” Porter kissed my cheek, his lips warm against my cool skin. Settling back into his arms, I held Phoenix’s hand as we drove to the guy’s place. I had no clue what to expect, so when we pulled up to a tall building in the heart of the city, I turned my head, convinced we were stopped behind something. The door opened, and I jumped, causing Porter and Otto to laugh.
Scowling, I climbed out behind Porter and stared up at the tall structure. People passed by on the street, the city still bustling this late at night. A man in a black suit opened the door for us as we neared, another one stepping out to retrieve the keys from Otto and walking toward the vehicle.
“Where is he taking it?” I asked, covering my mouth with my hand as I yawned.
“The parking garage.”
“Oh.” For some reason, that hadn’t occurred to me.
The guys snickered, directing me to the elevator. Rueben had Phoenix in his arms again, the staff ignoring the odd display as we passed. The elevator opened, and Porter inserted a black card into a slot, hitting the top floor. I raised my eyebrows, continuing to be impressed.
“I can’t wait to show you the view,” Porter said, bouncing on his feet. “We only keep a small percentage of the money from the loot we steal, but times that by four, and it’s still a lot of money. We share everything, so using it for a secure place in the city seemed like the best investment.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant. Sometimes it was easier to blend around a billion people. No one would notice them, and they could come and go as they pleased without curious neighbors. Man had chosen to live in seclusion instead, keeping us on the outskirts of a town. Though, perhaps adopting a bunch of small girls required more secrecy. That wasn’t something that would go unnoticed.
The elevator doors opened into their condo, showcasing the dark hardwood floor and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the city. The walls were a mixture of brick, soft grays, and blues, giving the place a warm feeling. It wasn’t designed by an interior decorator but had been done by four men who wanted a true home. Pictures of them throughout the years hung on the wall, mixed in with some famous art pieces.
A giant TV hung from the far wall, a stand with a million game and movie consoles. I walked into the kitchen, my mouth dropping open at how big it was. White cabinets and white marble filled the space with a massive island in the middle with six barstools. An oversized stainless steel refrigerator stood off to the side, not a single fingerprint in sight. The kitchen opened up to a small breakfast nook with another floor-to-ceiling window.
My mind glazed over as I took in the different rooms, finding six bedrooms, five bathrooms, an office, a workout room, another TV room, and a supply room. Their place had to be 4,000 square feet, covering the entire top floor of the building.
“This place is bananas.”
“We’re glad you like it. Come on. Let’s show you which room you can use and hit the hay. I think we could all sleep for a week.”
Nodding, I followed Otto to an empty room and set my belongings down. After a shower and changing into a shirt I believed belonged to Rueben since it practically touched my shins, I went in search of Phoenix, needing to be close. The other guys appeared to have the same idea, a separate mattress placed on the floor next to the huge one.
Once I was satisfied with his vitals, I climbed into the bed and curled up beside him as plans of revenge filtered through my head. Steel Strike wouldn’t get away with this. I’d make her murder hurt for causing Phoenix pain. I’d be so quiet she wouldn’t even see me coming and would have no choice but to call me the Silent Blade.
24
RUEBEN
The past twodays at our home with Raven had been bliss. After how the last job ended, we’d all needed time to recuperate and recharge. Phoenix had been shot, something none of us had ever encountered on a job before. The knowledge we could’ve lost him or Raven—who the bullet had been intended for—had been sobering. The four of us had become even more possessive and clingy, barely letting her out of our arms since we’d arrived.
“Need air,” Raven hissed, making me smile. I loosened my grip but didn’t set her down. My arms didn’t feel complete anymore unless she was in them.
“Okay, how about I need to pee? You’re not going to come in there with me, are you?” she asked, tilting her chin in what I assumed she meant to be stubborn determination but only made her cuter.
