“Wait.”
He moved his head in our direction and spoke from under the mask. “I should’ve known you’d be here, baby sis.”
My entire mood lifted, and I nearly jumped with excitement. “Felix!” I let go of Haze’s hand and ran towards my older brother. “Oh my fucking god!” I jumped and he caught me,before spinning me around in a hug. I couldn’t help but giggle and laugh, beyond excited to see my older brother.
Felix laughed as he held me. “Yeah, yeah, I missed you too, baby sis.” Haze and Aiden joined us as I hopped down with a giant smile. Felix placed his hands on his hips and sighed. “You two have always been such troublemakers.” He pointed to Haze and I.
Haze shook his head with a smile and pulled me close. “It’s in our blood, isn’t it?” He winked. I looked up at him and wondered if Felix knew what was going on between us. It made me anxious, not knowing how our older brother would take our ‘relationship’. Haze noticed my concern and spoke up. “Don’t worry, he knows everything. And surprisingly, he doesn't give a fuck.” Haze kissed my forehead.
My eyes shot to our older brother. “You know?” He crossed his arms. “And it doesn’t bother you?”
Felix shrugged. “I stalk and kill people for a living, Indigo. You thinkthisbothers me?” He pointed between us. “I always knew there was something between you two. You always were so close and oddly affectionate towards one another, even as kids.”
His words were oddly comforting. “I go by Indi now, Felix.” He nodded. “What’re you even doing here?” I asked. Haze removed his jacket and wrapped it around me. “I mean, you’ve been gone for years. The last time we heard from you was at our father’s funeral.”
Haze answered for him. “He’s been working in an underground network.” Felix shot a look at Haze. “Relax. She deserves to know the truth.” He turned back to me and continued to speak. “Felix is the one who’s been taking care of me since I went on the run. He’s been looking out for me ever since, trying to keep me out of trouble.”
Felix rolled his eyes. “Real fucking good that’s been.”
I looked between my brothers. “I–I don’t understand. Underground network? I thought you were part of some secret military organization that sent you overseas?”
Felix shrugged. “I was, for a time. Unfortunately, I too inherited our father’s temper, landing me a few write-ups. I would’ve been able to keep my post had I not gotten a bit carried away. Long story short, they kicked me out after the last mishap. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with myself untiltheyapproached me. Now, I’m working for them doing basically the same thing, just in the shadows.”
None of what he said made any sense. “Them? Them who?” They didn’t answer me. “I–I don’t understand.” I turned back to Haze. “You’ve been hanging out with Felix this whole time? Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been worried sick, thinking you were just sleeping on the streets or something, stressing for no reason!” I looked between my brothers. “What the fuck, you two?” They exchanged a look. “Why do you have to keep so many fucking secrets?”
Aiden mumbled under his breath. “Must be an Osvaldo trait.” He chuckled to himself, and we all looked at him. “What? Hey, don’t look at me!” He raised his arms in defense. “I’m not the one keeping secrets from my sister.”
Haze smirked. “You sure about that?” Aiden made a face. My brother looked back at me. “And to answer your question, it’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, Indi. I haven’t exactly been allowed to say anything.” He shot a glance at Felix.
Our older brother shook his head. “And still isn’t, but that doesn’t stop this fucker from breaking all the rules, now does it.” He crossed his arms. “He’s fucking lucky I haven’t kicked ass.”
Haze scoffed. “You wish, old man.”
Felix straightened his back and stood tall, towering over even Haze. “I might be twelve years older than you, but I got a lifetimeof killing. And how many do you have, little brother? One?” He laughed. “Watch out now, little Hazelnut here issodeadly.”
Haze’s smile fell at the childhood nickname. One I’d almost forgotten about. “Don’t fucking call me that,” he growled. “Take it back.”
Our older brother cocked his head. “Or what?” He then rolled his sleeves, revealing countless tattoos that stretched along his entire arms, covering every inch. He egged Haze on, and from the sound of it, I knew he was grinning. The two always did love to fight. “Let’s go, Hazelnut.”
And just like that, he ran at Felix. I tried to stop him, but it was pointless; the two were so focused on each other as they wrestled around. Aiden looked over at me. “Please tell me this is normal.”
“Sadly,” I sighed.
Aiden shook his head and marched over to my brothers, shouting as he ripped them apart. “Hey! Brothers shouldn’t fight like this! At least not in front of their sister.” They both eyed him, then looked at me. Aiden shook his head as the two fixed their clothes and calmed down. “Felix, come on, man. That’s not why you’re here. And Haze, respect your elders.” Felix leaned against the car and fixed his sleeves as Haze snarled at Aiden.
Haze grumbled to himself as he joined me and wrapped his arm around my waist. He shot a glance over at our older brother, who was now smoking a cigarette through his slightly raised mask. “Aiden’s right. So tell me, what’s so important that you had to speak with me, Felix? You were supposed to just drop me off and leave.”
Our older brother exhaled. “That was the plan.” He looked at the burning cigarette. “Or it was until I got word that somebody’s asking questions.”
Questions? About what?
“Someone’s always asking questions.” Haze snorted. “That’s nothing new. And sure as fuck not worth dragging me out of the club over. Besides, The Red Eye is part of the web, isn’t it? That means it’s safe.”
The web? What the fuck is the web?
Felix pushed from the car with the cigarette between his lips. “This one is.” He plucked the burning butt from his mouth and lowered his mask. “Word is someone is talking under the radar. Someone new.”
Haze’s smile fell. “Police?”
