Page 43 of Heroes & Hitmen
“Soon,” I reply with a soft laugh.
“I’ve already met him,” Jordan announces smugly.
Everyone’s heads whip in her direction, surprise playing on their faces.
“When?” Blake asks.
Jordan shrugs a slender shoulder, pulling the sucker from her mouth with a loud pop. “Yesterday, down in the lobby. He must’ve already felt the bond, because he was asking about Miley. And I can confirm that he’s hot as hell. Alpha energy, too.”
Blake, Charlie, and Drew whirl their gazes back on me, eyes wide and questioning.
“He’s from Colorado, here on a contract,” I say, stuffing a handful of gummy bears into my mouth and shifting my weight uncomfortably.
“Is he Alpha of his pack?” Charlie probes.
“I… don’t know, actually,” I mutter as I chew. “We’re still getting to know each other.”
“So are you moving to Colorado, then?” Drew asks.
“Why, you trying to get rid of me so you can claim my old apartment?” I tease, subtly changing the subject.
Her cheeks redden. “I was just checking it out, seeing what I’ll need when I move in,” she replies sheepishly.
“I’m only giving you shit,” I say with a sly smile, nudging her foot with mine.
Drew’s lips tip up. “I know. I’m just excited to have my own place and start my life.”
The rest of us exchange a look, the energy in the room immediately souring. Sweet, innocent Drew thinks moving into that apartment means freedom, but the four of us know better. We’re not just normal girls, we’re Alpha’s daughters. Turning eighteen doesn’t make us adults, it makes us commodities, subject to perusals and forced pairings to further our father’s business agenda. We’re all just pawns on his chessboard.
Well, unless we lie about a fated mate bond and call checkmate.
The full weight of what I’ve done hasn’t fully settled on me yet, but I already know how this is bound to end.Alpha always wins.
“Well, if fate’s bestowing blessings on our pack, then maybe we’ll find our fated mates, too,” Blake suggests, all wide-eyed optimism.
“Yeah right,” Jordan snorts.
“Why not?” Blake challenges, undeterred.
“Because it’s a fucking fairytale,” Jordan fires back, rolling her eyes. “Girls like us don’t get happy endings.”
“Well, Miley’s livinghers,” Charlie puts in, gesturing toward me. “If it can happen for her, then it could happen for the rest of us. Right, Miles?”
“Sure,” I mumble, chomping down on another handful of gummy bears.
I thought lying to my sisters was the worst part of this whole thing, but it’s not. It’s giving them false hope.
“See!” Blake declares triumphantly.
Jordan rolls her eyes, twirling the stem of her lollipop like she’s planning on stabbing someone with it.Probably me.Something shifts in her expression as she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Be honest, Miley,” she murmurs around her sucker. “Is it really a fairytale?”
The room quiets, all eyes swiveling to me. I pause, gummy bear half-chewed.
Lie.
Liebetter.
I swallow hard. “It’s just… a lot to process right now.”
