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Ruby saw Dane’s frown. “The last one has had a crush on Dane for years. Knows his habits inside and out. She writes novels in her spare time that she never publishes. She can cook but rarely has folks over to cook for. She loves entertaining but had to get a job to put herself through school, so her dream of being a house mom was thwarted. She’s petite with blue eyes so bright you would think the sky came down to rest on her cheeks.”
Dane’s eyes got wide, and he started blushing. “Nia?”
Ruby shrugged. “I didn’t say a thing, but I have two more tickets for the VIP box on a day that your little brother won’t be there.”
Rayden snorted. “She’s been using hers to tip waiters and baristas after the cash.”
Ruby grinned.
Dane was dazed. “Nia Delany. She’s so shy.”
“Don’t get too attached to the idea until you are over Teddy. Nia isn’t a rebound or a fling. If you go into this lightly, she is going to fall hard, and if you hurt her, I am going to rip your knot off and beat you with it, and then, I am going to stuff it down your throat, cousin.”
Everybody around the table froze.
“I take matchmaking very seriously. If you use this information to hurt someone, I will hurt you, and you will remember it.”
Emmy broke the tension. “And that is why Michael Urthwait never tried to steal my bike again. She broke his nose and got suspended from fourth grade for a week.”
Ruby shrugged. “I don’t like those who think they can brute force things. I can, too, but I don’t unless provoked.”
Emmy smiled. “He’s a florist now according to Mom and Dad.”
Ruby grinned. “He did have an eye for colour. It was a pretty bike.”
Grey spoke softly. “What was Ruby like before the Elite arrived?”
“She was a champion to all. She loved running and laughing and playing. She was good at school but better with her hands. She helped Mom sew and knit, and all of our family animals wore bandages when she thought she would be a vet. The little faces on the bandages were supposed to be encouraging but were terrifying. I had nightmares for weeks.”
Grey continued to keep his voice low. “When did she start sleeping under her bed?”
Emmy was confused. “Never. Ruby curled up with me when I had nightmares, but she was fine until they showed up. Why? Did she have nightmares?”
Ruby looked to Grey.
Grey nodded. “She did. Leon had suffered a loss, and we were worried that he was replacing our little girl with his niece, so we tried to keep them separate.”
“The family suffered the loss. The family suffered a loss that none of you dealt with. Don’t forget it, honour it, but live the life that is left to you.” Marshall sighed. “It is all we can do.”
Leon chuckled, wiped a tear, and smiled. “She had a name, you know. Sophia.”
He leaned, and Grey put his arm around him. “I didn’t know she was Sophia.”
“Yeah, after my mom. Ruby and Emmy’s grandmother. Sophia Lestor.”
Marshall asked softly, “Ruby, weren’t your parents married?”
“Uh, they sort of were, but our dad had an identity issue.”
Emmy grinned. “Our dad is a runaway Elite.”
Rayden murmured, “Holy shit.”
Marshall said, “Ruby, why didn’t you tell us?”
“It never came up in the time we have been together.” Ruby smiled. “Dad stopped showing us his other face when the recruiters took our brother.”
“Did the recruiters know about your father?”
