Page 19 of Chaotic Curse
“I suppose birth order doesn’t really make a lot of difference.”She sniffs.“Maybe it’s just more Hawk’s and my personalities that were the issue.”
“I don’t really know much about his backstory.”
She shrugs.“It’s kind of the same as mine.Falcon was the oldest, the golden child.Everyone’s hero.Until he went to prison, I guess.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so I simply offer a weak smile.
“Then Raven and I came next, twins, but I preferred to be outside with Falcon.So Raven quickly became Mom’s favorite.That is, until Eagle came along.”
“But Hawk came first.”
“He did.And he was different from Falcon.Still big and strong, and God, you’ve never seen a more beautiful child than Hawk was.With those blue eyes and all.”
“Heisdreamy…”
Robin chuckles.“I’m glad you think so.But yeah.Hawk was a little quieter.Always concerned with right and wrong.For some reason he and Dad never clicked.And he and Mom never really clicked either.I never clicked with Mom either, but Dad and I were close.Maybe because I was more interested in learning what he did on the ranch than what Mom did inside the house.”
“I see.”
“Bottom line, if you can make Hawk happy,” she says to me, “then I’m all for it.”
I give her another weak smile as Vinnie appears in the family room.
“I thought you had a meeting,” Robin says.
“I did.For about five minutes.Turns out one of the key people was a no-show, so we rescheduled.”
“Sorry about that.I guess we all could have stayed at the hospital after all,” Robin says.
“Robin,” Vinnie says, “if you want to go ahead back, feel free to use one of our cars.”
“No, it’s okay.I’d like to stay here.”She flops onto a couch.“I need a little bit of a break.”
“Understandable.”Vinnie turns to me.“I don’t want to pry, but are you doing all right?”
I nod.“Yeah.I mean…”
“Please, don’t go into any detail,” he says.“I don’t need to hear that.But I just want you to know that Raven and I are in your corner.”
“And I am too.”Robin smiles.
I swallow.“Then I probably should tell you something.”
They both raise their eyebrows.
“And what’s that?”Vinnie asks.
“I’ve been getting… I guess there’s a reason I went home with Hawk last night.”
Vinnie raises an eyebrow.“Other than you wanting to?”
“Ididwant to,” I say.“Please believe me.He didn’t force anything on me.”
“My brother would never do that,” Robin says.“As I’ve told you, he’s always been concerned with what’s right and just.”
“Yeah,” I say.“But he’s been helping me with something else too.Something that’s been going on.”
“Daniela,” Vinnie says.“I promised you’d be safe here.What’s going on?”
