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“Mexican,” I answer for her, knowing that it used to be her favorite.
31
REID
We sit around the dining table in the main open-plan living area of the penthouse like the most fucked-up family in the world. But weirdly, it works.
Aubrey eats a burrito like it’s the last meal she’ll ever enjoy. JD isn’t much better as he engulfs taco after taco.
Mav spends most of his time just watching Alana as she picks at her food, but she eats more than Kristie does.
I wasn’t sure if she’d even willingly come out of the bedroom. Part of me thought she’d crawl back into bed and shut us all out.
We couldn’t blame her if she did. She has no idea who we are really, and we’ve just plucked her out of her shitty life and plonked her in the middle of this insanely luxurious hotel alongside her long-lost sister.
She’s barely said a word since she emerged wearing the clothes that Aubrey delivered to her. Again, not really surprising.
She’s sitting huddled beside Alana, and every few seconds, she looks over at our girl with the widest eyes. She’s in total awe of her big sister, that much is obvious.
Pride rushes through me every time I catch her.
Alana has spent years dreaming that this could be a possibility. Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to happen. But the fact it has, and that Kristie is looking at her the way she is, warms my cold, dark heart.
Reaching out beneath the table, I wrap my hand around Alana’s thigh and squeeze gently, turning her attention to me.
She’s exhausted and worried about what the next few days and weeks are going to hold, but her eyes are sparkling in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s like a piece of her has been missing all this time. A piece that the three of us would never have been able to fill, no matter how hard we tried.
As we eat, there are a team of cleaners in the bedroom, stripping the sheets and dealing with the lingering scent of vomit from earlier.
I think we managed to successfully let them in without Kristie seeing. She doesn’t seem overly aware of her surroundings, but then, I know better than to underestimate a Winson girl.
“So, what’s the plan then?” Aubrey asks as she sits back with her margarita and takes a sip.
We all look at each other before focusing on Alana.
“We’re going home,” she says with a smile. “Aren’t we, KK?”
Lowering her fork, Kristie finally looks up, her eyes immediately colliding with mine.
She doesn’t say a word, but I know she’s asking for permission. Alana must have filled her in on us living in my house, and even in the state she’s in, she doesn’t want to assume I’ll allow her to stay.
“There’s always a room for you, Kristie. For however long you need it.”
The smallest of smiles forms on her lips as the sound of the main suite door clicking closed fills the room.
“I’m going to—” she says quickly before uncurling her tiny body from the chair and slowly standing.
“I’ll come to, I’m fin?—”
“No,” Kristie says, her voice stronger than I was expecting. “Stay. Spend time with your men.”
We’re all silent as she shuffles down toward the bedroom and it’s not until the door closes behind her that we all release a breath.
Alana’s cutlery clatters against her plate before she sighs loudly.
“Little dove, you need to eat more than that,” JD chastises.
“I can’t,” she mutters, shoving her plate away.
