Page 75 of Snag
“What the fuck?” Rought snarls.
He and Zaya both turn to look at me.
I’ve already got my phone in hand, punching in my uncle’s number.
“Rath,” my uncle answers, sounding like I’ve woken him up. I don’t put the phone on speaker. “It’s early.”
“We’re coming over,” I snarl. “With Zaya. Who, yes, is still fucking alive.”
My uncle sighs heavily.
For just a moment, I feel like a complete asshole. The Outcast dropped just a few weeks ago from a massive heartattack. Also, I’ve had ample opportunity to inform him of Zaya’s return, including at the Outcast lieutenants’ meeting yesterday, and I haven’t broached the subject. Though I don’t doubt that Grinder has been more forthcoming.
But I look down at the photo and up at Zaya, and I’m so fucking incensed that I can barely speak. “You’ve got secrets, Uncle. Secrets that directly affect us. Did you know that Zaya was fucking alive?”
The Outcast inhales deeply. Then he simply says, “I’ll get breakfast sorted,” and hangs up.
Riding a wave of utter disbelief, I drop my hand to my side, phone dangling from my fingers.
“That wasn’t a no,” Rought says, sounding as betrayed as I feel.
“That wasn’t a no,” I murmur, agreeing.
We both turn to look at Zaya. She blinks as if tuning back into the room, which makes me wonder if she was sensing things on a different level than the rest of us can see or hear.
She grimaces. “I’m going to have to change.”
“I like that dress,” Rought says, suddenly grinning again. “Does it come in other colors?”
She huffs at him playfully, crossing to the stairs. “I found it in my aunt’s closet.”
“And why were you digging around in there?” I ask, even though this isn’t remotely the conversation we should be having.
Zaya smirks at me, shrugging one shoulder and nearly dislodging the dress precariously hanging from it. I zero in on that point of connection, but alas, the dress holds. “There’s a fireplace. And the bed is even bigger. Sturdier.”
She gathers the dress in one hand and crosses down the stairs without further elaboration.
Rought shouts a laugh. “Thinking you’ll need a bigger bed soon, goddess?”
Zaya doesn’t answer.
My brother turns his grin on me, but without Zaya in the vicinity, his amusement fades. “Fuck me. You think he knew?”
“I think outright saying no would have been easier, cleaner.” I scrub my hand over my head, then my face. “I know you’re busy tracking the dire awry.”
“Coda’s on that. At least for the extent of this conversation.”
“Precious stays here.”
He nods.
“I mean it. You need to back me with Zaya.”
“It’s not going to be an issue. Presh is still asleep.”
“Zaya caves to everything and anything our little sister wants.”
Rought’s grin returns, sloppy and soft around the edges. “Just as it always should have been. Zaya loves that fiercely.”
