Page 82 of Twisted
“Around seven hundred years old.Well, I’ve been undead for that long, I should say.”
“Wow.”Gia blinks rapidly and shakes her head.“That’s so weird.Can I see your fangs?”
Xavier draws his fangs and opens his mouth for Gia to see.There’s something about the way he’s interacting with her that is making me feel all stupid and mushy inside.He’s not treating her like some dumb kid, but instead knows how much she means to me.
“Oh, hi,” the waitress says, coming back to the table.“Are you joining them?”
“I don’t know, are you?”I ask pointedly and cross my arms over my chest.Is it fair to be mad at my brothers?After seeing how little they tried to contact me and make things right, all I’m feeling right now is a whole lot of rage.
“Yes,” Antonio replies, trying to regain his composure.He’s the oldest of us Russo siblings, though it feels wrong to even consider myself one anymore.“As long as you don’t mind us crashing your date night.”
“Not at all,” Xavier answers for me.“I’m quite curious to know about the people who supposedly considered themselves Wren’s family.”
“Okay, I’ll get more water,” the waitress says and hurries away.
Leo pulls a chair away from a table next to us and joins in, sitting at the end of the table.Antonio takes the seat next to Xavier, and I almost want to laugh at how hard he’s trying to act like he’s not bothered.
He’s right to be cautious.Xavier is old.Powerful.And clearly becoming possessive of me.
“I’m sorry,” I start, pushing the bowl of chips into the center of the table again.“Why are you here?”
“It’s not every day a fancy-ass G-wagon comes driving down this way,” Leo starts, trying to cover up for the fact that Ryder is the one who outed me.“And you’re kind of known around here.”He looks at Xavier.“Wren is a good hunter.Can kill just about anything.”
“I’m well aware,” he replies, looking back at me with a half-smirk.“She’s quite skilled in many areas and the fact that she has the ability and know-how to stake me in my sleep is not lost on me.Rather, I find it quite exhilarating to have finally met my match.”
He’s trying to provoke my brothers, but his words land as a compliment for me somehow.
“When someone said they thought they saw you, we, uh, wanted to come see for ourselves,” Leo finishes.
“I’m glad you did,” I say automatically.“Because there’s been some weird demon activity in Charlotte and I need to know if you’ve heard about it.”
Leo blinks and looks from me to Antonio, surprised I’m just getting right to business.Really, what other choice do I have?Nothing they say is going to change how I feel and undo the betrayal.
“In Charlotte?No.”
“What kind of demon activity?”Antonio asks.
“Possession.Bodies being used and dumped.All homeless people.”
Gia lets out a sigh.“Can we not talk about business?I want to know why Wren got married.”
“I do, too,” Antonio quips, leaning back and crossing his arms.
Xavier reaches out and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips.“When you know you know.”
I roll my eyes but laugh, fully aware everyone at the table—including Xavier—knows that there is some truth to us having feelings for each other.Or at least there is on my end.
“Where the Order sees danger in what they don’t understand,” Xavier starts.“I see power.You just said how strong Wren is.With her on my side, we can be unstoppable.Make sure you tell Mom and Dad thanks for backing out of the original deal at the last minute.”He kisses the back of my hand and looks at me when he talks.“Anyone who has met Wren and doesn’t see how exquisite she is in every way is a fool.”
“Awww, okay, that’s kind of sweet,” Gia says, thankfully not picking up on everything that’s not said.My heart starts to beat a little faster and tension is filling the air.The waitress comes back with waters and gives Leo, Antonio, and Gia a menu to look over.She remembers Leo, of course, and has always been a little flirty with him, not realizing he bats for the other team.
“Anyway, have you heard anything?”I ask, picking another chip and dipping it in salsa.
“No,” Antonio replies.“You’re sure?”
“Yep.I have the M.E.reports and everything.There were thirteen demon deaths ruled as overdoses in the last week.”
“That many would have gotten noticed by the Order,” Leo starts, brows furrowing.
