“I’m going to have the tuna melt. I’ll go place our orders and be right back.”
“Okay.”
“Why don’t you go take a look around, see if anything catches your eye?” She glances around at all the books before nodding. I walk to the counter, keeping an eye on her.
The door opens, and King walks in with a man at least a decade older than me, who looks vaguely familiar, and a woman around Citi’s age. King spots me, and I take in the newcomers. The guy looks out of place in his navy-blue suit and violet shirt. The woman has an almost ethereal look to her. She’s wearing a floor-length white summer dress and a pair of cowboy boots, along with a soft-looking cashmere cardigan over the top. She looks up at the man in the suit with a soft smile, and I know in an instant they’re an item. But if you’d asked me beforehand, I’d have never placed them together. He screams control, while she has a quiet wildness about her.
“Ambros. Good to see you. How are things going?” King asks.
“They’re going. Some days are easier than others.”
“I get that. I’ve lost more than my fair share of people. It never gets easier. I’m really sorry about your sister, though. She was a spitfire.”
The familiar ache of her loss spreads through my limbs. “She was the best.”
“Hi,” the woman says, waving at me.
“Shit, where are my manners? Ambros, this is my daughter, Six, and her husband, Will.”
“Ah, the infamous Six. I was starting to think he made you up.”
Six giggles as her husband pulls her close, tucking her under his arm. My lips twitch at the claiming move, but the guy has nothing to worry about from me.
“Wait, I know you. You’re Ambros Deveraux. I won a lot of money on your last fight.” Will offers me his hand with a grin. I take it and shake it before I feel Citi’s presence behind me.
I turn and see Citi worrying her lip, looking unsure if she should approach. I hold my hand out to her. A look of relief moves over her face as she moves closer. “Citi, you’ve met King, right?”
She nods, moving in close to me. “Yeah, hi.”
He offers her a soft look in response.
“This is Six, King’s daughter, and Will.”
“Her husband,” Will adds.
“Hi.” Six waves excitedly. Citi offers her a nervous smile.
“Nice to meet you. I didn’t know King had a daughter.”
“Neither did he for a while.” Six grins.
Citi looks confused but doesn’t ask. Six tilts her head, her eyes moving over Citi. “I met Nevaeh. I didn’t know she had a twin. That’s so cool.”
“Um…yeah.” Citi twists her hands together, a sure-fire sign she’s nervous.
I’m about to step in when Six shrugs off her husband and moves in closer. “Do you think you could show me where the good books are? I love my husband and dad, but we definitely don’t read the same things.”
Citi chuckles, loosening up a little. “Sure.” She looks at me. “I’ll be right back.” She voices it as a question, making me grin. Ipress my lips to her forehead and watch her as she walks off with Six beside her.
Will moves closer. “She reminds me of what my wife was like when we first met.”
Knowing the basics of Six’s history, I nod. “King tell you about Citi?”
“No. But he mentioned coming up for a visit, which is unusual, as we normally drop by Carnage because it’s closer. Now, I’ve known King a long time. That man doesn’t do anything by accident.”
“Standing right here,” King grunts.
“Am I lying?” Will asks him, folding his arms across his chest.
