Page 53 of Heart of a Villain

Joel pressed his thumb against his temple and made a noise that sounded like air struggling through a collapsed windpipe.

“He did,” Adrían insisted. “Didn’t you, mano? He just didn’t know it at the time because he was too busy being concerned about me.”

Mike wagged a finger at Joel. “Yeah, you’re right. That was the time he nearly had an aneurysm when he found out you got shot. I mean, when I found out he got shot, I freaked the fuck out, and he’s my brother, so…”

Joel remained quiet, the muscle in his jaw pulsing.

“But this will ultimately be a decision Sayeda makes,” Gage said, steering them back to the topic. “If she wants in, I won’t say no. Delgano, you understand this, yeah?”

Adrían nodded. “I do.”

He hated it, but he understood.

Gage scratched at the hair on his chin, his eyes narrowed at Thanasis. “Me and Trevor were also talking about aligning Thanasis with Omega. Omega’s a good team. You guys’ numbers are just looking a little scant.”

“Ideally, I’d like to get Omega back up to six,” Trevor informed them. “We’ll see how it works. Would be nice to still have Hannah.”

Julien frowned. “Who’s Hannah?”

“She was part of the original six,” Lee explained. “As far as I know, she’s the only female recruit Central sought.”

“And she’s…where?” Julien asked.

Lee glanced at Adrían, then Trevor. “She died back in Morocco.”

The Lethal Six exchanged skeptical looks, but none of them commented.

A red light flashed.

“Time to gear up, gents,” Mike announced.

He and Lee went over jump instructions. Next, they checked and double-checked to ensure everyone’s gear was in order—no busted chutes or faulty latches and hooks. Then, helmets were secured, harnesses tested, and straps were tightened.

Mike gripped Thanasis’ shoulder. “You okay, kid? Nervous?”

Thanasis shrugged. “Lígo.”

“This mean ‘little bit,’” Giorgio translated. “Bratishka, you are fearless. This you tell me, da?”

Thanasis shot him a look.

“I’ve got you,” Mike reassured him. “If you’ve never had to jump, you’ve never had the opportunity to grow comfortable with a jump, but I’ll catch you up to speed. You’ll be an expert in no time, parachuting through Wren’s open bedroom window.”

Until he grew more comfortable, Mike and Lee would do tandem jumps with Thanasis. Only in lives like theirs was growing comfortable with high altitudes and parachutes a necessity.

“Please don’t give him ideas,” Dez pleaded.

“Think about it,” Mike said, tapping the side of his head. “If the window’s open, she wants him to parachute in.”

“And have Larke on my ass? You must want to go after Central one man short.”

Julien cocked his head to the side. “Hold on, hold on…fellas, am I not ‘the kid’ anymore? T, you beat me by four years. Thank you, man. Finally, these SOBs will be forced to acknowledge that I, Julien Hunter,” he raised his chin, “am a grown-ass man.”

“Says who?” Joel asked, frowning. “You still look like you drink Similac.”

Gage ruffled Julien’s hair.

Julien pulled away. “Get the fuck away from me.”

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