He leans forward, hissing, “What the fuck was I meant to say? If I said you’re doing it for free, she’d say she isn’t a charity! I know how Re’s mind works.”
“Then we’ll charge her,” Val murmurs. I notice he’s staring through the glass wall, looking down, and… he’s watching Revea, of course he is. “A hundred.”
“A day?” Rue huffs. “She’ll know that’s too low.”
“A week.”
I smirk. My bro’s down so goddamn bad. But so am I.
Rue stares at me, eyes wide and disbelieving. “What’s wrong with him?” he murmurs, pointing at Val, who’sstilllooking over his shoulder. “I swear he said like five words when I asked for help with this, now he’s offering a ridiculous discount for a job he didn’t even want?”
“You’re right, I don’t want the job.” Val turns around to face Rue head-on. “I want your sister.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Are you fucking serious?!”I snarl down the bond.
Rue freezes. His body, his face, pretty sure he stops breathing.
Then he bursts out laughing, so hard and fast his face turns red. “Fuck, man. For a second, I thought…”
But my brother hasn’t moved. He’s leaning forward, elbows on his thighs as he stares Rue down, waiting for the moment it all clicks into place.
Slowly, eventually, Rue stops laughing, and he goes deathly silent.
“Tell me you’re joking,” he says, voice low. When Val doesn’t respond, Rue’s eyes slide to mine. “Tell me that was a joke, Luc.”
I suck in air between my teeth, bunching my shoulders together with a sympathetic smile.
“No, no fucking way, she’s my baby sister—”
“—and an independent woman who doesn’t require her brother’s approval for prospective mates,” Val snaps back in a deep murmur. “Don’t diminish what she is, or whatshe’s achieved, to fit your narrative of the protective older brother.”
Rue’s expression wavers then, the anger draining a little.
“I respect you, Rue, which is why I’m being honest. I’ve never wanted an omega. I never expected to want your sister, but I do, and I will pursue her.”
Damn. If we’re going all in like this…
I sigh. “Since day one, man.”
Rue’s gaze slices to me.
“You can be pissed all you want,oryou can realise that maybe we’re not that bad a choice. Either way, it won’t change a thing. Unless Revea says she’s not interested, I’ll chase her all day long.”
“Don’tput that fucking image into my head,” he groans painfully, then rubs his face before looking at us. “Does she know?”
I tilt my head. “Not explicitly…”
“We need to speak with Kaiden tonight,” Val adds.
“Then we introduce her to Syl,” I end.
Rue nods while taking a deep breath. “Makes sense, I guess…shit.You’re seriously not playing me?”
I smile. “I was interested when I saw the CCTV. I was sold when she spoke to me. I’m pretty much feral for her now.”
“Stop,please, fucking hell…” He moans like a dying animal. Then he takes a deep breath. “So, when are you gonna introduce her to Sylvan?”
