Bound by Honour

47

After an uneventful four hours of flying, we landed at Pittsburgh International Airport. Ashton complained about turbulence, throwing a fit, yelling "we're all gonna die" and "I wasn't meant to go out this way!"

I hoisted my backpack over my shoulder and followed Cameron and Sebastian off the plane, exhausted. I noticed the flash of silver under my brothers jacket and it reminded me we weren't here on Holiday. This wasn't a vacation.

"You two get in the very back," Sebastian said, opening the door to the SUV, waiting for Ashton and I to get in. There were two other vehicles that met us on the runway, a Chevrolet truck with a covered cab and a Range Rover. I glanced around, spotting Eden with Hazel. "Don't worry, it's safer if Hazel goes with the others."

"What?" I asked, not moving as Ashton climbed into the backseat. "What do you mean "safer"?" I watched as Harley and Isobel shook hands with an unfamiliar man, behind them Evie and Noel talking. Noel had a crate in his hand, Ronnie meowing like he was dying. Cats are so dramatic.

"He means that if someone follows us, and we have to abandon the car, we might not be able to take her if she was with us," Jaime said, appearing beside him.

I narrowed my eyes. "I won't ever leave her behind."

"It won't happen, but this is a precautionary measure," Sebastian said, softer, and beckoned for me to get in. "Get in already."

"You're so bossy," I muttered, swatting at his head before climbing into the very back back beside my twin. Sebastian mocked me before getting in behind me, sandwiching me between him and Ashton, as if it wasn't already cramped enough.

"Why can't you sit up front?" I snapped.

"You're in a mood," Ashton said,

"Shut up."

"I can't sit up front because your brothers are sitting there," Sebastian muttered, buckling his seatbelt and then pulling mine, waiting for me to take it. I snatched it out of his grasp, clicking it into place. "What's the problem?"

"I'm fucking in a car full of overprotective dipshits and I have no goddamn room to move," I grumbled, pushing my twins and Sebastian's legs away from me to make my point. Cameron and Chance getting into the seats in front of us. "That's my fucking problem."

"Hey," Cameron hissed, whipping around in his seat, narrowing his eyes. "First, quit name calling. It's unnecessary. Second, cut the attitude. You're on thin ice as it is, Maisie."

"Whatever Cameron."

"Don't whatever me," he muttered, turning around. I leaned back against the seat. Ashton chuckled, seeming amused, likely happy he wasn't the one being told off.

***

I studied the outside of the house, nervous to go in. It looked the same as last time, except covered in snow.

Ashton leaned down and balled up a snowball. I hid behind Cameron. "Ashton, don't you dare -"  my older brother called but was cut off, nailed in the chest with a snowball.

I chuckled, amused at my Cameron's dismay. He turned and booted me into the open, just in time to be hit with a snowball in the shoulder. I snarled at Ashton. "You dickhead." I scowled and then bent down, gathering snow.

"Hit me with your best shot," Ashton taunted, giggling like a little school girl as he scurried backwards.

"No, no-" Cameron scolded. I threw it anyway. Ashton ducked and it hit Jaime square in the back. He whipped around, glaring. I pointed to Cameron. "Nah, don't try blaming me, kiddo."