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“The fuck, Salem? That’s just plain mean. And what do you mean, curse? Jesus, is it hot in here? I swear I feel a little faint.” Oz wipes his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Don’t worry, it won’t last forever.”
“Won’t last forever? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO ME?” His eyes open even wider before he grabs his cock.
“Nope. Not today, Satan.” He runs away, and I can’t hold back any longer. I double over in laughter.
“You two are mean.” Zig chuckles.
“He deserves it.” I shrug, looking up at Zig.
Taking a deep breath, I do something I've never done before. "My whole life, I have been treated like an afterthought, a freak, or a liar. I've been kidnapped more times than I'd like to admit, I've been used, beaten, and forgotten about. I've done things I'm not proud of, but I've never treated anyone like you all treated me. I understand it was in the name of love, and I was a stranger, but you never gave me a chance. I was guilty until proven innocent, and even then, I was still the bad guy. You hurt me.
"I've hidden from the world because of my gift, tried to stop the visions, but I... They make me who I am, good or bad. Yes, I ran instead of staying to defend myself, to fight, and for that, I'm sorry. I was hurt and mad. And I've never had anything to fight for before. But like I've been told a few times today, family fucks up, but at the end of the day, we are still family."
Zig looks at me for a second, then shocks the shit out of me when he wraps his arms around me. He pulls back and looks into my eyes. "I'm so sorry, Astrid. More than you'll ever know. And you're right about it all." I suck in a breath at that and smile.
"I think I've heard enough sorrys to last a lifetime. How about we just start over?"
He smiles and holds his hand out for me to shake. “Zig. I’m the leader of this rag-tag group of losers and the hotter twin.”
“The fuck you are,” Oz yells from somewhere behind me, making me smile.
I slip my hand into Zig’s huge one and shake it. “I’m Astrid. I have visions about death and—” I try to think of the most important thing he needs to know about me as I survey the room. My eyes land on Slade and Jagger, who are watching me with smiles on their handsome faces.
“And I’m theirs,” I tell him, not taking my eyes from them.
“You sure are, Astrid. And that also makes you ours.” Smiling, I turn back to look at Zig.
“So, will you be coming home?”
“Um, Zig, she has a mansion and a pool. Maybe we should all move in here.” Oz drifts closer, still holding his dick, and he leans his head on my shoulder and bats his lashes at me.
How I ever thought I’d be able to keep my defenses in place around these guys is beyond me. I lean my head against Oz’s as I find Slade and Jagger in the crowd once more.
“It doesn’t matter to me. Home is wherever they are.”
* * *
As the day fades into night, we all gather outside around the firepit, roasting marshmallows and drinking wine. Well, most of us.
“I miss wine,” Salem says wistfully, eyeing my glass.
I grin at her. “It would be giving up coffee that would kill me, I think.”
She groans. “Pregnancy is so much fun.” Her shoulders slump. She looks miserable.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Zig asks, turning away from Crew and Wilder as if he can sense her melancholy.
“Nothing.”
“Yeah, no, I don’t believe that bullshit at all. Talk to me.”
I feel like I’m intruding. I look across the pool and see Slade and Jagger talking to James, who has his head thrown back with laughter. I love how welcoming everyone is toward him.
“I’m just bored. Ignore me.” I tune back into the conversation at Salem’s words.
“Salem,” Zig says her name softly and full of regret.
