Page 77 of Born into Darkness

I turn my head to see what she’s looking at and grin when I see Sasha and Mia walking towards us.

“I’m a little disappointed,” I say when Mia is closer. “I thought for sure you’d have at least one new piercing.” I run my eyes over the multiple piercings in her ears and the stud in her nose. “Nope, looks the same. Have you gone tame?”

She smiles and rolls her eyes at me. “As fucking if, cousin.” She gives me a big hug and says, “I really wanted to go on the rescue mission, but they wouldn’t let me.” She looks over at Talia. “I lacked the required equipment.”

Talia looks confused, so Mia adds. “A dick. I don’t have one, so I have to stay home and miss out on all the fun. I heard you killed someone.”

“Mia,” I say, surprised at her bluntness, even though I really shouldn’t be.

“What?” She turns back to Talia. “I heard you were an absolute badass. I’m so jealous, and, also, thanks for saving my cousin’s life.”

Talia laughs, genuinely seeming to like my crazy younger cousin. “Anytime. He saved me down there, too. And I wasn’t a badass. Your brother scared the hell out of me, and I screamed like a big baby.”

Mia looks up at her brother and shrugs. “He scares the hell out of most people, and you’re definitely not the first person to scream when seeing him.” She lets out a laugh. “He was wearing his mask, wasn’t he?”

“He was,” Talia says.

Sasha’s silent as he watches us interact, and when I raise a brow at him, he furrows his like he’s confused, but then he puts the pieces together and looks at Talia. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“No, I overreacted,” Talia says. “Thank you for helping with the rescue.”

“That was the most fun I’ve ever had in one night,” he says, and I can tell he means every word of it.

Mia laughs and elbows him. “I still don’t forgive you for not sneaking me onto the plane.”

“Sorry, little witch. I couldn’t risk it,” he says.

“One day,” she says, raising a brow at him.

He nods, and I feel like I’m missing something.

“One day what?” I ask.

Mia just grins and shakes her head, making her pink-dyed hair fly around. “Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, Max,” she tells me.

I groan and look between the two of them. “Don’t tell me. I don’t ever want to know,” I say, not wanting anything to do with whatever crazy plan those two have cooked up. I know Sasha will never allow any harm to come to his younger sister, so I’m not even remotely worried about that, but I also don’t want to be involved in their crazy-ass stunts.

Mia grins. “Good choice. The less you know, the better.”

I couldn’t agree more, so I turn to Sasha and ask, “How’s your dog?”

At the mention of his dog, he gives a genuine smile. “He’s healing fast and still learning to love me.”

Mia laughs. “He tried to bite him the other day.”

“Tried,” Sasha says. “He could have if he’d wanted to. He knows I saved him. He’s still adjusting to his new life, but I can already tell he’s going to be a great dog.”

Mia looks at us. “Just don’t let him around any small kids.”

Sasha nods in agreement. “No, definitely not. He hasn’t learned the rules yet.”

Mia laughs and leans in to give Talia one of her rare hugs before pulling Sasha towards the food that our moms are busy laying out.

Taking advantage of the moment, I grab Talia’s hand and lead her through the room as quickly as I can without drawing too much attention. I pull her into the laundry room off the main hall and lock the door behind us.

“What are we doing?” she asks. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, hiding the truth from her, but she sees right through my bullshit.

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