Page 149

Parker.
Boston, MA
The weeks have passed a little too quickly.
Things in our household have quieted. Niko has been on a few solo missions along the Northeast, taking out any rogue Russians left, taking a few days longer to get back each time. Sabrina was able to get into Columbia last minute. We've barely spent any time at the penthouse. More and more of Maksim's things have gradually started popping up at the mansion. Raven and the guys were over a lot more often, or we were over there. It was easy. Smooth. Like it was all falling into place.
It made me a littleuneasy.
So, when Rory called and told me she was switching schools andmoving, I hauled ass. I needed some sibling time, and the quiet atmosphere around my sister was just what I needed. Don’t get me wrong – I love Sabrina and love being around her – but I also haven’t seen my sister in five months. That never happened unless I was overseas. We’re on the same continent and only hours apart. We should not be going this long without seeing each other.
You can go now.
I stare at Rory and lift my hands. I know she can read lips, but I like to brush up on my ASL when we're together, especially now that Raven has been talking more and more often. She’s only signing when her mouth gets tired, or the word has a difficult syllable.Don't be rude.
My baby sister rolls her big blue-green eyes at me.I'm all moved in.
I know. I just want to make sure everything is up to date. It's a new city, Aurora.I make her name sign.I still don't know why you didn't tell me until the last minute that you transferred to UMass.
You've been busy. She signs with a roll of her eyes.
Wow. Two eye rolls in a row. It’s like she’s thirteen again, and I’m telling her to keep up with her classes and not let any boys influence her into doing anything stupid.
Busy or not, I'm still your brother. She looks away from me after a flash of guilt creeps over her face.What are you hiding? Were those kids being assholes?
"No!" She practically screams.
"Then talk to me, sis."
She sighs and takes a seat on the new-to-her burnt orange suede sofa she thrifted. I offered to purchase new everything, but she was adamant – she wanted her couches broken into already.It’s nothing.She brings her index finger down from her lips and flattens her palm to her fist.I swear.
I raise a brow at her but stay quiet.
Her eyes dart to the left, then back to me, and I already know whatever she's going to say – or sign – is going to be a goddamn lie just from that tell alone. My baby sister isn't perfect - there were times she was a hellion. But, well, she's my sister.
I had already put in for a transfer last semester but was put on a waitlist. I went to Europe, thinking I didn't get in. When I came back, I finally checked my email, and I took the spot they offered.
There's so much more to the story, but I'm gonna let it slide, seeing as she's turning red in the face. She's either about to cry, or she's embarrassed."Alright. I'm gonna estimate you're only telling me about sixty-five percent of the story. Yeah?"
She looks at the ground and nods.
"You'll tell me the other thirty-five when you're ready?"
Again, my baby sister nods.
I look down at my watch and sigh. "I can stay another night, you know?"
She shakes her head and parts her lips to speak to me instead of signing. "I'm fine. The alarm system you put up-"
"Is a fucking good one. Sleep with one of the microphones on at all times. I know it sucks, but there’s a lot of weirdos out here.”
“There’s weirdos everywhere.” she argues.
“Yeah, but you’re alone in a new city, and you don’t have a roommate this time. I’m four hours away. I can’t get to you as fast as I could when you were at Brown. That’s another thing I know you’re not telling me. Why would you make the switch from Brown toUMassof all schools?”
She raises her hands.They have a great MFA program!
“You worked hard to get into Brown, sis. It’s just not computing to me.”