Page 37 of A Bloom in Winter

Apex drew circles in the air. “The goddamn spoon, and your foot—and fuck off with that robe? You think this is a spa?”

“You need a vacation.”

Apex let his head fall forward. “That is not what I—”

“And the sauna was nice.” The guy pointed to the floor with the spoon. “I recommend a little relaxation down there.”

“I don’t need to relax!”

“Really? ’Cuz that’s a cute little lineup you got there. Are you getting ready to teach those pocket-rocket security cameras math or something? Nice classroom rows you’ve made.”

Apex motioned at the cameras—intending to fuck that one right off. Except . . . well, he had to admit things were pretty frickin’ tidy. He’d even lined up the four duffles he’d emptied.

“I had to count them to make sure I have what we need,” he groused.

“You didn’t do that before you left Caldwell?”

Of course he had. “No, I didn’t.”

“So you can’t sleep, either, huh.” Mayhem motioned with the spoon again. “So I’m guessing our job here is to mount them everywhere so they can take pretty pictures of things.”

“Look at you go, Einstein. What’s next, quantum physics?”

“And here I thought you brought me for my charming personality.” Mayhem came farther in, and tossed the container in a wastepaper basket by one of the leather chairs. “Why’s this such a secret?”

“Discretion is part of my job.”

“Even for people you’re hiring to help you?” Mayhem put the licked-clean spoon in the robe’s pocket. Then he went over to the last duffle that was set aside. As he started to unzip the top, he said, “Besides, I thought we were friends—”

“Stop.”As Mayhem went statue, Apex thought fondly of a deserted island, somewhere in the middle of the ocean, where no one could reach him. Even by cell phone. “That’s just my clothes. You can leave that alone.”

The male put his hands up. “Okay, boss. And have I mentioned I’m touched that you picked me, out of everybodyelse, to be the one who holds your stepladder while you screw these suckers in?”

“You’re gonna do more than that.”

“Annnnnd now we get into the meat of things.” Mayhem headed over to the cold hearth and paused to scratch the chin of the bobcat that was mounted on the river stone. “Finally.”

“You’re in charge of making sure the motherboard pulls it all together, and channels the feeds where they need to go.”

“Oh, that old bollocks again?”

“You’re good at programming.” Tragically so. “I’m not.”

“Why, thank you.” The male put his hand over his heart, right by that stupid stitched crest. “But again, you could have told me this before.”

When Apex grunted, the male leaned in. “You want me to change the subject, right?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, so who is she.”

Apex frowned. “Who—Mahrci?”

“No, the other female who’s under this roof with us.” Mayhem wandered over to the rustic desk and clicked the old-fashioned green-shaded lamp on. Off. On. Off. On. “She’s not just a housekeeper—”

“Will you quit it.”

“What?”

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