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She peeks up at me. “Okay, I’ve got a huge thing for him. Oh my god, Riley! He’s the best.”
She starts to gush about all of his amazing qualities, and I do my best to keep my protective instincts in check. A part of me still sees her as the little girl I have to stand guard over, and that part wants to warn her away from getting involved with a dangerous man.
Because yes, Nathan’s young, and yes, I saw him being sweet with her. But I meant what I said. If he’s a Reaper, he’s dangerous… although even I have to admit that that doesn’t mean he’s dangerous to my sister. That kind of thinking would be hypocritical of me, given that one of my own men has killed for me, and any one of them would do it again if they had to.
There are a lot better ways to judge someone’s character than just whether or not they’re a criminal, so it’s easy to be sincere when Chloe finally winds down her glowing list of Nathan’s best attributes and I tell her that I’m happy for her.
“But that doesn’t mean I won’t kick his ass if he hurts you,” I warn her, meaning every word of it.
Chloe grins, her eyes shining. “I know. God, it’s so good to have you back.”
“You mean, to haveyouback,” I tease her. “You’re the one who was tucked away in the safe house.”
Her expression turns serious. “I didn’t like being separated, but I understand why you wanted me to go.” She grabs both my hands, squeezing them tight. “Just… don’t do it again, okay? I want us to be together. It’s one thing to hear about all your news secondhand, but I want tobethere. I want us to have a life together.”
My throat closes up, and I squeeze her back. “I do too.”
Although I can’t say I’m sorry she wasn’t with me for everything that went down when she was gone. But that’s over now, and with my new position… well, like Ayla said, with great responsibility will come great power, and I’ll use every fucking bit of it to give Chloe the life I’ve always promised her. Chloeandmy men.
Which reminds me, “There is one thing I haven’t had a chance to tell you about yet.”
“Yeah?” she asks, going a little tense. “Please tell me it’s not more bad news.”
“No, nothing like that.” I hesitate, then just blurt it out. “I’ve been asked to be part of the group who oversee Halston’s criminal underground. The Six.”
“The Six?” Chloe’s eyes go wide. “Um, I’ve heard of them. From Nathan. Are youserious?”
“Dead serious.”
I bring her up to speed on the details of their offer and why they made it, and she gets a thoughtful look on her face after the shock drains away.
“It fits, you know.”
“What?” I laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, right. I’m sure you always thought your stripper sister would end up ruling over the local gangs I always warned you away from.”
“No, I’m serious. You’re not my stripper sister. You’re my badass sister. The one who’s always been there to save me. To fight for me.” She blinks fast, then scrubs at her eyes when they start to spill over. “Dammit, I love you, Riley. I’ve always believed in you. And yeah, itdoesfit. I always knew you were destined for something way bigger than just shaking your ass in front of a bunch of leches to pay our rent.”
“Thanks,” I say, my throat tight. I clear it, then give her hair a playful tug. “And you know it wasn’t just to pay our rent. I had to keep us looking good, so what the hell isthisall about?”
Chloe laughs, then flicks her hair over her shoulder with some of the sass I remember from before life shit on her so hard. It warms my heart to see it. “Well, Nathan did offer to help touch up my roots, but I didn’t trust him not to over bleach them. You remember what happened when we were living over that deli.”
“Oh god,don’tremind me.”
We both laugh, then Chloe suddenly lights up. “Hey, does this shit with The Six mean we get to stay in Halston now? For good?”
“Yes, if you want to,” I say cautiously, not sure how I’ll handle it if she still has dreams of starting over in a new city.
Her squeal and the enthusiastic hug I get kill those worries before they can take hold. “Idefinitelydo.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with Nathan coming back to Halston soon, would it?” I tease her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lies, flipping her hair again and then grinning at me.
Happiness fills my heart to overflowing. This wasn’t the future I fought for so many years to give my little sister, but it’s still exactly what I’ve always wanted for her.
She’s safe, she’s secure, and she’s happy.Trulyhappy. And finally being able to provide that for her is worth all of it.
* * *
