It might be coated in toxic candy, but it’s there.

Later that night, after the darkness came, the fog followed, and stole the stars from sight, so all that was left was me. I was sitting in the grass with a running mind I tried to clear, but with each buried thought came another, all followed with a sense of compulsion.

I felt a need and acted on it by texting a guy I had no business texting.

Royce didn’t reply, of course, but I didn’t send it for a response. I sent it because I wanted to. Because it felt right.

I pull my phone from my pocket and pull up the message again.

Me: Thank you for what you did. Travis didn’t say a word.

It might seem silly, thanking him when the entire situation was his fault for opening his own cocky mouth in the first place, but I don’t care.

Cocky.

Mouth.

Aaand now I’m thinking about his cock down my cousin’s throat.

“You good over there?”

I jump, my phone falling to the floor and Mac laughs, picks it up and hands it over, choosing to lean on the cabinet opposite of me.

“So.” He tips his head.

“So is this thing really going where he says, or are you throwing me out over the ocean somewhere?”

He grins. “It’s going where he says.”

I nod, and then it hits me. My eyes go wide. “Oh my god. What about all my stuff? My aunt?”

“Taken care of. Micah’s loading it as we speak. It’s about a ten-hour drive, so he’ll be in tonight sometime.”

My head tugs back. “Micah?”

Mac nods. “He was always nice to you, right? Never pulled no shit?”

“I mean... yeah. He was nice enough.”

Mac nods. “He’s gonna be staying at the boys’ home, you’ll be in the girls.”

Well, that’s unexpected.

Mac nods toward the table where a large silver platter, full-on with a matching lid, sits. It’s something you’d see in a gourmet kitchen... or a horror movie with a chopped off head tucked tight under it. “Grab something, come sit.”

And then he’s gone.

I lift the lid and a smile breaks over my face.

A dozen sprinkle donuts and a still wrapped pack of Yoo-hoos, but beside them, a small turquoise box.

I run my fingers along the outer edge, reading the note scribbled right on top.

Your cousin’s a bitch and your fix-it days are over. Time to fly.

A low chuckle leaves me, and I open it up to find a pair of sunglasses sitting inside.

I stare at them for a long moment, and then finally pull them from the box and slip them over my eyes.

“Perfect fit.”

I spin to find Royce leaning in the spot I just was, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes on me.

The perfect fit.

I take a deep breath.

Let’s hope I am too.

Chapter 9

Royce

“A jet.” Maddoc pulls himself up on the ledge of the pool

“A badass jet.”

He licks his lips, gauging me. “You bought a jet... to get to a girl?”

I see what he’s trying to do, little fucker. “No.” I grin. “I bought a jet ‘cause I wanted it. We need a vacation and in case something happens when we take one, a way to get back quick.”

“And in case you needed to get to this girl quick.”

I glare and both my dickhead brothers grin.

“So Raven was right.” Maddoc looks from his wifey to me. “Your lonely ass drive did fuck you up.”

I splash his ass, but turn to my niece when her water shoes bump into me.

She’s lying flat on her back, little star-shaped shades on, her feet hanging over the edge of the donut-shaped raft—I bought that for her, thank you very much.

I shake the thing lightly and then steal her off of it to kiss her cheek.

“What do you think, Zoey Bear? Tell your daddy you wanna go on an airplane.”

“And fly way up in the sky?” She smiles, her hands thrown up on her head.

“Way the heck in the sky.”

She kicks to be let down and swims to Captain. “Daddy, I wanna fly!”

He laughs, lifting her. “Oh, you’ll fly all right, ready?”

She squeals, smiling as he launches her up and a foot out, quickly swimming to where she landed.

I trail Raven as she swims over to Maddoc. He sticks his legs out so she can latch on and float in front of him.

She tips her head, and I know she’s remembering our conversation from last night. “Who is this... far from random girl?”

Victoria looks from Raven to me. “And when do we meet her?”

“Nah, nah.” I find myself sliding backward. “Don’t get it twisted, assholes.” I chuckle. “This is business.”

“You realize when it comes to you, ‘business’ means something completely different?” Captain quirks a blond brow.

“‘Course I do.” I laugh. “And she’s mine.”

The girls hide smiles and I frown.

My face falls and I lift my palms. “I mean to handle.”

“Uh-huh.” Victoria laughs.

“What I want to know is who came with her.” Cap helps Zoey onto a raft, turning to us. “We know you, brother, and no way did you take off to wherever the hell she is, come back empty-handed, even if it was for less than a day, and leave the girl behind unsupervised.”

“Exactly,” Maddoc cuts in. “Tell us who he is and what he’s good for.”

I grin, lovin’ the way we understand each other.

No animosity, no surprise, just lookin’ for a quick brief to stay in the know.

My brothers trust my judgment. Always.

“His name’s Micah. He’s a tall, firm fucker who plays ball. Got a stepdad chompin’ at the bit to ship him off the day he turns eighteen and a mom who only wants to please her new husband. He wasn’t the top dog at his school, so he’s used to being under someone. Little aggression in him, but that’ll work in our favor at the warehouses and Wolves Den now that it’s fully functioning.”

I knew Micah would be the one I’d hit up if needed the second I jacked him for his ball.

He was the first to step forward, but he was smooth enough and kept his distance, surveyed the area and was smart enough to pause and wait, aware he had no clue who the asshole in front of him was or what he would do.

He didn’t go half-cocked to show off for his buddies.

He gave the stranger, me, respect because it’s what a clever fucker does.

It’s as the old Bray saying goes...

Don’t underestimate what you don’t know, and once you do, tear it to pieces or tip your fuckin’ hat.

“He should be rollin’ in around tonight.”

“Wait.” Raven is full of suspicion. “So he didn’t fly with you guys?”

“Yup. He’s driving all their shit in.”

A laugh spurts from her and she shakes her head playfully. “You cave-manned her, didn’t you?”

“I might have lifted her off the ground, but I didn’t toss her over my shoulder.” I scoff, but a grin breaks free. “She was sitting in a chair, so I took it, too.”