A tall man with the same brown hair and green eyes as Petra walked forward. He smiled at Petra. “Sis.”
“Dom.” Petra moved to stand up, but Will pushed down on her shoulder. He eyed Dom as he asked, “You seem pretty happy despite how much shit you’ve put your sister through. I’m wondering if it’s even wise to have you here at all.”
Petra grabbed his hand and he met her eyes as she said, “Stop it, Will.”
He shook his head. “No. You gave up your life for him. Looking at him, he doesn’t seem the least bit grateful.”
Before either Petra or Dom could reply, Millie stepped between Petra and Dom. “Now, now, we all need to play nice. Neena invited Dominick here, and her word is final.”
Will growled. “Then maybe I should take it up with Neena.”
Millie replied, “You’ll have your chance soon enough. She’s due to arrive any minute. If you’re clever, and I think you are, you’ll let your girlfriend have her reunion with her brother. Otherwise, you might be sleeping alone on a couch somewhere.”
Petra’s voice filled his ears. “She’s right. I’m drawing a line at your protectiveness.”
Will knew he was being unrealistic, but he hated how much Petra’s brother took advantage of her. He’d just have to have a chat with the man later. It was about time for Dominick to hold his own as a man. “Then tell Millie to move. She’s the one blocking you, not me.”
Millie snorted. “I suppose I am.”
Millie stepped aside and Will met Dom’s gaze again. They measured each other up a second before the other man walked to his sister and crouched down. “Hey, sis. Long time, no see.”
~~~
Petra tapped her fingers against her thigh and debated how to handle her brother.
For all that she’d asked to see him, she was torn between kicking him in the shin with her good leg and engulfing him in a hug. Will was right that she’d coddled him over the years. Not that she wanted to admit it.
Okay, maybe she would in private. She had promised to be honest with Will.
Compromising, Petra put out a hand and Dom took it. She cleared her throat. “I’m glad you’re alive, but if you ever go making backdoor deals with drug dealers or other powerful foes, I’m going to let you rot, Dominick Brandt.”
The corner of Dom’s mouth ticked up. “How do you expect to do that with your leg in a cast?”
Will hissed out, “She earned that cast saving another woman’s life.”
Dom looked up to Will. The tension radiating between the two was giving her a headache. “I’m starting to think working on my own as a mercenary again might be the best option.”
Both men said, “No.”
Will blinked. “It looks like we agree on something.”
Petra waved her hands. “Hello, I’m the one supposed to be having the reunion.”
Dom grinned at her. “Oh, Millie has a grand plan for a reunion party next week.”
Millie tsked. “Thanks for ruining the surprise, younger Brandt twin.”
Looking between Millie and Dom, Petra frowned. “Since when are you two so friendly?”
Millie answered, “Hey, when you survive a life or death situation, you tend to bond. Maybe the three of us can form our own little DEFEND unit. Then I wouldn’t be stuck following my brother everywhere.”
Jaxton’s dry voice came from behind Petra. “I thought I was keeping you alive. If you want to bloody get yourself killed, go for it.”
Millie stuck out her tongue. “I just took down the head of a drug cartel. Give me a little credit, Jax.”
Kiarra’s voice jumped in and Petra looked over her shoulder as she said, “I’m starting to think there should be a new DEFEND rule—siblings should be separated. It would save us a whole hell of a lot of time.”
Millie pointed a finger at Kiarra. “You’re just jealous. I think because your sister is badass and out doing high-priority missions with her boyfriend, not to mention your brother is locked up, you feel as if you’re missing out.”