In the evening, some hours after dinner, the boys got ready to go out on patrol. I was pretty sure Landon had a gun on him and the triplets were upstairs still deciding what to take. Walter sighed when Phoenix gave him a look. He didn’t want to go after spending such little time with me today, but there wasn’t any need in fighting with Phoenix over it.

“Its fine,” I started to move so that he could get up off the sofa.

Walter looked at me, “It’s not fine. I want to stay with you.”

“I know,” I sent him a little smile. “So do I.”

I stood up and Walter did likewise. On our way to the stairs, I saw Eli putting spray cans into his pockets. Maybe it was time for them to do some retouching to their ‘art’ that was scattered all over West side.

“Can...can I come?” I stopped in front of Eli and asked.

He looked up from the floor at me with a straight face, “Are you sure?”

I nodded, which made Walter frown, “Coral, it can be dangerous.”

“Only if you’re trespassing in Santiago territory,” I said. “But if we’re just using spray cans on our own turf, then there’s no danger.”

“We?” Eli had an amused smile on his face.

I smiled at the two of them, “Let me come with you guys, please?”

Walter and Eli shared a look and then Walter nodded at me.

“Okay,” he said. “But you stay by my side. I don’t want you getting into any kind of trouble.”

“Thank you,” I grinned at him and ran for the stairs.

I didn’t have any weapons and I didn’t want to carry one anyway. Pulling on a black hoodie, I hurried back down the stairs, passing a chuckling Walter as I went. Eli was still in the hallway as I shoved on some shoes and put my coat on over my hoodie. It was cold at night.

“Do I need gloves?” I asked Eli.

“Why are you so excited?” he smiled again, his dimples showing.

“I’ve never been out on patrol with you guys before,” I grinned back.

“That’s true,” he nodded. “It’s not usually fun. I get pretty tired unless we run into the Santiagos...or the police. Whichever comes first, I guess.”

“Fair point,” I mumbled as I stopped smiling so much.

Eli laughed quietly and Landon and Phoenix came to join us.

“Hurry up,” Phoenix barked at the boys who were still upstairs. “We’re about to go.”

“You’re coming?” Landon widened his eyes when he noticed my coat and shoes.

“Yep,” I nodded. “That’s okay, right?”

He nodded in return, “Sure, but you have to be careful. Run whenever we say run, okay?”

“Run from what?” I frowned.

“Police,” Landon said.

“We’ll be out for hours,” Phoenix said to me. “Are you sure you want to come?”

I looked at him carefully. He didn’t seem annoyed about me coming, but then again, he was so hard to read.

“I want to come if that’s not a problem,” I replied.

Phoenix and I weren’t particularly close, but he didn’t hate me like he used to in the beginning. I knew I’d won his trust and the scars on my little finger told me that he’d accepted me as one of his own, part of the family.

Walter came down the stairs with his hoodie already over his head and the triplets came down after him, holding more spray cans.

“I guess if we meet any Santiagos on our side, we can’t exactly shoot at them in front of you,” Landon said.

I raised my brows, “Yeah, that won’t be necessary.”

“Tonight is more about graffiti anyway,” Giovanni assured me. “It’s less boring.”

I nodded at him and Severn came and handed me a couple cans.

“You’re good at art,” he grinned at me. “You should definitely have a go.”

I smiled back, “Okay, cool.”

“Let’s go then,” Phoenix grumbled and went and threw open the front door.