Page 36 of Chaos Kills

The front door opens then, almost getting me to drop one of the plates I was putting away, when a broken sob takes my next breath away.

I suddenly drop to my knees when Mae and Ellie rush me. Their bodies gracelessly bump into mine, almost sending me to my ass, and I bury my head into Mae’s gut as I squeeze Ellie closer.

It doesn’t feel real.

The smell of—I think syrup—fills my nostrils, and I allow myself to cry for the first time since all this went down. How there is so much I need to explain and get them through.

Us through.

I feel my hair being played with and Mae’s tiny voice says, “Bay, we missed you.”

Those last three words shatter the last of my composure as I grant another few seconds to get more tears out before I pull myself away from one sister to the other.

Mae’s blue eyes stare back at me with a smile, but she frowns when she sees my bloodshot face. “Bay, what’s wrong?”

“I’m…” My cheeks hurt already from trying to hold my grin in place because all I want them to do is be silent so I can rock them in my arms and soak this moment in longer. “I’m so happy to see you, Mae, that’s all.”

Her eyes sparkle with excitement. “I got to swim in a big swimming pool, Bay. Can we get a pool?”

My brows clash together, but I quickly right them. What kind of foster home has a pool? “That’s…awesome. Were they nice to you? Did you eat? Are you hungry? Did you?—”

“Is this…” I steer my focus to Ellie while she nervously fidgets with her fingers. “Our new house?”

“Yeah.” I give her a little shake to get rid of some of her anxiety. “Go see your room, it’s beautiful.” Mae pulls from my grip without having to be asked twice, but Ellie knows somethingisn’t fully right and stays behind. I can feel a million and one questions coming my way. “What’s wrong?”

She flicks her eyes to her right, and I immediately follow her gaze, finding Ozzy standing there as silent as a mouse. His hands are shoved in a black sweatshirt, and he’s staring at me like he doesn’t know what the hell to do here.

Fuck. I didn’t see or hear him come in.

Yet, he did exactly what he said he was going to do.

But it doesn’t mean he’s off the hook for being related to Pretty Boy Wildes and my sperm donor.

“Everything is good, Ellie,” I mutter, pushing up to my feet and tugging her into my side possessively. “This is…my friend, Ozzy.”

I’m not sure how else to explain him, but it’s the easiest way other thanthis is my husband.

We have enough shit to get through in the next couple of days.

I don’t need a new man in our lives wreaking havoc any more than what we’re going to be feeling.

“He’s Torin’s cousin?”

I almost snort. “That’s what I’m told.”

“Why aren’t we at home?” She peers up at me out of my peripheral and, fuck me, I hadn’t thought of a solid excuse for that yet.

However, before I can open my mouth to say a word, Ozzy surprisingly blurts out one for me, “Spiders.”

“Ew.” My sister cringes against me, but that’s soon going to be known as a lie because our follow-up conversation is going to be what actually happened.

“Go check out your room,” I order a bit sternly so that she knows I’m needing a minute. “You’ll love it.”

Hesitantly, she pulls from me, eyeing Ozzy in the process before proceeding to her new space.

I should’ve had her stay. Being in the same proximity as Ozzy is almost as infuriating and nerve-racking as the last few days, but I know it’s because of lack of sleep.

He makes me both nervous and uneasy with his super intense stare. I’m self-conscious of every movement, every blink, and every word I say.

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