Page 22 of The Road Less Traveled By

I’d rather him be dead, but yeah, that sounds good.

Thank you.

I clear my throat before I speak again. “No problem. Now, rule number five is to never go anywhere without a knife. I carry a pistol on my hip and will only use it if it’s necessary. I always let people know that just in case.”

“Does that mean I’ll carry a knife as well?”

“Not if you don't want to, but I’ll always have one.”

“I don't need one.” She shakes her head.

“Okay. That’s all I have for now. Just let me know when you leave the house, and I’ll be over.”

“I probably won’t be for a while, but if you want to just hang around, that’s okay too.” She gets up and heads for the door. “And next time, speak normally, Vince. You don't scare me like you think you do.”

Damn. She’s tougher than I gave her credit for. “Noted, ma’am.”

“Bree.”

“Noted, Bree. I’ll walk you out.”

She nods her head at me, and as I walk her and Liv out of the building, I find myself wondering more about what makes the youngest Hart sister tick, but I quickly shake that thought away.

Now

“Vince? Vince? Baby brother,did you go through a tunnel or something?”

I shake my thoughts out of that first meeting I had with Bree, and turn my attention back to my sister. “No, Aria, I’m still here.”

“Good. I thought you were ignoring me.”

“How could I with your incessant calls? I told you I’m working. I’mbusy, not dead.”

“Forgive me for worrying about you, Vince. You have no friends, you work too much, and you have no social life. I hate texting Nico to ask how you are because even he doesn't know. Isn't that sad? Youronlyfriend, probably your best friend, doesn't even know how you’re doing.”

“I’m doing fine. How’s that?” I smirk from across the line, and I hear my sister sigh heavily.

“Vince, I know you hate attaching yourself to people, but you’re thirty-three, for God’s sake. Your lifespan is going to seriously decrease if you don't form relationships with someone. You can’t just have Nico.”

Here we go again with this shit. My sister is one of my favorite people on the planet, but ever since she stepped up to raise me after our parents died, she feels more like my parent than my sister. Which, to be fair, she kind of was. I was only fourteen when our parents died, and she was nineteen, forced to become my guardian.

I can't imagine doing what she did. I can't imagine having to deal with her grief and raise my dumb ass. She had it harder than me, but sometimes, she forgets to turn the mothering part of herself off

“Sis, you know I don't need anybody else. I have all I need. I’ve got you, Nico, and my girl. How is she anyway?”

“Your girlis fine. I’m taking her on a walk later.”

“Good. Did you buy her favorite treats? And did you—”

“Dude, calm down. Nellie is thriving, surviving, and having a wonderful time with me. She misses you, though. She told me herself.”

“I bet she does. I miss her too.” Nellie is my golden retriever who’s currently living with my sister. I was going to grab her after my last assignment, but Bree’s situation threw a wrench in my plans. I could bring her here, but I don't know how Bree feels about dogs. Still, moving my dog into her house feels a bit too…real. I wouldn't want Nellie to get used to the surroundings either, especially since it would only be temporary.

“Back to the subject at hand, though. Forming relationships with people has always been something you’ve sucked at. Not everybody is going to leave in the manner that our parents did. I’m just saying that you need to stop working yourself to death and actually have a life. That’s all I’m asking.”

“I’ll think about it.” I hate when she does this. In the back of my mind, I know that if I get close to people, they won't end up crushed undera semi-truck on the side of the road, but the little voice in my head always nags at me that itcouldhappen.

Just like it did when I was young.

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