Page 86 of Lethal Attraction

Atlas takes his helmet off before mimicking her fury, and they close the distance between each other.

“WHEN I SAY SHOOT,” she rages slowly like he’s incompetent, “YOU SHOOT. ARE YOU STUPID?!”

“OH, YEAH, LET ME JUST KILL YOU NEXT TIME, HUH?” Atlas returns.

Thalia’s lips pull over her teeth as she points an accusatory finger at her brother’s chest. “I’M GOING TO SELL YOUR FUCKING ORGANS ON EBAY!”

Atlas throws his hands open wide. “AND I’M GOING TO HAUNT YOU! I’LL DIE OUT OF SPITE!”

“GOOD!”

“I’LL LIVE IN YOUR FUCKING WALLS!”

“YOU CAN BARELY FIT IN A NORMAL FUCKING HOUSE, YOU MAMOTH!”

I’m completely stunned by the sibling bickering because at this very moment, they almost look identical…

A heavily pregnant woman with red-blonde hair, whom I hadn’t noticed until just now, waddles over with a hand resting on top of her belly. She motions wildly to Thalia as she stares at me with an impatient expression. “Stop her!”

I jolt. “Oh, right.”

Just as Thalia attempts to launch herself at her brother, I wrap an arm around her waist and yank her back. She’s still reaching out for him when Rowan appears out of nowhere and strong-arms Atlas, effectively breaking up the fight.

Rowan points between both of them, his face devoid of any laughter or mirth as he pins his siblings with a glare that can only be compared to a disappointed father. “If either of you makes another move, I’m putting you on fucking paperwork duty.”

For some reason, that threat causes both siblings to stop immediately.

Huh.

An assassin’s number one fear. Paperwork.

Rowan runs his fingers along the bridge of his nose in annoyance as the others begin to join us. The brunette who opened the doors rubs a hand up Rowan’s back in comfort, and he visibly relaxes at her touch.

“Rough night?” she asks.

He takes her hand before kissing her knuckles. “I need a drink.”

The pregnant woman—Loxley—ambles over to Atlas. He takes her in his arms protectively before resting his chin on top of her head.

The blonde woman from the gala saunters over, her dress shredded around the skirt. “Well, things could have gone much better. I’m Bailey, by the way.” She waves at me.

“Addison,” the brunette smiles.

“Theo, but you already knew that,” the assassin winks before subtly shadowing Bailey from behind. He’s close enough to touch her, but not enough to break boundaries.

The silent man to his left nods once. “Dom.”

Taryn and Emma linger beside me, and Taryn is the first to murmur. “Assassins. They’re assassins…”

The shock is slow to process. This is all so much, and I know that it hasn’t fully hit me yet. Once it does, I don’t know how I’ll react, so I take this opportunity.

I gently grab Thalia’s wrist, tugging her towards the exit for privacy. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”

Hesitation and fear flicker in her gaze as she nods and follows me outside. Our shoes crunch across the gravel as I shove a hand through my hair and pace.

“Assassins,” I mumble.

She fiddles with her fingers in front of her, but doesn’t say a word as she allows me to process this.