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Except I forgot about her relationship with Hayes.

Valentina holds a hand to her mouth, and I squeeze her hand. She hadn’t seen her older brother in a year—and it was because he was ready to kill Roman for threatening Collins. She didn’t get more than a hug and a goodbye.

Standing in my family’s home, around our bickering, she sways, face pale. She’s dressed like a walking goddess, in a canary sundress and simple heels. Her makeup is fresh, and her hair is free, implants on her head. She’s more relaxed than I’ve ever spied on camera, yet her eyes hold all her sorrow.

She’s missed him.

Hayes grins easily, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. Swallowing thickly, he signs, “Hey, Val.”

She flings herself into his arms, burying her head into his shoulder. The rest of us settle, argument forgotten as she doesn’t speak, but clings to him. It’s deeper than a sister-brother bond. It’s the connection between two victims who reunited after years apart.

Hayes endured hell in that house. It’d be stupid to assume Valentina didn’t experience any trauma knowing her brother was downstairs suffering, and she couldn’t stop it. That helplessness sinks deep, and returns with a vengeance when you least expect it.

Gently, he places her on the floor and chucks her chin. “You’re all grown up now.”

“And you’re second,” she signs. “Congratulations.”

Hayes looks over at me, blue eyes hard.

“And how long has this been going on?”

I glance at Sloane, and she covers her smile. Collins, on the other hand, laughs.

Traitors.

“Uh…”

Valentina turns his head, slapping his chest. “I’m happy and safe. That’s all that should matter, big brother.”

Hayes glares at me, then begrudgingly agrees. “Fine.”

He definitely wants to kill me.

A pair of footsteps comes from the hall. Killian swaggers over, hands in his pockets, looking around. “Did I miss the big reveal?”

Prick.

“He didn’t kill him,” Lex mutters, slipping a few bills between his gloved fingers. He passes it to the Reaper. “You win.”

Throwing my hands out, I accuse, “You were betting on my death?”

Lex grins, and Killian counts his bills. “Of course, we were.”

I really hate this fucking family.

Maeve opens her office door, stepping into the hall. Today, she looks like the leader of the clan, in a leather skirt and a mauve blouse. She raises a brow, staring at all of us congregated in the foyer.

She doesn’t mention it.

“Briar, Valentina, my office.” She jerks her head at Hayes. “You, too.”

Sloane sighs, but spins on me, a pointed nail in my face.

“This is not over. I can’t believe you got married without me. I would’ve planned the best wedding ever.”

I point at Maeve, the tiny woman smirking at my discomfort. “She was there.”

Sloane and Collins both gape at our oldest sister. “You got to be there? But not us?”