Page 46 of Dark Surrender

“Hi. I’m Iris, and this asshole is Dee.” I incline my head her way.

Doug turns to my sister and, snickering, nods hello.

Calm enough that she’s done fighting the arm locked around her stomach as her feet dangle in the air, she glowers in response.

“She doesn’t talk much,” I comment, so he doesn’t take offense.

“That’s okay.” He chuckles.

Stepping up to Dee and the giant man holding her, I perch up on my tiptoes to get in her face and force her to make eye contact with me.

“He’s gonna let you down, and you’re gonna get your shit together.”

“Fuck you,” she snarls, spittle flying from her lips like a rabid dog.

Refusing to give up on her, I cup her face with both hands. “I’m not leaving you here. Do you hear me? I’m not leaving. I’m staying. We’re staying.” Maybe not forever, but to feel this place out for both of us. Of course, I already told her that, but when she’s pissed at me, she tunes me out.

When my words sink into that stubborn brain of hers, Dee’s entire demeanor relaxes.

“You can let her down,” I address the big guy, and he does just that, carefully lowering her to the grass. But he doesn’t move away. Doesn’t run scared. He doesn’t even acknowledge the stab wound in his shoulder as Dee shoulders past me to grab her stuff from the car, including the opossums.

When the dog makes a sound, as dogs do when another animal is around, Dee snarls at the mutt. Somehow understanding she’s a predator, he reads it loud and clear and rushes to stand behind Mia, who kneels to comfort him.

To be helpful, Doug takes the animal cages from Dee, and, to my complete surprise, she lets him. Together, they mount the porch and go inside our new temporary home.

Left with the scarred guy and Mia, I turn to find him twisting his fingers together in front of him and rocking back on his heels. Every now and again, he spares a look at the house they disappeared into.

Well, isn’t this weird?

Too fucking weird.

Just as I’m about to ask the man’s name and suggest he join them, for my benefit more than his—because who knows what Dee will do to him inside four walls—a freckle-faced redhead wearing a summer dress and purple Crocs, along with a dark-haired man with a nipple piercing and scarred pec, come from the same direction as the others did.

“Iris?” the woman asks, with a big smile and a bounce in her step.

The man beside her chuckles as he stares fondly at what is clearly his woman. The man practically has cartoon hearts floating above his head.

Damn.

To be looked at like that with such…

Ugh.

Nope.

Not going there.

The woman, close to my height, doesn’t extend a hand in greeting. She gets right up in my space and wraps me in a hug. And for some reason, I let her. It’s warm and awkward, and it tightens my throat. The hug lasts longer than any hug I’ve ever had. Which isn’t saying much, as physical touch, beyond men pawing at me, never happens.

Her red hair smells of lavender. Not that it matters, but I can’t remember the last time I was close enough to anyone to know what their hair smelled like.

When we pull back, she flashes me the prettiest, carefree smile as we make eye contact.

“Your eyes are stunning,” she compliments, making that thing in my throat even worse.

A blush suffuses my cheeks as I nod awkwardly in thanks.

I have no idea what to say to that.