Page 136 of Massacre Monday
“No. Lion. No!”
I smirk at her outrage. She leans forward, sets her glass down, and turns on the couch to grab my face. Her lips are soft as she greets me with them and whispers, “But we can practice.”
I pull her up and onto my lap. We’re alone… “Get over here, foxy.”
With a giggle, she climbs on for the ride.
Footstepsoutside my bedroom door creak against the ancient hardwood, and I sit up in bed, tugging the covers to my chest with a smile. Ryan’s going to get in trouble if he keeps sneaking into my room. Except a soft knock comes through, announcing someone’s arrival.
And when the door opens, it’s not my Viscount at all. But Adal.
“Can I come in?”
I blink, startled. “Yeah.” Scooting over, I pat the purple velvet comforter beside me.
He closes the door gently behind him and sits on the edge of the bed—stiff posture, eyes flicking to anything but me.
“Look,” he says finally, “I know I crossed a line with Ryan. A big one.”
I stay quiet. My brother’snotone to talk about his feelings or to make apologies.
“I was pissed that someone would hurt you. You’re just…off limits.” Releasing a heavy breath, he rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “And I guess I thought hurting him would prove something. Protect you somehow. Or punish him. I don’t know.”
“It didn’t protect me,” I say softly. “And he’s still got scars from what you did. His fingers are still healing.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. For torturing him. For not trusting you and your decisions.” His eyes finally meet mine. “You grew up, Pip. And it happened faster than I realized.” He goes quiet, then reaches for my hand under my sheets. “I’d never hurt you.”
I nod. “I know. But wounding him…still hurt me.”
He swallows roughly. “Fair.”
The silence stretches until it’s almost unbearable. Then, with a dry chuckle, he adds, “Uh…now he’s my boss. Which is great.Veryhealthy workplace dynamic.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“I’m just saying…” With a shake of his head, he continues. “If you want to, you know, casually mention that I’m not a total failure of a human being, that might keep him from putting me on piss-cleaning duty for the next six months.”
Knowing Ryan and what his plans probably are, I laugh.
“I deserve some of it,” he admits. “But I’d rather not get hazed for the rest of my career.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say. “No promises.”
He looks at me then, really looks, and the wall between us lowers just a little.
“I missed you,” he says. “Even when I was pissed. I still missed my little sister.”
“I missed you too. But I don’t want to do this again, Adal.”
“We won’t.”
When he stands, I catch his hand before he turns to go.
“I meant it. I’ll talk to Ryan.”
Nodding, he squeezes once. “Thanks. Just…don’t tell him I begged.”
“Too late.”
