Page 35 of Retribution
Carter scratches his head and glances down at Heather as she looks up at him, adoration in her eyes.
“We are triplets. Just one of us can’t be offered a job.”
Bones shakes his head.
“I’m not offering you a job. This is a family, and that’s what I’m offering. All three of you. Yes, you’d work with us, all of you, and be paid. But none of us look at this as a job. It’s family. You don’t walk away from family. Ever.”
Carter mutters words that I hoped I’d never hear again, but this time it has a different meaning.
“Brothers don’t say goodbye.”
Carter glances at Heather to see her reaction and it’s visible in her gaze. This is what she’s hoping for.
“Two conditions.”
Bones nods, and Carter continues.
“We all have to agree or I have to decline. And we will need three months of vacation a year.”
Bones arches an eyebrow at Carter.
“Three months? No, I’ll agree to two months, fully paid.”
“We will discuss it and let you know.”
I shake my head no before explaining my decision.
“I’m a definite fucking no. Sorry, Killer. I want you to be happy, and I’ll take you anywhere the sun shines.”
I look at Bones, who stares at me, shock filling his eyes.
“I will forever be grateful for your help, but I’m not a man who forgets. Maybe Carter and Knox can, but I won’t. We have been just fine on our own. We don’t need a family that, quote, isn’t particularly fond of our bloodline.”
He drags his hand down his face before shaking his head.
Bones swallows hard before responding. I have a feeling not many men have the balls to call him out but I do.
“I deserve that. That’s something I wish I hadn’t said. I didn’t know what Reaper had gone through until our father passed. Then Raven popped up, and I found out what happened to him. Then, I find out about you and what Carter went through. Frank is a fucking infection in our family that won’t go away. I took my anger out on you, and I shouldn’t have. What happened to you as kids isn’t your fault. Your bloodline is also mine.”
Heather climbs on my lap and rubs her fingers through my hair.
“Killer.” I growl through clenched teeth. Not being able to touch her for so long has been fucking killing me. There have been a few touches but very fucking brief.
Pressing her hand to my face, she tilts her head and stares into my eyes.
“You’ve made mistakes, Kill. I know you’ve said things you wish you hadn’t. Bones is human, as we all are. You’re family whether you like it or not. I’m not saying we have to move to New York, but I do want them in my life. After what I’ve been left with—a real family sounds awfully nice.”
Fuck.
She’s right. Only hours ago she killed the only person in her family she thought she had left. I have to let this go. For her.
I press my nose into her hair, inhaling her scent, and speak low into her ear, “Fine. For you, Killer.” I lift my gaze to meet Bones’ sitting across from me. “Forgiven.”
She giggles in my arms, and feels even better than I remember. The softness of her skin, her breath fanning over my flesh, the sound of her laugh. Heather is a goddamn dream.
She looks across the field at Grave.
“I hope he doesn’t die tonight. Tomorrow I’ll use fire.”
