You Are Mine Little Sister (by Syra Tucker) novel Chapter 127

VOID

"I'm so sorry. I'll be quick, I promise."

I let my head thud back against the headrest and watched her sprint inside 'again.' What is it with women and last-second essentials?

I drummed my fingers against the wheel, my eyes closed as I waited for Rali's return. The car smelled like warm lavender—a new fragrance she bought and insisted I used. The dash ticked time at me. My Phone buzzed with a caller ID that made my jaw flex.

I glanced up at the entrance of the house through the window before grabbing the phone.

"Torturer." His voice grated on my nerves. "How is it going?"

"Not good. Could use some bloodshed." I drummed a knuckle once. "You volunteering?"

He laughed. "I'm gonna miss you, bro."

'Miss me.'

"Yeah, I'm done with Vlyrissa. She finally gave me what I wanted, so I'll be out of your hair."

"Good thing. Make sure you take everything that belongs to you."

"Yeah, sure I will." He chuckled. "You uh... wouldn't be down to have lunch, would you?"

The words sounded like I'd just been asked to soak myself.

"You're pissing me off, Blayne."

"Seriously, though. We don't know the next time we'll see each other."

"I didn't see you in twelve years and forgot you existed."

No reason to dress it up. I needed him to hear the part where I didn't buy his penance. I might be the devil, but Blayne never qualified for choirboy.

"You haven't given me what I asked for." My gaze stayed at the entrance. "I was serious when I asked."

"Come on, man. I told you I don't have that info anymore. I'm trying my best, anyway. But... why are you even interested?"

"Give me what I asked for, shut up about the rest."

The door opened. Rali, hair wild, cardigan sliding off one shoulder, ran toward the car.

"Get out of Stonebridge," I said and killed the call.

She slid in, breathy, buckling her seatbelt with that smile that dented my armor. "Hope I didn't take too long?"

"I almost thought you were fingering yourself."

"Void!" She gasped, then broke into laughter—bright, messy, the kind I could live on if the world stopped feeding me.

"You're unbelievable." She shook her head while I started the car, commencing our journey to New Portland.

‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡

RALI

I was weirdly relieved Void was coming along.

I mean, before now, I'd have definitely been scared and worried he'd do something crazy. Now I'd convinced myself I had a grip on him. Or at least on the hand he gave me.

Veronica was already curbside when we pulled up, her bags at her feet, her phone in her hand, her red curls in a high pony. She'd been pouty that her boyfriend couldn't make the anniversary like Void.

The second I stepped out, she crushed me in a hug, not because she was trying to welcome me but to stash words in my ear.

"Oh, my gee, Rali! Is he in there!?"

"Veronica, I can't breathe," I wheezed into her shoulder.

She giggled before she popped back, her hands still wielding mine.

"Tell me quick, do I look good? I tried to keep the hair simple. Not too ‘Hi, Torturer, please autograph my throat'?"

"Girl, that isn't Blayne."

Veronica and Void had—predictably—bonded pretty well on the trip. She was a very chatty person and knew how to make friends out of strangers. As for Void, I had a feeling he was putting in an extra effort because he knew she was important to me.

Mum opened the door in an apron and a spatula in hand. The house breathed out garlic and butter.

"Oh, my God! It's my little girls!"

"Mum!!!" Veronica and I chorused, colliding with her in a three-way hug. She laughed and tried to referee our pettiness with elbows and kisses, the spatula thunking against her hip.

When she'd finished fussing, her gaze slid past us and landed on the man at my shoulder. "And... you are?"

I'd warned her I was bringing someone, but Tasmin Hayes lives for the theater of surprise. Her eyes did a quick audit from boots to brow, though it was in no way disapproving.

I'd been worried and wondering if she'd recognize him, but from the look of things, I wasn't sure she did. Besides, it's been sixteen years. He was much different from the little boy she knew.

"Name is Machai." Void kept his voice warm as he extended a hand which Mum gladly took.

"Machai," she tried the name like a piece of chocolate. "Lovely to have you here."

I cleared my throat. "Um... mum, this is my friend."

Veronica performed a theatrical cough in stereo behind me. I didn't need to look at Void to feel the 'don't test me' glance.

I wasn't in for any of his consequences, so I amended, "Boyfriend."

"Ooh!" Mum threw her head back, laughter ringing down like Sunday bells.. "The Lord be praised! Rali is finally in a relationship!"

She pivoted to Void. "Tell me, what did you do? She kept turning down all the men in her life I was scared she wanted to be a nun."

I kept my eye roll internal. That had always been mum's version of me being single. To her, I was too beautiful not to get admired by men, hence she believed it was me turning them down. If only she knew she was joking with the reason behind that.

"What can I say, Ms. Hayes?" Void shrugged. "There's always someone for everyone."

Oh, please!

"That's so lovely," she stepped aside. "Come in, all of you. My husband will be home soon, and I can't wait to hear everything about you, Machai."