His normal spot here would be either at my office door or, if I was on the floor, in the security room. He moved out of the way, standing against the wall as I shut the door behind me and walked to my desk where my siblings were waiting.
“Ni, you still giving Alic a hard time?!” The mini version of my sister Nova shook her head at me, her hands flying around as she continued. “I trained him my goddamn self! Why are you still fucking with him?!”
That's exactly the problem! I’m fucking with him instead of him fucking me!But I couldn't really say that, so I shrugged.
Making a show of sitting down and shuffling some papers around, I kept my tone passive. “I don't know what you're talking about. I was having a simple conversation with an employee. He’s not on your payroll anymore, is he?” When I looked up at Nova, her wolfish smile got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but smirk back.
She shook her head, moving her wild wavy hair, the same color as mine, as she sat back in her seat. “Naw, he’s your problem now, I guess.”What is she up to? She gave up way too easily for my taste.
“Let's get to business,” Ezra cut in, redirecting us like bumper cars in need of getting back on track. “Speaking of training, Nova, have you picked out all your candidates for the new wave of trainees?”
Now, with the heat off me, I pulled out my phone to put blame where it was due.
Niya:You dick!
Calix yankedout his phone and looked at it for a few seconds before he snickered as his fingers flew across the screen.
Cal:What did I do? I wasn't the late one.
I forcedmy expression to stay neutral, even though I was jabbing the phone screen with enough force to crack it.
Niya:You didn't need to break into my receiver!
Niya:Having you all waiting for me?
Niya:Dick move!!!
Calix’s browspinched at my text. Nova’s jovial smile wiped away as she said to the group, “I’ve found a good amount, but I’m still looking for those last few special ones that I like to train myself.”
My phone buzzed, and I looked down.
Cal:Then don't be late next time!
Cal:E forced me to
Cal:Also we’re not blind.
Cal:Quit trying to fuck the troll.
Cal:It ain't happenin.
Lifting my head,I glared at Calix.What the fuck does he mean by that?!He threw his phone on his desk and put his hands behind his head, pretending to pay attention to what was going on. We both knew that was his way of saying he was done with the conversation.
“Remember,” Ezra called out without looking up, tapping away on her tablet, “we don’t always need them to be top quality. We just need soldiers who are good at listening and doing exactly what they’re told.”
This was a regular fight between Ezra and Nova, so I finished typing my last text, hit send, and tossed my phone onto the desk. He hesitated for a few seconds, his eyes flicking between me—sitting with crossed arms and an evil smirk—and the phone.Curiosity got the better of him, so he grabbed his device.Let’s see what you think of that, big bro.
Nova rolled her eyes and shook her head in an exaggerated way, mimicking Ezra. As usual, Ezra didn’t take the bait—she simply lifted her chin, cool and unimpressed.
“So befitting of the Rossey name,” she said smoothly.
Nova, always ready for a fight, opened her mouth to fire back, but Calix cut in with an exasperated grimace as he pointed to his phone. “Aw, come on! No one wants to seethat!” I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
I’d sent him a bloody dick pic of one of my male employees who’d recently come to me to receive an “emergency check” of his goods after it got poked by some fangs for the first time. What could I say? Running a sex club wasn’t all moans and orgasms.
Ezra shifted her attention to him, her tone crisp and commanding, ignoring his little outburst. “Calix, how’s the shadow gun coming along?”
Our lazy older brother put his phone in a drawer while glaring at me for winning this round. “It’s in the D & M phase,” he admitted. When Ezra’s lips pressed into a thin line, he sighed, putting on his serious face.
