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Yeah, I know there are going to be tough times ahead and things won’t always be so peaceful.
But right now, I have everything I could ever want or need.
I’m just a girl but, I am on fucking fire.
EPILOGUE
LANCE
In the three months that I have been leading The Daos, I’ve met with hardened criminals every day, some of whom are still not overly happy with my sudden ascent to power. Yet throughout it all, I have been calm, in control, and unphased.Thisshould be the easiest meeting of all yet I’m a fidgeting mess.
Brent drives and Elle sits up front with him. The roads are ice-cold and a crisp frost coats the greenery outside, but the sun is beaming through the windows and we all hide behind shades. Which I am ever grateful for as I don’t want to giveaway my jumping nerves.
Why am I wearing a suit? I wear a suit nearly every day, it’s my battle uniform and when I was dressing this morning, it was what gave me most confidence, but I realise that everyone else is in casual jeans and comfortable jumpers. Elle wears a novelty Christmas jumper with strategically placed mince pies. Honestly, who wears a suit on Christmas day?
Hayden leans over and places a warm hand on my thigh and I realise I’ve been jiggling my leg. I place my hand over his and jerk my shoulders about trying to ease some of the tension there.
“You know, it’s my first time too. You’re not on your own here,” Hayden says gently, trying to keep his voice low enough not to be heard from the front seat but failing miserably.
Brent glances in the rear view and chuckles at my discomfort. “Would you just relax?”
I’ve spent so many years telling Brent to relax that I think I would have enjoyed the irony if his amusement wasn’t infuriating me so much.
“Trust me, Lancelot,” Elle says sweetly, “You have nothing to worry about.”
We pull up outside a large and lived-in looking home and just getting out of the car I can hear the sound of children laughing and general merriment inside. I suck in a lung full of icy air andshake the tremors away from my hands. Brent twines his finger with Elle’s, and I do the same with Hayden, following them up the front steps to the door.
Brent walks in without knocking, of course, why wouldn’t he? I tighten my grip on Hayden and he squeezes me back in reassurance.
“Janie, I’m going to kill you!” A blonde teen zips past, stomping up the stairs.
“Hey!” Brent calls to her, holding his hands out in a ‘what the fuck?’ type gesture.
“Hey Uncle B. Bye Uncle B,” she says without looking back.
“Becca! If you murder your sister, I’m going to be really pissed,” yells an older woman with red hair pulled into a low bun, coming into the hallway, looking up the stairs. The sound of a door slamming is her only response. Huffing out a breath, she shakes her head. She looks like Brent, but with warm brown eyes so much like mine. I’d put her in her early forties and when she turns to face her brother, the warmest smile spreads across her face.
“Little brother! You guys made it!” She pulls him in for a hug and rocks from side to side. When she releases him, she greets Elle as an old friend, kissing each of her cheeks and hugging her tight. Then her attention comes to Hayden and me, taking in our clasped hands and then Hayden’s face. “You must be Hayden; we’ve heard so much about you.” She kisses his cheek and smiles.
“I can assure you it can’t all be true,” he says with a smirk, but she purses her lips in amused knowing. Then her eyes land on me and her smile fades. My stomach sinks. I shouldn’t have come.
“Wow,” she breathes and her eyes well with tears. “Lance. It’s so good to finally meet you.” Her smile returns and she laughs, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I’m stunned for a moment, stiff as a board in her embrace but I soon adjust. I drop Hayden’s hand to hug her back. Based purely on age, I’d say this was Monica, Brent’s oldest sister. My oldest cousin.
She pulls away and wipes the tears from her cheeks before smoothing the shoulders of my jacket as though she’d messed it up. “It’s good to meet you too,” I manage.
“Quick, you must come through, Mum’s in the kitchen and she’s dying to meet you.” She takes my hand and leads me on, leaving the other to follow behind.
There are so many people in the kitchen, it’s overwhelming. But I soon catch the eye of the small woman in the dirty apron who claps her hand over her mouth when I walk into the room. She’s shorter than I’m expecting, but apart from that, she looks exactly like the female version of Sydney. Her chin length hair falls in tight golden curls, the strands framing her face now white and grey. Her eyes are a warm golden brown like mine, and they fill as she looks me up and down.
“Oh my God, you look just like your father,” she squeaks.
I shuffle on my feet. “We all have our faults,” I mumble.
She shakes her head, reaching up to cup my jaw in her warm hands. “Your father was a great many things, but he was always very handsome.” She swallows hard, a nervousness coming to her eyes. “May I hug you?”
I clear my throat and nod. “Yes, Ma’am.”
She pulls me in to the tightest hug I’ve ever had and sobs. Rocking me from side to side as Monica had done to Brent, while stroking my back. The fact that the room is full of people melts away and I sink into my aunt’s warm embrace.
