Ronin chuckled. “I guess I should thank the goddess for getting us here on a good one.”
Oliver could hear the teasing in his mate’s voice, and he tittered. “Tell me about your brother.” Oliver surprised himself with the question. “Is he like you?”
"Well I guess you would have to be more specific since I have four brothers," Ronin replied.
"Four, huh? I only have one, my younger brother Lucas, but I guess I meant your brother that's mated to Devon."
“Rome—well, Roman is his name—and I are very much alike in many ways,” Ronin said. “He’s my twin brother, so I’d say that’s par for the course.” Ronin had a fond smile on his face as he continued, “Of course, he’ll be the first to mention how he’s the older brother.”
Ollie chuckled. “By how many minutes, or were you one of those took-a-few-more-hours kids?”
Ronin snort laughed. “He’s older by only ten minutes. Although to hear him call me baby brother, you would think it was ten months.” Ronin rolled his eyes and shook his head, but Ollie heard the love the man had for his twin in every word.
“I usually don’t let it pass without reminding him that it’s only ten minutes, and if he wasn’t such an impatient asshole, I would have probably got here first.”
Ollie snorted at that. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.”
“You know, he said he knew,” Ronin mused.
“Knew what?” Ollie asked, brow furrowed
“Rome said he knew the minute he saw Devon that he was his mate. I didn’t believe much in that, at first.” Ronin’s eyes on him were intent.
Oliver looked down at the ground and asked, “You didn’t?” He lifted eyes back up and met Ronin’s gaze. “And what about now?”
Ronin lips curved. “I suppose I could see how it was possible, but don’t tell Rome. I know he’ll give me a hard time if he hears me say that.”
“I look forward to meeting him.”
“Well, I’m positive that will happen sooner rather than later.” Ronin chuckled. They were both silent for a moment, but it wasn’t awkward.
Whenever Oliver looked in Ronin’s direction, the alpha’s eyes were on him. Ollie could almost swear he could hear and feel Ronin’s heart beating, and it seemed to match his. Like somehow, they’d synced up like an iPhone plugging into the Mac it was programmed to.
He chuckled at the thought, but still, it was an amazing feeling.
And for the first time—well outside of the times he’d watched porn—Ollie felt his cock perk up and take interest.
“So, do you mind talking about Anton?” Ronin’s sudden question deadened that feeling quickly.
Oliver drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment before breathing out on a sigh. “He’s not my favorite topic of conversation, but what would you like to know?”
Ronin’s eyes on him were filled with concern, but thankfully, there was no pity, and that compelled Oliver to repeat, “What would you like to know?”
“Anything… Everything.” Ronin shrugged. “Whatever you feel comfortable talking about. Remember, no pressure.”
“He was a real piece of work… a fucking bastard.” Ollie shook his head trying to get rid of the memories coming back to him.
“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” Ronin’s voice was hesitant.
Ollie nodded, even though he didn’t want to think about any of it.
“I’m sorry, I really am”—Ronin sighed—“but it may be important.”
His eyes holding Ollie’s were warm and apologetic, so Ollie nodded, giving him permission.
“Did he ever mention why he…” Ronin paused and his brow furrowed. “I mean, did he ever say what… at the river, I saw...”
He watched Ronin struggle with how to ask the question that was clearly on his mind.
