The Trinity I last saw in person—a quiet, studious wallflower—is not the woman who’s gliding up to me right now.
Fresh-faced and vibrant, she smiles with an ease I’ve never seen from her. Ever since she was a kid, I’ve always viewed her as this top that needed spinning. Bottled-up kinetic energy. Always so thoughtful and slow to respond. Considering all her options.
Even so, I could glimpse the fire under the surface. We all could. We just didn’t know how to set the top in motion. Losing her mother early in life and then later her best friend put Trinity through hell. That light in her eyes died.
Though we searched for the men who killed Angelica, we could only devote so much energy to that endeavor. The cops had no leads, we had no leads, and nothing would bring that little girl back.
We didn’t mean to give up on her.
We hoped our self-defense and lock-picking lessons would help her heal, but we severely miscalculated. The training only served to remind her of what she lost.
Now, though, she’s like a whole new person.
A wide grin cracks over my face when she reaches the top steps. “Trini…”
“Finn!” She raises the stakes with a smile that could rival the sun.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, my baby sister falls right into my embrace. With the way she curls into me, I almost feel like a dad.
I missed her so much.
After giving Trinity a little peck on top of her head, I push her back to peer into her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I sent people to Austin as soon as you touched base that day. Kellin went too. But they all kept getting waylaid by fucking Declan’s men, and then you were nowhere to be found.”
She just pats my shoulder. “It’s okay, Finn.”
I scowl. “It’s not okay. You called me for help, and I couldn’t even…” I shake my head and glance over her shoulder. The brothers recline against the side of their rented car, just watching us. “What matters is you’re safe now. Thanks to Brody Gallagher, apparently. What a tool.”
She laughs a little while shaking her head.
“What’s so funny?”
“You realize he took down, like, half of Grigori Rostov’s guys to keep me safe?”
“I heard.” Even to my own ears, I sound petulant.
Trinity offers another smile. “I’m really okay. Better than okay.”
I peek over her one more time. “I admit you look different. Happy. And older.” I huff and ruffle her hair. “I’ve missed so much over the past few years.”
“No, mostly just the past few weeks. Trust me, everything before this was…” She glances up, biting her lip as if in thought. “I guess the best word for it is predictable. Or maybe boring.”
“Well, for you, boring is good. It’s safe. Let’s not make a habit of getting mixed up with other families, okay?”
She wrinkles her nose, and for a second, she looks like a kid again. “I won’t. But on that note… Finn, I want you to meet the men who saved my life.”
And the men who put you in danger.I won’t say that out loud, though, because if Brody hadn’t taken her hostage, she’d probably be locked up in Rostov’s dungeon by now. Maybe even dead.
Loathe as I am to do so, I must admit that I owe these West Coast Kings.
Trinity pivots to face the two men leaning against the G-Wagon before waving a hand. The men share a glance I can’t decipher and head over.
The stocky one’s Brody, according to what Trinity told me over the phone. I never met him in person, but I recognize a fighter when I see one. He’s the one who’s not Declan’s bio kid, and his mixed heritage shows. He also gazes at Trinity like she hung the moon.
Damn. I’ll have to watch that.
Connor walks up and stops beside him. He’s taller and thinner and possesses a calm that only the eldest child can manage. I should know.
“Boys, come meet my brother.” She whirls back around and gives me a silent “play nice” command as these two strangers stomp up my steps.
