13. Kiera
KIERA
Tiptoeing around Dom every morning only made my annoyance for her stronger.
She’d insisted on sleeping like that for a few nights now, her tall body stretched across the hardwood floors. And I’d have to leap across her just to get out the door. All because she was too much of a baby to just share a bed with me.
Embarrassing.
I rolled my eyes as I closed the door behind me, giving it an extra little slam.
Leo and Spencer’s door was ajar, their usual early morning workouts upended by our extended stay at Casa Vivienne. Both of them had taken to sleeping in a bit now, enjoying the extra rest. Though it seemed this morning, they’d gotten an early start.
But I could barely sit still, despite the aching in my joints from the older mattress.
The quiet of this mountain abode made me uneasy. Somewhere out there, Isaac and Gabriel were still hunting for me.
I stopped in my tracks in the kitchen doorway.
Stationed at the small breakfast nook, Viv looked up from her pile of paperwork. “Good morning, Kiera.” She flashed a gentle smile. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
I waved her off before she could stand up. “I’ve got it, thank you.”
One thing was always certain, Vivienne would always have a fresh pot on. And I was grateful for that.
As I grabbed a thrifted mug, an idyllic village printed on the small, handmade cup, I looked over my shoulder at her. “Sorry to disturb your quiet time.”
“Oh, no need to apologize.” Viv looked up just enough to smile at me before reading more. “This is the best time to work on it.”
Sliding into the bench, I nodded as I took in the silence. “Yeah, the circus has to be quiet eventually.”
A knowing snort came from Viv’s lungs as she underlined a clause.
Leo and Spencer were sweet and kind house guests. But they were big, hungry mascs who needed a lot to eat and had a lot of energy to burn. There was a reason most of their hobbies were riding motorcycles and working out.
Without those two things, they’d filled their days with yard work and sock wrestling in the living room.
And every day, Vivienne was stationed right here, the golden morning light illuminating the spectrum of grays that splayed across her bob. She’d flip her glasses off the top of her head to get a closer look, a cascade of silver tumbling down as she investigated every page.
“I just want to make sure it’s right. We’ve got one shot at this. And if it isn’t bulletproof…” Viv bit her lip, the weight of the last decade falling on her shoulders.
“We won’t miss.”
The backdoor swung open, pulling Viv and I from our worst fears as Lady’s heavy paws padded across the wood. She threw her body into my legs, desperate for some pets.
“Morning, Princess.” Leo leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
Spencer wasn’t far behind, planting another on my cheek. “Morning, Bunny.”
One peek at their hands and I knew what they’d gotten up to, if the woven basket full of fresh produce in Leo’s arms wasn’t clear enough. Vivienne must have sent them outside, eager to get their energy burnt before the chaos of the day took hold.
Practical as ever.
As Spencer and Leo got to work at the sink, rinsing their haul, I couldn’t help but wonder what Viv thought about us. It was clear to her after a few days that I wasn’t with just one of them, but all of them.
Well… with one big fat question mark over Dom.
But Vivienne hadn’t missed a bit, hadn’t asked a single thing about it. Just accepted it. I would have thought that being out here all alone and detached from the rest of the world would have made her more hesitant.
Instead, it seemed that Viv was exactly who she always was. Accepting of everyone, except for assholes.
Heavy footsteps came from the stairs, announcing Dom’s presence to all of us.
A deep dread filled my stomach as I saw her in the doorway. Black sweat pants and a sports bra had become her go-to outfit in hiding. Not that I was complaining. Despite myself, I did enjoy the view.
Her muscles were toned and bulging, veins creating mountains under the sleeve of tattoos that adorned her skin.
In a grumble, she looked at her mom. “Morning.” Before heading straight for the coffee pot. I forced myself to look away.
From the corner of my eye, I watched Dom clutch her lower back, rubbing her thumb into the sore spot that sleeping on the floors had created.
Leo dried her hands as Spencer laid out the produce on a clean hand towel.
Only once Dom had taken a sip of coffee did Leo clear her throat and lean against the counter. “So, since we’re stuck out here for a bit, I had an idea.”
“No.” Dom growled between sips.
Launching a napkin across the room, Viv rolled her eyes. “Cut that out.”
I tried to hide my laugh, knowing Dom would find a way to punish me when Viv wasn’t looking. But I loved watching Vivienne put her daughter in place, smacking that spoiled brat bullshit out of her.
Dom crossed her arms as Leo went on. “There’s a hockey game, an NCAA women’s championship game in Seattle.”
“No. That’s a waste of time.” Rolling her eyes, Dom barely gave it a second thought. “It’s also fucking dangerous.”
Scoffing, Viv shook her head. “Nonsense. It couldn’t be safer, a massive crowd to obscure your identities, in a city no one suspects you to be in. A bunch of queer women. No one’s snitching there.”
“See, fair points.” Spencer hopped in.
“No. It’s not safe. They’ll be using their AI to hunt every security camera across the country. We can’t trust it.” Dom’s knuckles were turning white around the handle of the mug.
Before Leo or I could throw our two cents in, Viv stood up and slapped her pile of papers. “Zeus and your father have made you paranoid. We’re going.”
“Don’t you have paperwork to do?” Dom snarled, snippier than she meant.
“Nope. I need a break.” Viv tucked the papers into a net folder, winking at me. “Besides, with you monkeys awake, there won’t be enough quiet to work.”
As she walked toward the front door, Viv stopped next to Dom and snapped her fingers. “Oh, and don’t tell me how to do my job. The paperwork isn’t the only important key to this mission.”
Her eyes flashed back to me.
Dom and I still needed to make sure we could work together, that she could let go of her petty annoyances and trust me.
Otherwise, Isaac’s minions might just get the upper hand.