Page 107 of The Duplicity of Thieves

I’ve lost track of the conversation by the time I pull myself from my silent worry. Would Vivian leaving make Josie leave, too? I would go with her. There’s no doubt that I could ever let her go somewhere without me, even if it meant abandoning my own duties. Hades would just have to live with it.

“No one’s stew can compare to hers,” Vivian says as Josie leaves my arms to pull out bowls from the cabinet. “And her Shepherd’s pie.” Her eyes roll back in her head.

“You’re being generous.” Josie smirks.

“She’s not,” Bella chuckles. “I can smell it just thinking about it.”

Josie leans over and opens the oven, pulling out the most delicious looking bread I have ever seen. It’s crisped to golden perfection.

“Even Kate would beg you to cook,” Vivian points out. Josie freezes at the mention of Kate, but only for a fraction of a second. “And you already know K-”

“Foods ready,” Josie announces loudly, cutting Vivian off.

Vivian looks down at her hands in her lap. “Right. Good. I’m starving.”

Josie doles out the food, and we all stand around the counter casually eating. Minos is done in moments, helping himself to another bowl. I never thought anything could be so savory and delicious. Vivian, Bella, and Josie slurp from the sides of their bowls not bothering with the spoons. Another Remnant habit, I’m sure.

“Do they…?” Vivian begins. “Know about McFadden?”

Josie shrugs and turns to Hermes and Minos. Bella looks uneasy. “We’re Rem. We had a traitor.”

Hermes face is devoid of shock. Minos must have filled him in. Bella’s shoulders lower a fraction.

“Sounds serious.” Hermes says between his bites.

“Everyone’s going home you know,” Vivian says nonchalantly.

Josie tears off a piece of bread and soaks up the remainder of the broth in her bowl. “I know.”

“Even Stafford.”

“Surprised he’s going without me.”

“Reluctantly,” Vivian snorts.

“It won’t be the last you see of him,” Josie says carelessly. I catch the subtle thing she said. You. She doesn’t have plans to see him anytime soon. Thank the fucking Universe. Another thing I can deal with later.

“He just cares about our safety,” Vivian argues.

“I’ve been handling my own safety pretty well,” Josie bites back. “A few weeks ago, you seemed to question his motivations.”

Somehow, we’ve ended up in a confrontation. Bella watches them both and sighs. Minos and Hermes exchange glances. They’re used to using their fists to argue, not this sort of verbal confrontation that’s unfolding in front of us.

“Business or not, he’s the reason we’re alive.” Vivian sets the bowl back onto the counter forcefully.

“Do you really believe that?” Josie smirks.

“Josie,” she admonishes her. “He has overextended himself plenty to at least deserve that respect.”

“No one asked him to.”

“No, but he did it anyways.”

“Let me guess. He came and asked you to talk sense into me?”

“I think you should consider it.” Vivian rolls her eyes.

“I respect your opinion, Viv. I really do, but I don’t want any part of that world anymore.” The silence that surrounds us is filled with some unspoken surprise.

---