Page 3 of Storm's Deliverance

I smirk. “Yeah, I know.”

“Has Enzo met Zeke yet?” Maisy asks. We glance over at my brother, who has just folded up a pancake and shoved the entire thing in his mouth, resulting in maple syrup dribbling down his chin and onto his tattooed chest. I give her a side glance and smirk, shaking my head.

“Maisy,” I say her name in warning.

“What?” she asks innocently, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.

“Seriously, you need to move on,” I urge.

She and Enzo had a night, one drunken night. When Maisy woke, Enzo had left. It was never spoken about since. I’m the only one in the group that knows. I had slept over hers that night and woken up on the sofa to hear Maisy crying in her room. I had gone to kick my brother’s ass for treating a woman like that; notjust any woman but our lifelong friend. If Uncle Hawk had found out, it would have caused hell.

She exhales a slow breath. “I’m not, okay? It was over a year ago, and we’ve been fine since. That’s the important thing.” She shrugs.

I roll my eyes. “You lost your virginity to him, and he acted like it was nothing, like you were nothing. Damn, even now I still want to kick his ass. God, he’s such a prick,” I fume, feeling my anger bubbling beneath my skin.

Maisy places her hand on my arm. “You promised you would never say anything, and that still applies now. If you kick off, the parents will ask why, and then it will just end up being a shit show. I’m a big girl, and I can deal with my own feelings. Plus, I’ve got a second date with that guy from the zoo.”

I arch my brow. “You’re dating a zookeeper?” I press.

She smiles. “Yeah, he looks after the tigers.”

“And what did your dad say to that?” I ask, knowing Uncle Hawk would have some kind of innuendo.

She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I didn’t tell him. Mom did. He called him the pussy keeper. Said that I am worth more than someone that cleans out a giant cat litter tray.”

I snort. “I mean, your dad has a point,” I agree.

“You side with my dad, I may have to talk louder about Zeke,” she threatens.

“Okay, okay. You’re good with the growler warden.” I laugh, holding my hands up in surrender.

“Um, sorry, is Enzo there?” a quiet voice asks behind us. We turn round to see a tiny blonde woman. Her hair looks like its been back combed, her cheeks are a deep shade of crimson, and on her neck is a deep, purple hickey. My stomach convulses. My brother is disgusting.

“Enzo, seriously?!” I yell across the kitchen. All eyes land on her, and she takes a step back. Not sure if from fear or embarrassment.

Enzo dusts off his hands, a grin dancing across his lips, deepening the dimple on his cheek. His gaze briefly cuts to Maisy, and his smile falters. I can’t help it. My hand connects with the back of his before I can stop myself.

“Ow!” he hisses. “What was that for?” he asks, rubbing the back of his head.

“For being a manwhore,” I quip.

“Hey!” Mom yells, defending him.

I roll my eyes. “Sorry, for being a slut,” I correct.

His eyes flare at me for a second; those same eyes, that same look from our dad that would have most people shivering in fear, but he’s my brother, and I’m my mother’s daughter after all. I slut smile at him before turning to his latest conquest.

“I’d run for the hills if I were you,” I muttered. “My brother is a jerk. You could do better.”

“Not cool, Stormi,” Enzo growls.

“Storm!” Mom chastises as she walks over. She smiles at the girl. “Ignore her; she’s anxious for the first day of her new job.”

I roll my eyes, looking at my dad, who smirks and gives me a wink. I grin back at him. Enzo walks his, well, I don’t know what to call her. His latest conquest out, I guess.

Mom whirls around, catching Dad’s smirk. “You can wipe that grin off your face, Casper,” she says, pointing her index finger at him.

His eyes flare. He hates it when she calls him that, which just makes her call him it even more.