Page 13 of Dark Consequences

“That he woke up on the wrong side of the bed and to try again.”

Michael mocks us in a muttering tone beneath his breath. And from the look on Rose’s face, she’s enjoying her fiancé's torment immensely. She’s a kind and sweet woman with a heart of gold. But she’s also incredibly strong and stubborn, with a tenacious spirit that matches Michael’s headstrong and proud streak. She calls him out on his bullshit better than anyone else. Honestly, there’s no one better for my brother, and I’m thrilled that they have found happiness together after everything they went through to get here.

“Come on, cranky. There’s more coffee in the kitchen.” I hook my brother around the neck and tug him along with me, laughing when he tries hard to land a blow to my side to break free.

Lily and Mei stare at us in equal parts of surprise and fright when we come around the corner. Her eyes shift between Michael and me. I sometimes forget that we’re twins. Even though my tattoos and longer hairstyle set us apart, the initial look can be overwhelming.

“Lily, this is my twin brother, Michael, and his fiancée, Rose. The little one there is their son, Liam.”

My rude-ass older brother grumbles a “good morning” and then turns away to fill a travel mug full of black coffee.

“Don’t forget the sugar, dear,” Rose reminds him with a condescending sweet smile.

Michael slowly spins around and returns the smile with narrowed eyes. If I know my brother, and I do, Rose just poked a furious bear who only knows how to fight back against sarcasm with more than his claws. “Oh, don’t worry, dear. I got plenty of sugar this morning. Or did you forget about how you woke up with my mouth between—”

“Okay.” I interrupt in a loud voice, remembering a young child present before I nod toward my guests. “Michael, Rose, this is Lily and her daughter, Mei.”

“Good morning,” Rose chirps cheerfully, making my brother groan and rub at his temples. Have I mentioned how much my brother hates mornings when he hasn’t slept well? “It’s really nice to meet you.”

Lily offers Rose a tentative smile that doesn’t look too forced. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“I have to go with Michael to see our dad,” I tell Lily, leaning one hip on the corner of the island before her. She shifts in her seat, tugging the shirt farther down her legs, but not before I get my answer to the question of what she’s wearing beneath it. And it’s not sleep shorts. It takes my brain a second to refocus and continue. “Rose has kindly offered to keep you two company. How does that sound?”

Hesitation is clear all over Lily’s face, a sign that she’s about to turn down the offer. My hope sinks more just before Rose steps in, having seen it too. “I know you don’t know me, but I was hoping I could pick your brain about motherhood? Liam’s been fussy lately, and I could use some advice. From one mom to another?”

I have to hand it to Rose. The woman knows how to tug at the heartstrings of anyone, even those that belong to a heart locked behind a steel door. Appeal to the mother in Lily and score one for Rose.

Lily nods sincerely, which pleases me because I want her to be comfortable. If Rose can help with even a fraction of that, then I’m more than happy for her to be here. “Of course. I’ll try to help.”

“Alright. On that note, we have to go,” Michael announces before he steps forward and gathers Rose in his arms to kiss her. When she releases a tiny moan, I glance away to catch Lily watching them with a soft pink blush on her cheeks. When she notices me looking at her, her blush grows darker before she quickly looks away from the rising embarrassment. I’m not sure if it’s from being caught or from something else, but I’m very curious to find out which.

8

Lily

“I’m sure this is probably all overwhelming,” Rose says the moment we’re alone.

That’s putting it lightly. “Just a little.”

“How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

I want to lie, but something about Rose makes me hesitate. Maybe it’s how her eyes, a vibrant shade of green, are open and honest, with no trace of deceit. Or maybe it’s because she’s a mother, so we have that shared connection. Whatever it is, the words fail me.

“Look, I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through,” Rose admits solemnly, her eyes filled with compassion when I don’t respond. Her eyes drop to the top of her coffee mug. Seeming lost in her thoughts, she runs her finger around the rim. “I guess I never really realized how lucky I was when Michael rescued me before anything more terrible happened. I know very well that it could have been worse.”

“You were kidnapped?” I whisper, not expecting to hear that from her. What are the chances?

Rose takes a deep breath, like her next words are hard to say, and she needs a moment to compose herself. “I was sold into a sex trafficking ring by my father.”

Yeah…that qualifies as something hard to say. “Your father?”

“Yes. Tell me, Lily, how much do you know about the High Table? Did Xiao ever mention it to you?”

When you’re treated like you’re invisible, it’s surprising how much you can overhear. “It sounds vaguely familiar.” Still, a bad feeling builds in the pit of my stomach.

“Three families make up the High Table. The DiAngelos, the O’Learys, and the Mikhailovs. Together, they oversee the crime world of Miami,” Rose explains like she’s reading the words off a piece of paper.

The bad feeling grows. “What does the High Table have to do with you?”

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