The Miller brothers.
Hazel had worked with them a couple of tis in the past as River, and she found it easier to move with them. They knew what they were doing, and they could take the initiative and improvise when the situation changed.
Among all the people in the Lozens that Ranon managed to gather, Hazel chose these three brothers, as this mission suited them well.
As the team leader, not only did Hazel have to analyze the situation, but she also needed to know her people well.
But the downside was... they argued a lot.
"You are not only short-sighted but also narrow-minded," Payton said arrogantly to his younger twin.
"What did you say? Say that again, and I will slash your mouth from ear to ear," Paxton challenged him.
"Enough, both of you!" Hazel groaned. "If you want to kill each other, do it after the mission." She then directed her gaze at Pete, who was the oldest. "Can’t you keep your little brothers in check?"
Pete shrugged. "They have done this all the ti. I will not bother. Moreover, I am only a year older than them."
"Which makes you the eldest."
"I don’t see the difference," Pete said nonchalantly.
The brothers had the sa figures; if soone didn’t pay close attention, they might think the three of them were triplets.
Despite being the eldest, though, Pete was the shortest among the three, but he was bulkier, while the twins were on the leaner side.
They had green eyes and dirty blonde hair. Payton had a piercing on his left ear, which made it easier for people to differentiate them.
"Okay, guys. Stop trying to kill each other. We have a mission here." Hazel clapped her hands to get their attention.
Payton eyed Hazel. "Do you even know what you are doing?"
Oh, not this shit again. Payton was always full of judgnt. He said the sa thing when River t them for the first ti around eight years ago.
And now, she was going to shut him up with the sa line.
"I know, pretty boy, so shut the fuck up." Hazel glared at him.
Technically speaking, River was older than them; she was their ntor in a way; therefore, when she called him ’boy,’ they could only ’sulk,’ but because Hazel was younger than them, it sounded like an insult.
Payton glared back at Hazel, while Paxton laughed. He smacked his twin’s back. "Oh, co on, you need to learn your lesson. You can’t win against all the won. River kicked your ass, rember?"
"She was a trained killer, and a great fighter, not a woman from a rich family." Payton narrowed his eyes at Hazel. "She looks spoiled."
"Is there a problem here?" Ranon approached Hazel. He put his hand behind her back, his eyes trained on the twins. "Have you wrapped this up?"
Hazel turned around and then widened her eyes when she saw Ranon in his gear. She whistled. "You look so handso, do you know that?"
Ranon looked strikingly different in this black attire. He looked... dangerous.
Ema missed a lot if she didn’t like this side of Ranon, because in Hazel’s eyes, this was the best side of him. She could stare at him for a whole day. She didn’t even mind getting pregnant again.
On second thought, no, she wouldn’t do that. They had a lot of things to do. Ashlyn was more than enough. She was not going to go through that pumping phase again.
"I don’t think she should co with us," Payton voiced out his opinion as he nodded at Hazel with his chin. "She should stay ho."
Hazel raised her brows when she heard that, but Ranon spoke first before she did.
"You are free to leave if you disagree. I have more capable n to do the job. They complain less and don’t give a headache."
Payton was shocked, but Paxton elbowed his twins to shut up. They wanted to be in this mission not only because of Arthur’s order but also because they shared the sa sentint as the others; Arlo had to pay for what he had done.
There were so many of their friends who were killed because of his betrayal.
"Can we continue?" Ranon asked coldly.
***
"I love you," Arlo said.
However, Aubrey didn’t feel it. The sound of his confession was almost like when he told her that he needed extra food. It was so bland and unfeeling.
"Are you sure?" Aubrey narrowed her eyes and bit her lip. She was going to decide whether to tell him about the attack tonight based on his answer.
"What do you want, Aubrey?" Arlo was irritated because of this ridiculous conversation. By this ti, Bryer had taken the remote control from his hand, and sohow, he figured out how to resu the show.
And when Aubrey didn’t say anything, Arlo continued to watch with his son. He paid no mind to her, which only cented the idea that he had never cared about Aubrey, not even a bit.
She was only a distraction, a boost for his ego when he was with River, because River was too independent for him. River didn’t need him; it was the other way round, so Arlo needed soone to need him, and Aubrey gave him exactly what he wanted.
But when River was gone, he was still chasing after her ghost. Even now, he didn’t care about Aubrey, but he tolerated his son.
How stupid Aubrey was to think so highly of Arlo, a man who needed a woman’s validation to feel like a man. It was the most ridiculous thing that she learned.
Aubrey wondered how she could fall for him in the first place. He was not that great, not to ntion he was crippled now.
Arlo had been treating her coldly, so when he showed so affection and attention, Aubrey craved for it.
Even cool water felt warm for soone who was about to freeze to death.
"I will sleep first. Can you put him to bed?" Aubrey asked. Hazel assured her that they wouldn’t harm her baby, and that was all she needed. They could do whatever on Arlo for all she cared.
"Okay," Arlo replied without even looking at her.
Aubrey then left to go to bed, but she took one more glance at Arlo. It could be the last ti she saw him with their son.
"Goodnight, Arlo," she said, but it was too small for Arlo to hear over the sound of the television.
Later, Aubrey couldn’t fall asleep; she was wide awake, listening to the sound of the television in the living room. She wondered how they would co. Would they break in? Cause a commotion? Or would they take Arlo silently until no one was aware that Arlo had gone?
She didn’t know what to feel about this. She didn’t hate the idea that Arlo died, but the thought of her son growing up without a father was slightly bothering her.
Would they take her away, too? If her father were with Hazel now, why had he never tried to contact her? Was he still angry with her?
Aubrey didn’t rember the last ti she saw him. It felt like a lifeti ago, because so many things had changed.
In the end, Aubrey closed her eyes, but it only enhanced her senses.
anwhile, outside, the sky had turned very gloomy, and thunderous sounds spat the night. It was going to rain heavily tonight.
It would be a harsh and difficult night. She wished tomorrow would co quickly.
***
"She is sleeping now," Laurel called Hazel to tell her about Ashlyn. "I think she doesn’t like the room. It’s too bland. You don’t have any imagination."
"No, don’t do anything about the room, Laurel," Hazel said sternly. This sister-in-law gave her a headache.
"I didn’t say anything."
"I know you want to suggest decorating the room."
Laurel grumbled, but then they talked about sothing else before finally they hung up after Laurel teased Hazel to bring back another baby, as she thought Hazel and Ranon were having a date and spent the night in the hotel.
Hazel had never said that, but she made an insinuation that it was what they were doing.
"How is Ashlyn?" Ranon approached Hazel to inform her that they were going to leave soon. They had already been in Aspen City since this afternoon to prepare everything. It would only be a minute’s drive away to reach Arlo’s house.
Arthur had everything covered. He managed to get detailed information about how many guards were around the house, and which entrance was the safest way for them to enter.
"Still alive, and kicking." Hazel put away her phone. "Let’s go." She walked ahead but stopped when she realized Ranon didn’t follow her. "What?"
For a brief mont, Ranon stared at her aningfully, as if he wanted to say sothing, but in the end, he shook his head.
"Nothing. Let’s go."
They went outside, where two cars had been waiting for them. One for the couple, and the other for the Miller brothers.
"Don’t you want to change your mind?" Lucian asked Hazel when she was about to enter the car. He looked worried for the two of them. "If you decide not to leave, I think Ranon will not go either."
"So, where is the fun of it?" Hazel winked at Lucian.
"You make so nervous." Lucian scrunched his nose and then pulled Hazel aside. "I don’t know how good you are at fighting, but stay close to Ranon."
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