“Jackass!” Serena yelled, barging into the room as Annie slipped out from underneath me and made her way toward the door.
Izzy was there in an instant pulling her into her arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Annie sniffled.
“Annie!” Tank’s voice was more unwelcome than the bomb.
“You sure it’s a dud?” I jerked my head toward the small stuffed white horse. Because if it wasn’t, I had someone I was going to throw it at. Hah, watch him explode into tiny little Tanks all over the house.
The hell was wrong with me?
Tank shoved his way into the room, basically jerked Annie out of Izzy’s arms, and hugged her so tight that I was afraid her head would pop off.
“She’s fine,” I barked.
“Why was she even up here in the first place?” Tank scowled over Annie’s head, his green eyes flashing.
I just grinned like it was for nefarious purposes and then lifted a shoulder in a bored shrug. “Does it matter?”
“You.” Tank jabbed a finger at me.
I tilted my head. “Yes?”
“Tank.” Serena patted his back. “Leave it alone, big guy. As much as I like watching people fight, you would lose, and Ash’s running on enough adrenaline that I’m afraid he’d wrap your tongue around your own head then set you on fire.”
“Always so fucking graphic, my girl.” Junior winked.
Looking remarkably at ease in her black pants and matching crop top, she carried out a mock curtsy, then crossed her arms and stared at both Junior and me. “So what are we dealing with?”
“Evil horses.” Phoenix marched into the room and grabbed the package. “Good job, son. You did this one in under a minute.”
Serena pushed Junior in the stomach, her way of giving him a high five. Psychopath.
Junior ran a hand through his newly buzzed hair. “Thanks, Dad.”
Phoenix just nodded his head and then waved the package at us. “I’ll be with the other bosses trying to figure this shit out. You guys get any more packages, don’t bring them into the house, all right?”
“Yup.” I saluted him. “Though that one’s on my dad…”
Phoenix froze, his blue eyes narrowing. “He brought it in?”
“Tossed it on my bed.”
“Huh.” He licked his lips. “Wonder why our underboss is suddenly so careless…”
All eyes fell on me like it was my fault.
Well… it probably was.
He’d been pissed at me again.
I’d been like an angry zombie going through the motions.
“Shit.” I lowered my head. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Better yet,” Phoenix said, his voice icy. “Fix it.”
“Fix what?” Serena asked, even though I knew she wasn’t clueless.
“All of it.” Phoenix smirked. “Annie, always a pleasure to see you; I like the hair. It suits you.”
Her cheeks pinked. “Thanks, Phoenix.”
The hell? He gives her a compliment, and she looks ready to write him a note during math class! I compliment her and… Well, I didn’t actually compliment her, but in my head I know I said something like, “damn nice hair.”
Fuck.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Tank tilted her chin toward him and studied her face.
“She’s fine,” I snapped. “She was with me, or did you forget so quickly?” I crossed my arms while both Izzy and Serena gave me funny side-eyed looks. Junior was suddenly staring down at his phone like he was seconds away from curing cancer.
And Tank?
Well, every muscle seemed flexed.
I hated that I was the reason he’d gotten more cut in the last year. I’d trained him, for shit’s sake, and now he felt more foe than friend.
“I’m staying for dinner,” Tank announced, wrapping an arm around Annie and leading her out of the room.
Izzy skipped after them, then looked over her shoulder and stuck out her tongue at me.
I flipped her off.
Her cackle could be heard all the way down the hall.
With a sigh, I collapsed onto my bed.
Junior was first. “Sooooo, Annie in your room?”
“Long story.” I lay down on the unmade bed and wiped my hands down my face. “Don’t worry about it.”
Serena was next. “You know, it’s okay to—”
“Finish that fucking sentence, and I’m pulling a gun.”
She snorted. “Please, I’ll just kick it out of your pathetic hand, you weak little lamb—besides, you’ve got a crush, which means you have a blind spot; I’d eat you alive cousin.”
I peeked through my fingers and burst out laughing. “Shit, you’re trying to get me to fight, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “Junior’s not rough anymore.”
“I could have gone my entire life without hearing that sentence, Serena,” I grumbled while Junior winked at her like he had plans later.
“Hate you guys.” I shot to my feet. “Where’s Valerian when you need him?”
“Actually, Dad said he’s flying down later this week. The Russians are concerned that if something happens to us, they’ll lose some of their most powerful allies.”
I frowned. “How sweet and uncharacteristic of them.”
“Exactly.” Junior snorted. “Oh, also, we’re staying for dinner too.”
“Is everyone staying for dinner?” I was already exhausted.
“With Annie and Tank here? It’s gonna be dinner and a show.” Serena rubbed her hands together. “And just so we’re all clear—you still hate her?”
“With every fiber of my dark soul,” I muttered.
Annie suddenly appeared at the door, her face blank. “Sorry, I uh, dropped my cell.” She scurried past Serena picked her phone off the floor, and then sprinted out of my room.
Most likely cursing me to hell the entire way.
“Did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I said to no one in particular.
“Course she did.” Junior winked. “She’s evil.”
“Aw.” Serena put a hand to her chest. “Thank you!”
“My evil queen,” he said gruffly.
“My wicked queen.” She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“Leave before I bleach my eyes!” I roared as they started making out right in front of me. “What the hell have I ever done to deserve this?” She was fucking climbing him like a tree.
And I wasn’t jealous.
At all.
Of the fact that they had each other and I had no one.
Or that even Tank—of all people—had the one person I hated more than anyone in this world.
So why had my heart felt like it missed a few beats when I’d thought there was a bomb?
And why did the thought of him touching her send me into an angry spiral that had me ready to break him in half?
Hate was a weird emotion.
But hate for the woman who you held responsible for your fiancée’s death?
Impossible to explain.
It could only be felt.
And I hated that every time I felt it—it felt wrong.