Page 11 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

As much as I wanted to have a bratty battle spectacular with him, something he said threw me off.

“Wait, the five of you? I know I can’t remember names for shit, but I do alright with numbers. And I’m positive I only met four of you.”

“There’s a fifth member of our little crew, but he’s away on some… business. I’m sure if you stick around long enough, you’ll get to meet him. His name’s Carrick. Now, do you remembermyname?” He tossed back, that smirk still holding steady on his face.

“Of course I do.” I didnot,in fact, remember. But I wasn’t about to let him know that.

“Oh, do you, now? Well, then what’s my name?” Lifting his glass to his lips, he sat back against his chair, calling my bluff.

“It’s…” I trailed off, searching my mind quickly for the answer I knew was in there somewhere. “It’s De…Derrick?”

The smirk on his face widened into a grin, and I knew I was sunk.

“Try again, sugar,” he chuckled.

“Dylan?” I ventured, with much less confidence.

“Nope.” The ‘p’ at the end of the word popped loudly. I scoured my memory, trying to figure it out. I knew it started with a D, and he was older than the rest, by the looks of it. What was an old guy D name?

“Dominic?” I tried once more, feeling even less sure of myself.

“You’re not even close. Youdohave trouble withnames, don’t you?” He laughed lightly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I do.” A laugh bubbled out of me unbidden at the absurdity of how difficult it was to remember his name. “I’ve always struggled with it.”

“Maybe we’ll have to wear name tags to help you out then.”

“Or just remind me and don’t be an ass about it. Then again, that seems like it’d be a problem for you.”

“You’re a feisty one.”

“Gotta be something. Better to be feisty than boring.”

“The name’s Deacon, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ayers.”

“Ugh, please do not call me that. It sounds like I’m old. Or my mom. Both, I’m not okay with,” I grumbled, taking a bite of cheese. The flavor was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise, nutty and sharp. It was expensive, that was for sure, and tasted divine.

“Well then, what shall I call you?”

“Call me Maddy. Everyone who knows me does.”

“And would you say I know you?”

“I’d say you’re about to know me. I’m stuck here for God knows how long with complete strangers and… ugh!” I smacked my hands down on the table in frustration.

“What’s got your panties in a twist now?” he asked with a chuckle, obviously amused by my outburst.

“I’m stuck here with you all, knowing no one, and I don’t even have access to anything I know. No phone. No computer. No internet.”

“Technically, wedohave internet,” he shrugged.

“And how am I supposed to use it, huh?” My armscrossed angrily over my chest, sinking back against the chair with a harrumph of disdain.

“Well, that’s another issue entirely.” Leaning forward onto the table, I could see the way that smirk gave way to a dimple. He was a handsome man, though romance was the furthest thing from my mind currently. “All joking aside, you realize that it’s for your protection, right?”

“I’m not sure how anything I’d be doing on my phone or a computer would make me any less safe than I am now,” I pushed back with a roll of my eyes.

He grunted, then grew silent for a few moments, leaving me to eat my food in peace. My plate was mostly empty when he spoke again.

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