RIPTIDE (Shadows book 1.1)

COUSINS AND DEGREES

Loving someone and losing them is better than not loving them at all. ~Hope Sinner.

Everyone got into the living room, Atriya and Rueben went into the kitchen. They came out with trays carrying mugs of hot chocolate.They sat down after passing everybody a mug. The Sorranos were asked to leave considering this was a family matter. Everybody sat in silence processing the things that just happened. Finally Devon broke the silence.

"Who are you?" he asked Zaiden with a frown. All he knew about him was that he joined almost four months ago. He was one of the best fighters in the Italian Mafia. And his name was Xavier. 

"Meenakshi told us about someone named Zai and Scar. You are him, aren't you?" Vincent asked before Zaiden could respond to Devon. Zaiden nodded. 

"And how on earth did you end up in New York of all places?" Hope inquired warily.

"I threw a dart at the map." Zaiden answered as he plucked off his blond wig revealing black hair with bright red highlights. He had a tattoos on his arms. An intricate wedding ring with an infinity symbol sat on his ring finger. A ring with a small ruby was hanging around his neck along with the same pendent that hung around Hope's and Ajax's neck. It looked as if the two rings fit together like a puzzle.

Hope raised an eyebrow at his answer. He chuckled. He should have known better than that. She of one of the two people that could read him like an open book.

"I don't know. New York reminded me of Red, so here I am." he replied as he clenched his fists. Hope sighed as she put her palm on his clenched fist. She was aware of her everyone's eyes watching her move like a hawk. Zaiden slowly unclenched his fists.

"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be here till you were six months away from 18." he asked. Devon and the others frowned at that.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Riven snarled. They were happy that she was back with them. Now this man here was claiming that she wasn't supposed to be here.

"Tas-toi, veux-tu?" (Shut up, will you?) Hope growled. She just wanted to get some answers from Zaiden considering she saw him after four months and right now, her brothers weren't being much of a help.

"Calm down." Ajax ordered. Hope closed her eyes, took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds and released it opening her eyes.

"What Z said was true. I wasn't supposed to be here for at least another two years. Ryo was the only one who was supposed to be here. But plans changed four months ago when my life flipped upside down. I wouldn't even be here even after two years if I had my way"

That sent a stab through the brothers hearts. They didn't know what to say to that admission.

"Then why are you here?" Hayes asked, his voice blank.

"Huh?" 

"If my understanding is right, you can come and leave at will. So, why bother coming back?" he asked, his voice laced with a tinge of sadness.

"I made a promise to grandpa that I will come back to you even if it's for a day." she answered

"Do you hate us that much that you don't even want to be here?" Rueben asked. Hope sighed

"I don't hate any of you Benny, I don't think I can even if I want to which I don't. You would have been safer if you hadn't met me. The more I stay here, the more you are in danger." Rueben smiled at that nickname. God knows how much he yearned to hear it again.

"We can protect ourselves." Riven argued looking frustrated.

"I know. But that doesn't mean that I would willingly put anyone I care about in danger." she said with a sad smile.