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"And my two older brothers, Jack and Michael"

"I had no idea you even had brothers"

The corner of her mouth inched up in a lopsided s you, though, so maybe it’s okay just this once"

"You are a hard ass I guess you have to be with two brothers to contend with How much older are they?"

"Jack has five years on me and Michael is seven years older"

"Are you close?"

"Oh yes," she said with a distant look to her eyes

"So they’re in college?"

"Jack is Michael works for Dad"

"What kind of business?"

"The faned expression of fear "You’re in the mob?"

She chuckled, but it almost seemed that she didn’t find that to be far from the truth "We’re in the security business"

"Ah," I said, as if that explained everything Maybe her dad had her work late for his coh it was hard to picture Elyssa dressed as a rent-a-cop That would explain the fatigue I often saw in her face

"If you really think you’re up to it, I have to warn you that my dad is a very serious person He’s a special kind of asshole, especially when it comes to boyfriends"

"What did he do to your other boyfriends?"

A wistful smile cast sadness into her eyes "You’re really the first guy I would call a boyfriend The last guy I was going to go on a date with didn’t last the five minutes it took forme? What did your dad do to him?"

"He mostly stared at him"

"Your dad sounds scary"

She nodded, face serious as a heart attack "He is"

Chapter 15

I didn’t sleep well that night Maybe it had to do with nervousness about my new K&C squad Maybe it had to do with Elyssa’s dad I drea eyes He stared at

I woke up in a panic with lowing eyes aiting, so I extricated ot ready for the tourna lot I froze inblack hair into pigtails that hung to her shoulders She wore knee-high platfors and a black skirt showed off her fair legs, long and ly hot I wanted to run aith her and forget everything else

"You like?" she said, grinning at my stunned silence

I nodded "Me likey so much" I almost drooled

Ash and Nyte showed up moments later They wore variants of their Goth attire We looked like the army of darkness rather than elves I didn’t care They had also used white and black face paint as a sort of careen-cloaked elves

"Did Kiss join the ar at our group Mark and two other girls flanked him I offered a cold look in return then turned back to ave me a lopsided strailed behind us "I wonder who’s going to be the cannon fodder today," he said

"I think the girly boys will go first," Mark said

Harry laughed "If Justin doesn’t get distracted by the prostitute they hired to join them"

Red exploded indead-stopped my arm Harry backed away and tripped over Mark’s sword, landing heavily on his back He looked like he’d about crapped himself Elyssa’s warthe punch I really wanted to connect to Harry’s stupid face

"What did I tell you about being heroic?" she said in an angry voice