TWENTY-TWO

Jimmy

JAKE, DOM, ETHAN, and I are at my pa's house, waiting for some guy named Alessandro and a pair of twins named Heydar and Assad. After showering and cleaning up, we're sitting in the living room.

"That's why it will take ten months," Ethan observes to himself.

Our conversations have been a pattern of rapid-fire questions and answers, followed by long periods of silence as the information sinks in. Ethan has started to read Og Mandino. When I questioned him, he shrugged. "Reading gives me something to focus on when there's not much to do, which is helpful in times like this." He didn't go further than that. He holds himself apart but is more than willing to engage if asked or if he has something of value to add. You can see a darkness in him, one similar to Billie's and Enzo's. I would imagine, based on the scars carved across Xander's entire back and most of his chest, Xander's experienced something similar. With everything that's happening—ya know, people changing into wolves, Demon covered in blood, Demon brought back to life by... feck, the magic spirit fingers of one of her boyfriends—you'd think I wouldn't really notice someone's scars. Xander's though? Shit, his scars aren't ones that can be missed or overlooked. Just another sign that my little sister, Demon herself, has found her match with these three.

"Sneaky bastard, huh?" Jake snorts from the seat next to me on the couch, throwing a few peanuts in his mouth. He chews and waves his hand around. "Ya think it won't take ya that long. The book is thin. Then good Ol' Og lays it all out in Scroll One, and the book don't seem so thin anymore."

Ethan stretches his arms out overhead and nods in agreement, groaning. "Jax is going to struggle with this for sure."

"Have him pair up with you or Xander," I suggest with a hitch of my shoulder. "That's what Demon did." A nostalgic smile pulls at my lips as I remember the dinner when Billie handed Micky printouts of studies on ADHD and how it needed to be taken into consideration when completing the required reading. I add, "That, and she negotiated terms with Micky."

Ethan's dark eyes light up with pride, and he grins. "I don't doubt that."

Dom's sitting back in one of the recliners, watching the conversation as if it's a tennis match. Besides Brandon, who hasn't been around much lately—he found a girl and all—he was the only one not there this morning. Too busy praying to the porcelain god. He's still trying to come up to speed when his somewhat cloudy green eyes land on me. With an arched red brow, he asks, "So are you cool with this whole Billie-dating-guys-that-turn-into-wolves thing?"

Sweeping my gaze around the room, I puff out a breath. "Honestly, Dom, I got no idea what I feel exactly. All I know is she and Enzo are alive because of them." Sliding my eyes back to Ethan, I tilt my head to the side. "And I'm assuming she turns into something as well?"

Ethan smiles and nods. "Yes, she does."

"But you won't tell us what." Jake pouts, rubbing his hands together, speckling his black hoodie with grains of salt from the peanuts, acting like he's done eating them. I know full well he's not.

Ethan shakes his head and gives Jake a half grin. "No, I won't. I think it would be best to come from her."

"I think it's a fox," I utter. All eyes land on me, and I smile. "I told my pa about what happened. He got all quiet on the phone." Shaking my head, I still can't believe how we're all just accepting this. But shit, we're probably still in shock. I continue, "He laughed and said it wasn't the lack of booze huh. Apparently, he saw Demon's ma change into a fox and thought he was hallucinating from alcohol withdrawal." We laugh while I wonder which would have been better, DTs or people changing into animals. I quickly shut that train of thought down. No use in wondering whether things were different when they've already happened. Best to accept what is and work with what you've got. Freakin' hell. I scrub a harsh hand through my hair in agitation, my internal babbling is starting to sound like that damn shit my pa's been having me read since I was fifteen.

"So ya didn't change her?" Jake probes, leaning forward with forearms on knees, eyes on Ethan, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Ethan shakes his head and leans forward, mimicking Jake's posture. "No, it doesn't work like that. We're born shifters, just like you're born humans." We enter a silent pause for, as Demon would say, thought digestion. Soon there's a knock on the back door. "That should be Alessandro, Heydar, and Assad," Ethan informs us, pushing up from the chair. I get up with him, and we both walk to the back door.

Opening it up, I find two large twins—and I mean freakin' tall and wide—of maybe Middle Eastern in descent, with trimmed dark facial hair and long hair both held back in low braids. Both are dressed like they're part of a tactical team: black combat boots, black cargo pants, and black long-sleeved shirts. The third, who stands in front of them, is in black jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black sports jacket. He looks like he could be Enzo's older brother but maybe an inch shorter or so with a faux-hawk that puts my unkempt one to shame.

Ethan steps forward and comfortably shakes hands with all three of them, which eases some of my hesitation. I don't think Ethan is one to participate in social pleasantries for the sake of appearance. If he's comfortable with them and showing them respect, then they've earned it. He introduces us and then focuses on Alessandro. "I appreciate you coming today and for helping collect the information from last night. The three shifters are in Marcus's basement. We should probably head over there soon."

Alessandro nods. "It was nessun problema ," he affirms in a smooth, almost regal Italian accent. "I am glad you called. Is. . ." He pauses and wraps his arms around his waist. The corners of his eyes draw downward, and his throat bobs. " La mia stella , Billie, how is she?" Well, that's interesting. Looking at him and hearing the worry in his voice, it's pretty clear that he has feelings for Billie too. What has my demon of a sister been up to?

"She'll be fine," Ethan assures.

The back door opens, and Jake walks through with Dom behind him. Throwing more peanuts into his mouth, Jake waves a hand over our three guests and mumbles, "Is this who we've been waiting on? If so, those guys are wakin' up. Might be a good time to get over there."

Assad and Heydar crack their knuckles and grunt in unison. Assad's lips curve into a diabolical grin. "Then let us go. I'd like to see how the wolf is healing after the eye gouge la duchessa delivered him, si ." Based on that grin I'm glad this guy is on our side.

We've locked up the house and are walking toward the vehicles when Alessandro turns his head to me and says, "My contact sent over the surveillance footage before deleting it." He jerks his chin at Assad. "Assad was impressed with the la duchessa —uh, Billie's—technique." Smiling, he gives me a wink.

Warm pride blooms in my chest. Returning his smile, I inquire, "If you have the footage, I'd like to see it. We didn't get to her until after." My throat dries, and no words can pass my lips as images of my little sister, my Demon, on the ground with blood pouring from her neck flash through my mind.

A hand is placed firmly on my shoulder. Glancing over, I'm surprised but pleased to find it's Ethan. Giving my shoulder a squeeze, he states in a flat, factual voice, "She's alive. She's healed. She made through it." Glancing around, he grins. "And she has many people who care about her."

"Who is this la duchessa ?" Dom blurts out from behind us.

Ethan's hand on my shoulder turns to a pat, and he chuckles. "I'll let Billie handle that one as well."

Jake throws some peanuts at him grumbling, "Ya know, I was startin' to like you, especially after"—he throws his head back— "your savage display of fighting at the fort." Eating a few more peanuts and pointing at Ethan, he snickers. "But I'm wondering if that damn lip ring has pinched your mouth shut."

Ethan picks a peanut off his shoulder. Eating it, he winks. "I use my lips for what they're meant for, Jake."

"Feckin' jabroni," Jake says under his breath, throwing more peanuts at Ethan in response.

Ethan shrugs. "Yeah, I've been called that several times over the last few months." He licks his lips. "I've convinced myself it's a term of endearment." Giving Jake a cheeky grin, he says, "I like you too, Jakey."

Yeah, I like this guy.