Saintwood Chronicles

Knock, knock. Who's there? Not you

Dante

Someone pounded on my apartment door, not giving a shit what time it was. I answered the door in a pair of sweats while shirtless.

Silas walked past me. "Put some clothes on. No one wants to look at your ugly ass."

"You knock on my door at eight in the morning, wake me up, and insult me. Give me a reason not to shoot your ass."

"Because you're a shit shot. When's the last time you took someone out?"

"It's been a minute." I shuffled to the kitchen and brewed a cup of coffee.

Silas noticed the socks on my feet. "You don't wear a shirt, yet you wear socks. You make no sense, Dante." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Everyone wears socks in my family. You should know this. Grandma Luci hated bare feet."

"You had a strange grandmother. Although mine had anxiety." Silas shrugged.

"Everyone's family has some issue. Yours is knocking at eight in the morning. Don't you ever sleep?"

"Yes, but not now. I checked out your next victim."

I arched my brow. "Excuse you?"

"Don't tell me you didn't check out the hottie who waited on you at the club."

"I was doing research."

"Is that what you're calling it now?"

"Get to the point before I make you."

"Damn, you're grumpy when you don't have your first cup of coffee."

"We all got to be something." I shrugged.

"You'll be happy to know Ezra is returning."

"I thought Ezra was in Russia."

"He was until he pissed office the Russians. So Junior sent him home."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Our cousin Ezra Frazier has a knack for pissing off the wrong people. Junior sends him on assignments to help people. He always returns with a stowaway.

Someone banged on my door.

"Speak of the devil himself," Silas said.

I rolled my eyes and set my coffee cup on the counter before answering the door.

"It's about time you answered the door. I thought I would have to sing a song from Frozen." Ezra gave me a cheeky grin.

"Sing any song from that movie, and I will shoot you." I waved my finger at him.

"Dante, you need to suck down a cup of coffee before you invite us over."

"I didn't invite you. You invited yourselves." I walked back to the kitchen to finish my coffee.

"Put on a shirt. Ain't no one got time for that."

I flipped Ezra off and skulled my coffee before brewing another cup. Ezra joined Silas at the table.

"How were the Russians?" Silas asked.

"Cranky." Ezra rolled his eyes. "The people have no sense of humor."

"What did you do?"

"I switched their Vodka with water. It didn't amuse them. I found it downright hilarious."

I sat down at the table. "You would. You don't mess with the Russian's vodka."

"It's not like anyone can tell. Both are clear."