For once, I envy the couple. I imagine myself in their place, my hand brushing soft brown hair away from a familiar face I can't seem to stop thinking about. Something twinges in my chest, and I grit my teeth. “You’re right. I need a break.” I raise my hand to Dale. “Two beers.”
The older man lifts a thick, white brow at me. “Rowan, son, my body isn't what it used to be. I can't carry you out of here.”
Thalia’s eyes shift to me as she takes a long sip of her whiskey. My sister may be certifiable, but she isn't stupid. She knows when something is up.
I ignore her as Noah rounds the table and slings an arm across my shoulders. “My man! We got him, Dale.”
The bartender side-eyes me as he grabs two beers from the cooler. “I’ll hold you to that.” He hands them off to Noah before returning to the patrons at the counter.
I know I’m going to regret this in the morning, but I need something to make the image of Addison Bright fade. I pop the top of my beer and let the cold, bitter taste slide down my throat in a gulp. “Now, someone has information on Theo?”
“Seriously?” Thalia throws her hands up. “No one wants to know how I killed the CEO?”
Alana leans forward, breaking the connection where Connor was practically sucking on her neck. “I want to hear it! No one ever lets me in on field work.”
Her boyfriend frowns before settling with scooting her chair closer to his. “I tell you about my hits all the time, Professor. You don't like my stories?”
She pats his cheek affectionately, giving him a sweet look. “You leave out too many details, sweetheart. I want the gore.”
Connor’s head rolls back against his shoulders. “You are a horror fanatic, my love.”
The intel expert gives him a matter-of-fact upturn of her nose. “With Halloween quickly approaching, it’s time for my horror-flick-a-day ritual. I started without you last night.”
Her boyfriend lifts a brow. “What movie?”
“Thirteen Ghosts,” Thalia mumbles past her glass.
“You know I love that one!” Connor protests.
Alana narrows her eyes at my sister. “Are you still logged into my account?”
“Maybe,” Thalia smirks.
“I’m changing the passcodes,” Alana declares, slumping back in her chair. “Thatwill stop your mooching.”
“That’s fine,” my sister says easily, placing her glass down on the table. “I’ll just break in later. You spend Thursdays at your parents' place, right?”
Connor points a finger at her. “You break into our house and I’ll stalk the kill catalogue and take every fucking hit you eventhinkabout, Thalia.”
I take another sip of my beer, realizing how much I’ve missed this. We all grew up together, so the bickering is normal. We used to do this all the time, but I’ve been so busy running this damn organization that I've forgotten to take the time to visit my found family. I’ve surrounded myself with mountains of paperwork so high that they blocked out what really mattered.
“Okay!” Noah announced over the ensuing argument. “I have some info on Theo!” Everyone quiets, and I continue to drown out my sorrows with alcohol. “He said he’s coming back. Dom doesn't know yet.”
“I knew he would come crawling back,” Thalia twirls her glass on the table. “Tell us something wedon'tknow.”
“Yeah,” Alana agrees. “Like what caused them to split in the first place?”
“Now that's information I would pay for,” Connor agrees.
When I pop the top of my second beer, all eyes trail to me.
“Rowan,” Thalia warns.
“I’m fine.” I continue to drink, soaking in the light buzz that's forming in my head. I’m the most relaxed I've felt in weeks, and I’mnotthinking of Addison.
Not at all.
Nope.
