Page 77 of The Ecstasy of Sin

“That mouthy motherfucker is Ryker, and a pain in the goddamn ass,” I explain, nodding in his direction as he rubs at the back of his head where Ghost smacked the shit out of him.

“They would die without me,” he fires back with a wink. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ghost groans, dragging a hand down his face.

“It’s nice to meet you guys. Did you all grow up together?” Wren is genuinely curious, I can see it in her face. With all of the introductions out of the way, her entire body is now relaxed. Whatever hint of fear I saw in her earlier is gone.

I rub at the center of my chest, a warmth spreading through me. I’m surprised by how right it feels to introduce her to my fucked up little family.

Torin nods in response. “Dominic and Ghost joined the foster home at the same time. Ryker came a few months later. I was adopted after that.”

“Dom and I were nine and seven years old, respectively,” Ghost adds. “Ryker was six. Torin was five.”

Wren’s eyes soften, her cheeks tinting pink. “You guys seem really close.”

“We sleep together sometimes. All cuddled up.” Ryker is stone-faced when the words fall out of his mouth, until Ghost delivers another whack to the back of his skull, causing him to burst into laughter.

Torin groans, dropping his head with the burden of his annoyance. “For fuck’s sake, Ryker.”

“They crash here on my couch a few times a week. Old habits die hard,” I explain, shrugging.

Ghost shoves Ryker’s shoulder, “I keep telling you to ask nicely when you need your ass beat. All of this nonsense isn’t necessary.”

Ryker doesn’t even try to hide the ridiculous smile spreading across his face, his amusement gleaming in his honey coloured eyes.

The motherfucker runs his hand through his messy blonde hair and aims that obnoxiously perfect white smile at my Wren. “He gets cranky if he goes too long without my dick.”

Wren bursts out into laughter, a light and carefree sound, her blush deepening.

I need her to myself. Now.

“Alright. You guys can fuck off now,” I say, my voice flat. “Ghost, take your poorly behaved boyfriend and leave.”

Ghost grabs Ryker in a headlock and starts dragging him toward the front door. Ryker doesn’t fight him—just laughs like the little shit he is.

Right before Ghost shoves him through the doorway, Ryker twists to call back over his shoulder. “See you tonight, King Kong.”

Torin sighs, shaking his head. “Ghost might kill him before your fight, but at least we won’t have to put up with his bullshit anymore.”

I clap my brother on the shoulder. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Torin nods, then follows Ghost and Ryker out of the house.

As the front door closes, Wren turns to me, her voice quiet but curious. “Your foster brothers… fell in love?”

I snort and take her hand, leading her to the breakfast bar and pulling out one of the stools for her to sit on. “Nah. Ghost and Ryker are both straight. Ryker just thinks he’s funny. He likes making people question whether or not there’s something sexual going on between the four of us.”

“I like your brothers,” she tells me as she settles onto the stool. I reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face before leaning in to kiss her lips. “I can tell you’ve all been through a lot together.”

“Is that so?”

She nods, leaning forward on her elbows, arms crossed beneath her. “Yeah. Traumatized people recognize each other.”

I make a mental note to find everyone that hurt her, and kill them all.

Hunter followed the guys out, but he’s back now, sitting beside Wren while she takes out her phone and checks for new messages.

I’m staring at her face, so I see the minute her mood shifts, like a rain cloud moving in over her head.