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Gabe and I looked at one another for a moment before we started running after him.

We ran past a startled Miss Reid who again looked wistfully at Gabe, but I didn’t have time to focus on that. Travis threw open the main doors ahead of us and we sprinted after him down the sidewalk. The guard stood in front of the gate when he saw us all running toward it. Owen had to shout from behind us that everything was okay and to let us through.

The day guard opened the gate in just enough time for Travis to sprint through it. I had a feeling that if he hadn’t, that guard would’ve been sprawled out on his ass while Travis figured out how to open the gate himself.

He ran right to the driver’s side of the Jeep and started it, his hands curling around the steering wheel as he waited for us to jump inside.

“Christ, Mate,” Gabe said as he got in the back.

I pulled open the door and hopped inside. “What’s wrong?”

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, drowning almost everything out. I really had to focus on Travis while he spoke in order to understand what he said. Even when he did, he had to say it twice because I hadn’t understood.

“My sister is here. At the apartment. Right now.”

I gasped, and I quickly buckled in as Travis took off. This was the last place he wanted his sister right now.

9

Randy

Liam still didn’t feel well,but at least he was upright and on the couch. Both of us just stared at Jennie. It had been a long time since we’d seen her. She’d been so pissed at Travis that I wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again. When she’d showed up at the door, I wasn’t even sure I recognized her. It was almost like looking at a memory.

She was always with Jax back in the day. Not when we went on Order missions but when it was just the five of us hanging out, she was there. Travis was never too happy about it, but Jax didn’t give a fuck. Jax never really gave a fuck about anything but magic and the Order and Jennie. We were a whole different dynamic when Jax was in the coven versus Norah being our fifth. She brought a sense of togetherness that we were missing when it was just the five of us before. We were all friends, some of us tentatively. We tolerated one another more often than not. It was like one of those relationships you might have with a black sheep of the family. You would do anything for them, even when you didn’t fucking want to or feel like it.

It was forced.

With Norah, it was as easy as living.

“I can’t believe you guys don’t have anything to eat in here.”

Liam had more patience for people, but since he was barely in commission, it was my turn to play host until the rest of the gang returned. “What are you talking about? We got groceries earlier.”

Jennie made a face as she rummaged through the cabinets again. I glared at the back of her head. From the corner of my eye, I saw Liam move, so I stared over at him. He gave me a quick shake of his head. He was telling me to knock it off, but I couldn’t help it.

Jennie sighed as she grabbed a bag of chips off the counter and then plopped down on the sofa opposite Liam and me. “So, where was my brother off to?”

“He’s with Norah and Gabe trying to figure out our next step.”

“Norah’s your new fifth?” Jennie asked her gaze darkening.

I swore if she said anything about her, I’d— Well, there wasn’t really anything I could do. I supposed I could make her dump the chips all over herself.

Liam cleared his throat. “Yes, she’s the fifth. I think you’ll like her. How are your parents?”

Jennie shrugged. “They’re fine.”

“How do you like Virginia? Has there been any more problems?”

Jennie looked down at her lap. “No. We’ve been fine.”

“Not to be a dick,” I started after there was a long gap in conversation. “But why are you here?”

I figured I knew why, but I needed someone to say it. Who the hell told Jennie Jax was back? It had to have been Travis, but what the fuck was he thinking? Having his sister here would only complicate things.

“To visit my brother,” she said, her cold eyes lifting to me.

“Now we both know that’s a crock of shit. You hate Travis.”