"Well, shit. Bet you could sneak a dance or three with Ava if you tried." Was she matchmaking? Maybe. It didn't matter that he was Ace of Spades and Avery was Ace of Diamonds. It didn't matter. Not to her.

What mattered was seeing her brother happy. Which, apparently, meant rolling her eyes at the thought of spending any amount of time spent with Elani. "If I ever elect to spend time in Miss McCartney's company, please put a blade through my head immediately. And my heart, just to be doubly sure. Shoot me, too, if you've got a gun or two." Just to be safe, obviously."