Page 23 of The Road Less Traveled By

Plus, I can't get attached to clients, so where else am I supposed to meet people? It all sounds way too exhausting, and since what I do for work makes me happy, it’s all I’ll ever need.

“So, what case are you on? Or can you not tell me?”

I was afraid she would ask that. “Uh, it’s kind of a boring one. Nothing too fancy.”

“Vince, don't lie to me. Your voice just went up an entire octave. Why are you being so weird?”

“Why are you being nosy?”

“Because I’m your sister. Now, since you can't stare at me and get me to back down over the phone, tell me.”

I run a hand down my face. “I’m back with Bree.”

“Oh. The fucker got out then?”

“Yup.”

I can practically hear her smirk from this side of the phone. “You’ve never gone back to a client before.”

“Yeah, and?” I snap at her, already knowing what she’s insinuating.

“Isn't that the reason you have eleven rules now and not just five? Rule number six is when the job is done, you walk away. You added that one after you left her the first time, remember?”

“Yeah, sis, I fucking remember. They aremyrules.”

“Slow your roll, Vince. I’m just pointing out that she’s different. I’m not jumping to any conclusions.”

“I bet you’re not.” She absolutely is. Sure, Bree is the only client I’ve ever returned to protect, but I promised her that if Ralph got out, I’d be back, and I’m not one to break a promise.

Especially to her.

I’m a naturally protective person, but with Bree, it’s dialed up tenfold. Part of me wants to shield her from every bad thing that could happen, but I know I can't do that. I can only do my best to make sure Ralph doesn't ever fucking touch her again.

Given the chance, I’d kill him just so she could sleep soundly at night.

“Look, Aria, I have to go. Say hi to Max for me and give Nellie my love, okay?”

“I will. You should come visit soon. I miss you.”

“After this case, I’ll come up. I promise.”

“Okay, good. And think about what I said, Vince. It’s scientifically proven that people who have strong bonds with others live longer.”

“I bet it is. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Talk to you soon. Be careful.”

“I always am.” I smile as I hang up the phone. My sister and I never say goodbye; we prefer to use statements that don’t feel so final. It’s been that way since she got the call about our parents.

That’s one thing my parents always told us—death may be final, but people live on in so many other ways. It’s something I’ve always carried with me, and I know that anytime I’m struggling, my parents will be looking out for me, wherever they are.

Chapter ten

— THE 1 BY TAYLOR SWIFT

“Ugh, this main malecharacter is hot as fuck,” Teags says from across my reading room. She’s sitting on the beanbag chair I have in the corner of the room.

My reading room has bookshelves on either side of it, then a wall with windows because I love how the natural lighting looks, especially in the mornings. My shelves are about seventy percent full. Thank God I still have room, because having no shelf space is the worst thing in the entire world. If that happens, I usually stack my books in towers on the floor.

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