Page 1 of This Blood That Breaks Us (This Blood That Binds Us, #3)

Ezra

T he hot asphalt warmed the soles of my shoes, and a foreign sensation raised the hairs on the back of my neck. A cyclist sped past me. Brooklyn was full of hustle and bustle, and everyone had a place they needed to be, including me.

I searched for the cause of the disturbance, and there they were.

Two young boys, not even teens, snickering on the side of the street. One dark-haired and the other blond.

The twins. Not likely. They could have been just brothers. They didn’t look alike.

It didn’t worry me. Fate was ironclad. They would make it to us one way or another, but the foreign sensation was enough to make me linger there for a moment longer.

The blond was chatty and personable and talked some women into giving him five dollars for a fundraiser while the other was calm and calculated. Calculated enough to snatch a twenty from the side pocket of another woman’s purse when she wasn’t looking.

They interacted like two halves. The sun and the moon . . .

No. It couldn’t be them. I’d imagined they’d be identical and much older. At least thirties like we’d all been. I checked my watch. I had a meeting at ten but couldn’t pull myself away from them.

When the woman left, the two boys argued.

“I told you not to do that.” The blond grimaced as he eyed the bill.

“We need the money, and now we have enough. We don’t have to sit here all day.”

“What if she needed it?”

“We need it more.” He pointed to a woman who had set her bags down. “Wait, look. She’s not even paying attention.”

The older woman was too busy wrangling her kids to cross the street to notice one of her grocery bags was about to be snatched by some kid.

“Don’t.”

“Come on? It’s easier than dealing with the cashier.”

Normally, I’d keep walking. What did a couple of kids stealing groceries have to do with me? But I was frozen to the spot on the sidewalk. As if a cord was wrapped around my chest, it pulled me to them.

I had to know.

I strolled up to them with my hands in my pockets, and they froze, their guard instantly up.

“What do you boys think you’re doin’?”

“Why do you care?” The dark-haired one’s tone was harsh, and he pulled on the blond’s sleeve like he was ready to run.

“Because it looks like you’re working my street.”

“You can’t own a street,” the dark-haired one said, more hostile that time. Like he might spit on my shoes.

“I can and I do. See all these buildings lined up here? I’m in charge of all of them in one way or another. I make sure everyone here feels safe, secure. Not taken advantage of.”

“Congratulations on that.”

“We were going.” The blond smiled, clearly using a more agreeable approach.

I snapped my fingers. “Why don’t you boys follow me inside? They’ve got an arcade in here.”

“We don’t talk to strangers.” The dark-haired one smirked. Little brat.

“It’s obvious to me you do.”

“Sorry, sir, we don’t want trouble, and we don’t have any money for that.” The blond’s smile was unwavering; he had confidence about him. Like he could talk me out of anything.

I pulled out my wallet and waved a hundred dollar bill in their faces.

The dark-haired one’s icy gaze softened, but the blond was cautious. “What’s the catch?”

“You get to play a game without spending that money you’re hoarding, and I get you off my street.”

The dark-haired one waited for the blond to speak.

The blond snatched the money from my hand. “Deal.”

His brother liked that idea and thawed from his stoic gaze. I followed them inside to Mrs. Prentia’s little bodega with a wall full of arcade machines.

“Ezra.” She stopped cleaning when she saw me. The familiar fear surfaced in her voice at first, but she hid it well. “Nice to see you.”

“Hello, Mary. I’m accompanying these two to the games in the back.”

Her brow bent as she eyed them with recollection. She whispered, “I didn’t see them outside.”

“No, they’re fine.” I smiled. “I want to treat them today.”

That softened the wrinkles gathered on the edges of her eyes, and she turned to the boys. “You’ll get a free game on your birthday. Do you boys want to sign up?”

They nodded, more excited now. Their guard was down again. They were like any other kids, easily influenced and distracted.

“My name is Zach Calem,” the dark-haired one said, smiling for the first time.

“And I’m Luke Calem. Our birthday is on June 1st.” They watched in awe as the cashier typed their names into her system.

My heart thumped in my throat.

Fraternal twins. Geminis.

Twins of Gemini will usher in the new Guard.

I didn’t believe in coincidences. In my world, you couldn’t believe in both. Coincidences were for people with no faith, no compass or greater calling. Coincidences left the world up to chance and the whims of mortals, but the whims of mortals and lowly humans only stood in the way of The Divine. The Divine’s plan was the one true way.

I followed them to the back where we exchanged a few dollars for some coins, and the boys filled their pockets with anticipation. Two minutes in, it was obvious they’d never played before, as they fumbled with the controls. Luke let his brother go first, and Zach seemed to relish every minute.

“Are you going to tell me what you need all that money for?”

“Do we have to?” Luke’s question seemed genuine. He hadn’t trusted me for a second.

“No. But I’m curious what this big fundraising project is.”

“We need money for groceries.”

“Ah, is that why you were contemplating snatching that bag from that poor woman?”

“We wouldn’t have,” Luke said.

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“No,” Luke Calem said with firmness. “We wouldn’t lie about that.”

Now that I was closer to them, the pulling in my chest got stronger. I didn’t want to leave them, and the thought of doing so was worrisome.

The Gemini twins. I’d found them at last, and so early. I pulled out my phone to dial Akira’s number. We’d need to be certain. He’d help arrange a time for Her to meet them soon, to be sure, but I felt it. Like Her blood in my veins was calling to them.

“Fine. Here is how this is goin’ to work.” I snatched a dollar from Luke’s hand. “You can stay on my street, but I’m going to come for my cut. Seem fair?”

Zach was already complaining, but Luke nodded.

“I’ll see you boys around.”

Then I left them to their game.

This was a shitty part of town. There were only two schools in the area, and neither were safe places to raise children. The boys likely walked, so I guessed they attended the closest one. How were they allowed to walk all the way here?

Fate only got you so far. It wouldn’t protect them from the rapidly changing world or whims of others. The Divine’s plans were the one true path, but sometimes, fate needed a little kick. Someone to help it along.

We’d need to scope out their family and decide what needed to be done. They wouldn’t be changed until they were older, which meant they’d need protection. I was afraid to leave them, even with an important client meeting looming. I’d have to cancel.

The twins were the most important thing. Ensuring they got home safe was top priority.

Why were they so young? I hadn’t prepared for that. It would be different. Raising kids wasn’t something we were accustomed to. We’d need to make sure they didn’t get themselves killed, but there were other threats too like illness, auto accidents, or natural disasters.

Her voice sounded in my head. Have faith, my love.

She was right. Her plans were higher. The Divine’s true path would shine through and give us favor. I only needed to be the hand that helped usher it into existence. Her plans would take care of the rest. It was already written.