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"Well enough to at least get us out of this building safely. But we’ll have to act pretty damn convincingly."
I couldn't help but laugh. "After half a lifetime spent trying to become the person I want to be while navigating around my grandmother and the rest of the Circle, I’m pretty damned good at acting.”
This time Finn was the one to scowl in my direction. "Fuck your grandmother and the rest of the Circle. The person you've become is perfect just the way she is." He shook his head in frustration. "I mean just the wayyouare."
Warmth flooded my heart. That statement seemed particularly sweet coming from the gruff triplet who had cut me to the bone with his words on New Year's Day. "Thank you," I replied softly. "The three of you are kind of growing on me as well."
Shea reclaimed Alexander's letter from Finn and photographed it with his smart phone before sliding the paper back into its envelope. He gestured to the manila folders. "We need backups of all this evidence since Alexander can apparently get in here any time he wants. Each of you grab a folder and start taking pictures while I call Todd the receptionist to say we're ready to leave."
Amusement colored my tone because I was pretty sure he'd made that mistake on purpose. "I think you mean Tom."
"Considering either him or someone else most likely accepted a bribe from your uncle to get his grubby hands on the safety deposit box, he's going to stay Todd to me."
A chuckle escaped my lips. "Fair enough."
Shea pointed toward the remaining folder that hadn't been claimed by one of his brothers. "Get busy, Blondie."
My eyes narrowed but I merely channeled my inner sarcasm to drawl, "This is neither the time nor place for that Wolfie." He winked and turned to the phone while I started photographing each page in my folder.
I blinked when rapid-fire notifications started pinging on my phone. A quick check revealed that Connor and Finn were sending copies of the documents they had photographed to a new group chat one of them—likely Connor given how much Finn hated technology—had thoughtfully created. One they'd titled "The Four Wolfketeers." Something that sent a new flood of warmth sweeping through me.
For the first time all evening…perhaps the first time in my life…I felt part of a group where I truly belonged, connected to three men who understood me like nobody else had before. Not even my baby sister. And despite the terrible things we’d been through, it felt an awful lot like coming home.
11
FINN
Having Ava’s expression go all soft and warm when I stumbled over my words trying to reassure her had my pulse picking up speed. Impatience with my awkwardness evaporated when she looked at me as if I’d done something amazing. I found myself rubbing my heart as the strangest sense of pride filled it. Shadows, if I could spend the rest of my life putting that look on her face, then I would haveearnedthat sense of pride.
I nodded in determination. Once we sorted this shit out—once Alexander and his allies paid for the terrible things they’d done—Iwouldspend the rest of our lives trying to convince Ava that she really was perfect the way she was. No matter what idiots like her grandmother and the Circle thought.
But first, we had to get through the next few minutes. Not to mention make it out of the building alive.
Shea wrapped up his phone call with Todd—I mean Tom—the receptionist. He waited until the three of us finished photographing the documents and returned the folders to the safety deposit box. Rather than toss Alexander's letter in as well, he pocketed it. Knowing my brother's sharp political mind, he already had some plan to use it against our conniving uncle. If it brought me one step closer to punching Alexander in his murderous face, I was A-OK with that.
Ava glanced at each one of us before meeting Shea's gaze. "Did Tom seem suspicious at all? Or act suspiciously himself?"
Shea shook his head. "Not that I could tell. Although take that with a grain of salt. It's not like Todd is my close personal friend."
Connor snickered. "Isn't being the group comedianmyjob?"
Shea gave a carefree shrug. "Not my fault if you're sleeping on the job again."
"That happened one time! And you still haven't gotten over it."
Ava's eyebrows arched. "Sounds like a story I need to hear."
Connor shot her a sardonic look. "I think we have much bigger problems to worry about now, Blondie."
Shea leaned toward our little Beacon and lowered his voice melodramatically. "Have no fear, Ava. I'll tell you the whole sordid story when we get home."
That thought--taking Ava back to our home and sharing such an intimate moment with her--had some unfamiliar emotion squeezing my heart. My eyes met Shea's knowing gaze. I could tell he was thinking the same thing, or at least feeling the same thing, I was. Even so, we couldn't skip from point A to point C without passing through point B. In this case, either bluffing or fighting our way out of the building.
Ava nodded, determination written on her face. "Ready for me to drop the Radiant Seal?"
Shea quirked a brow toward Connor and then me. When we nodded, he gave Ava a "be my guest" gesture. Magic stirred, making my skin tingle as Ava presumably banished her barrier spell. My gaze fell upon the violet-eyed blonde Radiant who'd been driving me crazy in one way or another since I'd first set eyes on her years before. I wouldn't have traded places with anyone if it meant not getting to be with her. Or it might be more accurate to say not getting the chance to be with her. Things were by no means yet certain.
I had a whole lot of making up to do first.
