Page 7 of Serpent & Saviors

“We lost touch. I went home early one year and didn’t end up going back,” she finally said, but I noticed she shivered in a way that made me uncomfortable. Her gaze fixed on the window. Her reflection left me wondering if she was looking at the scenery passing us by or something inside her head.

“Are you cold, angel?” I asked.

She shook her pretty head. Her eyes turned to me, and during that brief moment before I looked back to the road, two tears trickled down her face.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Tell me about your friends. Do you have a lot of them?”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, changing the subject, but as a gentleman, I’ll be gracious and allow it. I’m blessed to consider five men my brothers, with a new one recently added to our mix. He’s still feeling his way with us, but truth be told, it’s nice not to be the new guy.” I chuckled lightly, thinking about Pasha.

“And how long were you the ‘new’ guy?” she teased, not allowing the earlier part of the conversation to keep her down.

“A long-ass time, and damn it’s a relief to pass it on to another,” I breathed, realizing that in so many ways Pasha and I had a lot in common.

It wasn’t easy at first, finding my way with each of them, given they were such a solid unit. It was only after I grew close to Vanya and could act as a bridge for all of us that things really changed. Kinsley was Pasha’s bridge, and that bridge was one of the better things to happen to all of us.

“Just so long as you don’t forget what it’s like,” she admonished me in the cutest way.

“Is that coming from the mother in you?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“You don’t need to worry. I couldn’t forget. The new guy is actually pretty important in our group. He won’t be going anywhere. He’s family now, whether his fiancée wants to let him join us or not.”

“A fiancée, huh? And a reluctant one at that. That might spell trouble. I suggest you guard your heart. As important as this new member is, fiancées can be quite persuasive.”

I laughed, thinking about how there was no way in hell Kinsley would let Pasha go. I had also gotten the sense that Pasha was tired of letting Hannah control every aspect of his life. For all his frustration about the situation we were in, a part of him was relaxed, almost. Not to mention his confession while we were working out.

“Except you haven’t met the little pixie at home that has known him her entire life and refuses to let him go now that she’s found him again.”

“A little love triangle then? Sounds juicy.” She grinned.

“Oh, you can best be sure his fiancée feels that way. But said little pixie is in quite a unique relationship of her own.”

“Outside of the new guy? What’s the new guy’s name, anyway?”

“The Russian. His real name is a secret. If I told you I’d have to—”

“Kill me? Sounds like this little pixie is a troublemaker.”

“I was going to say kiss you until you forgot about him, but to answer your last statement. She’s not the troublemaker. That title belongs to another one in the family.”

“So, you really had to go home to mediate a family dispute? That might have been interesting to see play out. I’d ask more about it, but it seems we’ve arrived.”

Startled, I looked around, realizing I’d parked the car and we were just sitting there talking comfortably with one another.

“It was a bit more delicate than that. And it wasn’t a dispute per se, more of a need for reassurance.”

I raised an eyebrow as she shook her head. I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out of the car. Opening the door, I helped her out and found myself not wanting to let go of her hand.

It felt small in mine, and I couldn’t help myself from easing my other hand to her lower back as I guided her inside the teahouse. Her face lit up in surprise as she took in the transformation.

The tables were rearranged, and there was excitement in the air as people milled about.

“Shall we?” I guided her over to an empty booth.

Settling in, she turned her body toward me, an open invitation almost. I had to warn myself to slow the fuck down.

“If I asked you to share something else about yourself, how open would you be to the idea?” I asked.