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."

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