Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

MINA

"Mina." Daze hurried into the room and gave me a hug. If she was disconcerted about Gianni and my sudden appearance, she gave no sign. If anything, she seemed happy to see me.

I hugged her back quickly before stepping away again. Physical contact with another person was still difficult for me. Chances were, it always would be. That was another item on the long list of reasons why I hated Kurt. I wanted to be able to touch, hug and fuck. Not flinch and pull away.

"Sit down." She waved towards a couch in the centre of the room. The walls were lined with bookcases, overflowing with books.

The mess would give Reuben anxiety, but I found it easier to trust people who had lots of books.

She flopped down beside me. Gianni slipped into a chair opposite.

"What brings you to Dusk Bay? Let me guess, this is about Kurt?" Her smile quickly faded. "We haven't found him. I assume you haven't come to tell me you did?" She looked tentatively hopeful.

"Not exactly." I told her about finding the man who called himself Frank, after the twins followed him from the airport. Her eyes widened when I described the house that exploded just after we stepped out of it.

"Fucking hell," she whispered. "You're right, that sounds like Kurt, but at the same time, it doesn't. He's not usually messy like that. He'd lure you there, then set off a bomb while you were still inside if killing was his end goal. If it was, he swung and missed."

"Twice." I told her about the gunfight on the way home. "Apparently they were sent to tell us to back off from trying to find him."

She snorted loudly. "Good luck with that. None of us is giving up now. I'm guessing Reuben is more pissed off than ever."

"About that and other things," Gianni agreed.

I rubbed my palms together absentmindedly. "Does Kurt have a twin? The man who called himself Frank looked a lot like him."

Daze frowned. "No, he doesn't. We don't have any other siblings. At least, not that I know of. I suppose it's possible we have a half brother, but if we do, his existence was kept from me."

"Who would dare to keep anything from you?" Ric stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Only someone with a death wish." She gave him a fond smile.

He stepped around behind her and started to massage her shoulders. While he worked out her knots, she filled him in on the conversation.

"One Kurt is bad enough," he said. "The world doesn't need two."

"The world doesn't need the one it has," Gianni said.

"We're doing the best we can to rid the world of him," Ric said. "But if he's hiring people to attack Reuben, that's concerning."

"We're starting to think his operation is bigger than first thought," Gianni said. "If he can afford to go around setting off bombs and sending mercenaries after us, then he's doing better than we knew about."

Ric's hands stilled. "That's why?—"

The door opened. "This is where you all are."

I froze like a proverbial deer in headlights when my sister, Rose, stepped through the door. She looked around the room before she noticed me sitting there. Her lips dropped apart.

"Mina?" She blinked a couple of times like I was a mirage that might disappear at any moment.

On unsteady feet, I stood.

"Yes, it's me." My lips moved, but I couldn't think of another thing to say. Then she moved towards me and wrapped her arms around me.

Unlike the hug from Daze, I melted into this one. I put my arms around my older sister and held her firm, like I could have five years worth of embraces in one.

"What in the world are you doing here?" she asked without letting go. "I thought you were…"

"I know what you thought." I rested my head against her shoulder. I'd forgotten how much taller than me she was. I was the shortest in my family, hence the nickname, the Sparrow. I'd always been dainty. I could fit into spaces others couldn't, and sneak around more silently than bigger people. Not to mention, who would suspect a tiny woman of killing people? It was the perfect ruse.

Daze scooted over to make room on the couch for Rose and me. My hands in my sister's, my voice soft, breaking occasionally, I told her everything. Not the part about being the Sparrow, but everything else.

She listened with growing horror, her blue eyes filling with tears for me. Every so often, she stopped me to give me a hug, before sitting back to listen.

"I had no idea," she said finally. She shook her head, her blonde ponytail swishing back and forth. We shared some facial features, but in colouring and body shape, we couldn't be more different.

The expression of fury in her eyes matched the one I saw in the mirror.

"I assume there's a long line to kill this prick?" she asked. "If so, I want in. I never liked him very much, but to do this to my baby sister…" She wiped away tears from under her eyes.

"There's definitely a line," Daze growled. "For the record, I had no idea what my fuckhead brother was doing. None of us did."

Rose glanced at her. "I know you better than to think you'd let it go on a second after you found out about it. No more than I would."

Daze nodded, but looked slightly relieved. There was always a chance Rose might have blamed her.

"I didn't know either," Ric said. "Not until…" He grimaced. "A few weeks ago."

Rose's scowl reminded me so much of our mother. "A few weeks ago? You knew what happened to my sister and didn't tell me?"

"I asked them not to," I said. "I wasn't ready to see any of you yet. I'm still not ready to see Dane or Asher."

"But they—" she started. She stopped when she saw the expression on my face. "Okay, when you're ready. What do you need from me?"

"Same as you've been doing," Ric said. "Keep your eyes and ears open. Make sure your contacts know we're looking for that asshole. The minute you do, we want to hear about it."

She nodded. "I can do that. That's not enough though." She shook her head. "No one gets away with doing what he did to my little sister. I'll put everything onto this and I'll be wherever Mina needs me to be."

She wiped away tears again. She'd already cried more than I had in years. She was efficient, and dangerous in her own way, but evidently she wasn't as cold-blooded as me.

Did I have a dark heart or was I dead inside? Possibly both. That would explain my attraction to Reuben and Gianni. Damon too. Like-minded people coming together.

"Thank you," I said softly. What else could I say? I glanced over to Daze. "You had no idea I was coming?"

It was Ric who answered. "If we did, we would have made sure Rose wasn't here." He ignored the way she bristled in response.

"Why are you here?" I asked her.

"Taking care of a few things for Ric and Daze," she said vaguely.

I decided not to press the issue. I had some idea of what my sister got up to. I didn't need too many details.

"It's just as well I was here," she continued. "If I wasn't, who knows when I would have seen you and found out what happened. As it is, I was only supposed to be here for a few hours before heading back to Melbourne. I don't suppose I can convince you to come with me? Now I've seen you, I don't know if I can let you go again."

"I have things to take care of in Sydney," I said. "But now you know about me, maybe you can come and visit?"

I felt as though I barely knew her. She was my older sister, by six years as it was, and we'd missed so much time. She must have changed during the last five years.

Did she like any of the things she used to like? I had a feeling she'd want the answers to the same questions and I didn't have them.

Apart from reading, I hadn't paid much attention to the world outside Reuben's house. I hadn't watched TV, listened to music or touched a device that wasn't my phone. None of that interested me. Right then, I was focused on taking things one day at a time.

"Of course I will," Rose said. "Are you sure I can't say anything to Dane or Asher? They'd really want to?—"

"No," I said firmly. "You never saw me. As far as you know, I'm off living my best life. When I'm ready, I'll tell them everything." I exhaled softly. "Do you see much of them?"

She shook her head. "I see Dane once in a while and Asher a few times a year. We always get together when he's in town for a gig. Or when I'm in Sydney."

"Is he happy?" I asked in a whisper.

She smiled softly. "He's Asher, he's always happy. He's living the high life doing what he does with his closest friends. Sometimes I envy him. Only sometimes. What I do is fun too. In its own way."

"I'm sure it is," I agreed. In the corner of my eye, I caught the expression on Daze's face. She was looking at me speculatively. I could almost hear her thinking.

"Is there any chance Mina and I could have a few moments?" Daze asked. "It's almost time for dinner. We could meet you in the dining room."

They all hesitated, Rose and Gianni looking at me, Ric looking at Daze.

"It's okay," I said. "We won't be long." If Reuben thought she was a threat to me, he wouldn't have let Gianni bring me here. I was certain I could hold my own if I needed to anyway. Daze wasn't that much bigger than me.

Gianni gave me a long look, but reluctantly herded the others out of the room and closed the door behind us.

I turned to Daze and gave her an eyebrow arch worthy of Reuben. "I'm guessing they won't give us long."

She snorted. "Probably not." Her tongue slid over her lips. "I saw the Sparrow is active again."

"I heard the same thing," I said.

"Interesting coincidence they disappeared right around the time you did," she said.

"It's very strange," I agreed. "What are the chances?"

She smiled. "No one is going to hear about it from me, but I have to tell you I'm a big fan. I've heard so many stories about the Sparrow."

"You can't have a selfie with me," I said deadpan. "At least, not in that capacity."

She laughed. "Of course not. The boys should watch out though. You, me and Rose, and a couple of others, could take over the world."

"The Sisterhood of Queens," I said.

She grinned. "I prefer goddesses, but sisterhood works. Lucky for them, we need some muscle once in a while. And some cock."

"We have to keep them around for something," I said with a slight smile.

Hers faded when she realised what she said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

I shook my head. "I can't live the rest of my life dwelling on what he did to me. Neither can you. Please don't try to tiptoe around me. I get that enough at home."

I understood and appreciated it there, but I didn't want it from her.

"You really are a badass aren't you?" she asked. "Thank fuck we're on the same side or, frankly, I'd be scared of you."

I snorted. "I can't imagine you being scared of anything. Or anyone."

She spread her hands. "I didn't think it was possible either, but here we are. Now, shall we go and join the others?"