“Thanks for the present, by the way.”
I glanced at Ranger. He lounged against the counter, drinking a beer, his back to the glass doors in a way that felt deliberate. “I just wanted you to know you have choices that are nothing like how things were done by the Crows.”
“Cam, I knew you were nothing like any of them before I ever met you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ranger set his bottle down. “Why do you think I came here so easily? I seem the type to want new friends?”
“You’re friendlier than you think.”
Ranger grunted. “Whatever. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
My heart did a weird flip. I’d written Ranger the note because I’d known he needed it. Contemplating the possible fall out made me feel like crying, but I didn’t say it. Couldn’t. Cos that was the point.
No pressure, brother. We have you.
Ranger wandered off without counting the sprouts on Jakov’s plate. I slung it into the oven as Juana poked her head in the kitchen.
“Can I come in?”
I frowned before I caught myself. “You don’t have to ask shit like that.”
“I wasn’t sure why he was here.” She slipped into the space. “Jakov, I mean,” she clarified. “If it’s business, or...”
“Girlie, it’s Christmas Day. Anyone wanting to do business with me is going to be disappointed.”
Juana laughed. “How drunk are you?”
“Pretty fucking drunk.” I propped myself against the counter. “Thanks for the painting, by the way. It’s going to haunt me more than the actual fucking cat.”
“The cat who lives inmyhouse?”
“That’s the one.” My gaze strayed to the garden. In the murky light, Jakov was laughing, his arm around Viktor, kissing his temple.
Brothers.
I knew they’d been more to each other in the past, but their bond was as deep as mine and Rubi’s. Deeper, maybe. I’d never fucked Rubi.Lord, no?—
The back door opened. Viktor stepped inside with brighter eyes than I’d seen on him all day. “Where is Saint?”
I inclined my head to the living room, reasonably sure he was still in the building. “Thank him with your eyeballs. He doesn’t like fuss.”
Viktor chuckled, letting me know there were far better ways I could’ve expressed how done Saint was with peopling today, but I knew he understood. And I was grateful for that. Grateful forhim.
Jakov lingered, maybe to avoid Alexei. Couldn’t blame him. Then I realised he’d clocked Juana. Goddamn it, I was way too fucking inebriated for surprise visitors.
“Lady Esteban.”
Juana smirked. “Jaego.”
“You are well?”
“I am. Are you?”
Jakov considered the question, glancing around a kitchen that had survived fifteen hours of Rubi-themed chaos. “This is a nice place to end my day.”
Juana’s expression softened. She eased around the counter and hugged Jakov, whispering something too quiet and too Spanish for me to catch.