Page 84 of Paths
“Okay,” I drawl, waiting for him to finish.
“I was in the middle of a training session with the men, and then, boom—it was like a tornado hit.”
“What are you talking about?” I growl and feel Maya squeeze my arm.
When I look over, her face is as confused as I feel.
“Well.” I hear him move the phone and muffle a laugh. “Let’s just say the Cain Quartet rolled into town and now my old farmhouse looks like Rudolph threw up all over the place.”
“What the fuck?” I feel my face fall as Maya’s expression turns from confused to concerned.
I’ve been putting my sisters off for months, even more since I was captured and fucked-up. I didn’t need them to see me that way. They know my job as a contractor could be dangerous and I told them I’d had an incident, but was fine. They don’t know the truth about my prior job.
I guess I put them off long enough, they made a surprise attack. Damn them.
“Yeah, you heard me. They said they were tired of you giving them the runaround, so they came to you. Did they ever. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. There was no way I could stop them, and man, they’ve only been here for thirty minutes. They’re a force to be reckoned with.”
I look back to the road, but slow down. I was in a hurry to get her home, but now I’m wondering if we can get back on the plane and head for Fiji. I can keep her safe in Fiji, not to mention, we can fuck on the beach.
Just when my thoughts go to how many ways we can fuck on a private island, Crew keeps talking. “Tell me you’re close. They’re talking my fucking ear off and I left the men with Asa. I’ve carried in all their shit and eaten enough Christmas cookies to get me through Independence Day. I think I’d rather go to the depths of hell for you again than entertain them.”
I shake my head and turn onto the two-lane road that leads us home. “I’ve decided to take Maya to Fiji.”
“Fuck you,” Crew clips.
“I’ll see you in five,” I concede and we hang up.
“What’s wrong now?” Maya asks.
“I feel bad,” I start, trying to break the news that we’ll be bombarded the second we get home. “I had no idea they were coming, but they’re crazy and can do shit like this from time to time. I know it’s really a bad time after last night and today. I wanted to bring you home to peace and quiet, not to the whirlwind we’re about to walk into.”
“Grady, what are you talking about?”
“My sisters.” I look over at her. “They’re here. They like this spur-of-the-moment shit. I’m sorry, baby, but from the sounds of it, there’ll be no peace and quiet today.”
Her hand comes to her face and she instantly pulls down the mirror on the visor to inspect her scrapes.
“Hey,” I call for her. “They’re a pain in the ass, but only the good kind. They’ll love you so much, it’ll make you sick to your stomach. But still, if you throw up on me, don’t think you can blame it purely on my sisters. You’re going to the doctor to get checked for a concussion.”
“I’m a mess,” she says into the mirror. “I can’t believe I have to meet them looking like this. Can you just take me home? I’ll meet them next time.”
I shake my head as I pull onto the road that leads to Crew’s house. “Sorry, baby. I need to get my sisters off Crew’s back and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
She flips the mirror closed, giving up. “It’s useless anyway. Who knows when my face will heal.”
“It’s not deep. It should heal soon.” I look over at her and raise a brow. “But I shouldn’t have to tell you that. You are the health care professional here, right?”
She closes her eyes. “Shut up.”
I pull slowly up to the house, park next to a brand-new minivan with temporary tags and add, “Warning—they’ll attack you with the energy of a pack of puppies who just downed a double espresso. And since it’s Christmas, they could be on a sugar high. Just go with the flow, I promise you’ll make it out alive.”
Her eyes get big right before I hear them and look toward the house.
*****
Maya –
When the door bursts open, I get the feeling Grady wasn’t exaggerating. Four women come filing out—one in a flat-out run, one skip-running, and the other two at a quick clip.
