I held up my hand, slicing the air with a sharp gesture that cut him off instantly.
“No.”
His mouth snapped shut, and I let the silence stretch before I spoke.
“Listen. I’ve got my brother and sister coming into town, a building that was just bombed, and a target on my back that Iwillremove with fire and fury. I don’t have the time or, frankly,the mental real estate to deal with…” I waved vaguely around the room. “All this. Whateverthisis.”
I pointed at the door, my voice steady even though I wasn’t. “If that’s a dealbreaker for anyone, truly, thank you for everything you’ve done. But also,” I gave a sharp nod toward the exit, “there’s the door.”
No one moved. Not even a twitch.
I exhaled through my nose. Feeling like a big bitch, I slowly admitted, “I’m not saying we can’t talkeventually, but right now, my focus is on finding whoever did this and making them pay. Brutally and completely.”
My throat tightened around the next part, but I said it anyway because I needed them. “If you’re on board with that…” I winced slightly, half-wishing I could swallow the word back up. “I’d appreciate the help.”
Van crossed his arms with a lazy grin. “Wow. Youaskingfor help? That’s huge.”
I rolled my eyes, some of the tension bleeding out. “After Ezra’s verbal firing squad? Yeah. I just want revenge and maybe a little firebombing. After that,” I shrugged, “we can figure out what the hell all this,” I gestured between us, “means.”
Ras raised his hand like we were in school, and the gesture was so damn cute I almost cried.
I pointed at him. “Yes, Ras?”
He looked around, unsure. “I know you want to table it, but… you said your tattoo was supposed to be invisible, right?”
My eyes narrowed. “Yeah?”
He rushed to finish, probably sensing the thin line of patience he was standing on. “Well, when you went to take that call, I saw it. Five roses on your lower back.”
The color drained from my face.
Spinning on my heel, I rushed to the bathroom, with all five of them following behind me, their footsteps echoing right after mine. I yanked my cropped sweater up at the back and twisted in front of the mirror. My breath caught.
“Shit.”
There it was. Plain as day. The mark that was supposed to be hidden was now a fine-line tattoo, and it was glowing faintly like the damn thingwantedto be noticed.
I turned and shoved past them, pacing the living room. My limbs needed to move just to give me something to do as my thoughts frantically bounced around in my head, trying to escape.
“No. Nope.” I sliced my hands in front of me as if I could physically cut the thought from the air. “Absolutely not.”
They watched me silently, but the questions were building in their eyes, thick, unavoidable.
I spun to face them, finger raised. “New rule. No one talks about the tattoo or possibly being mates.” I nodded firmly. “That’s the rule. Breaking it will come with… consequences.”
What consequences? No idea, but they didn’t need to know that.
I gathered myself, channeling what little control I had left. “Okay. Van, Ras, Alic, since I’m your boss, I assume you’re with me on the wholetake-down-the-bastards-who-attacked-ustrain?”
All three of them straightened up, their faces now holding nothing but certainty.
“I was hired by Nova to protect you,” Maso said smoothly, “so consider me part of the staff.”
I blinked. “Nova didwhat?”
His smug grin told me he enjoyed dropping that little bombshell.
Alic’s voice boomed, “Nova did what?!”
