Page 59 of Never Say Never
The entire time I spoke with the girls, I could feel York's gaze on me. I didn't know if it was him watching me because he was suspicious, or if it was something else. I held out hope it was the latter, and with me being so close to the girls, his doubts about me would disappear.
"You're Nyra and you're Navy." I pointed to each girl. And before they tried to trick me I pointed out the difference. "Navy is louder by a hair. She also favors her right side. She twists when she talks. Nyra's smile is softer. She rocks on the balls of her feet most times when she's talking."
"What?" Both girls looked at each other.
"You want to trick me, you're going have to learn everything you can about your twin. You can’t win the game until you practically become one. Trust me.”
Navy squinted her eyes up at me. "We will and then we will win."
She could try, but I'd always know the difference. Gin and I played the game often, to the point we'd lose ourselves in playing the other.
“Why are you so good at this, Paul?” York asked.
“I'm a damn good agent.”
York cleared his throat and I winked at them.
“Isn’t that right, boss?”
Both girls looked at their father expectantly. York nodded.
“He’s loud and annoying.” York headed toward the kitchen. “But good.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Even now, he recognized my work ethic. I might not love being an FBI agent but I took every job that was handed to me seriously. The moment he made it to the kitchen, I took it as my chance to give the twins the gift I got them.
“Wait, you two.” I pulled the box out of my pocket. I picked it up a few days ago. Glancing over my shoulder, I made sure York was still in the kitchen before I opened it and showed them the matching bracelets. Blue and white beads decorated it but right in the center of the butterfly charm was a button. “I want you both to wear these no matter what. Never take them off.”
Navy snatched up hers in a hurry looking at the butterfly in the middle. Nyra put hers on and held it up admiring the bracelet. “What about when swimming?”
I shook my head. “Never, okay?”
They looked at one another before facing me. “Why?” Navy asked.
Lying to them wouldn’t work. “Your safety is my biggest concern. You know your dad works a hard job. And sometimes people choose to go after him. Bad guys.”
And one day, I won’t be here. I won’t be allowed to stand at your side as Paul.
They both nodded, York no doubt already gave them the talk plenty of times.
“If you’re ever in trouble, and it has to be a real emergency, you hit the small button on the charm. Okay?”
The twins stared at the bracelet squinting to see the tiny dot.
“Will you come save us? You and Dad?” Navy asked.
My chest tightened. “Of course. I’d fight a lion for you two.”
Their smiles were more rewarding than a pay raise. I dragged them in for another hug before letting them go.
“Don’t tell anyone you have them on,” I warned.
“Not even Dad?” Nyra looked skeptical, as she should.
“How about not at this second? But he can know later. Promise?”
Both girls seemed to thankfully accept my answer. They gave me a single nod. I only hoped that they kept their promise.
I stood up just as York made his way back to us carrying even more shit. Why couldn’t he just sit his ass down? I had to like the one guy who was constantly doing things.