Page 25 of Judgment Day

Failure was not an option.

Chapter Eight

Exa

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Exa’s stared aroundthe table at her small team.

It still felt weird not having Snake at the table with them. Some days, Exa missed arguing with the redhead. Though she didn’t regret killing the traitor, she did wish she’d learned about Snake’s connections to the Big Boss sooner. If Exa had only noticed something was up, maybe they could’ve saved Snake and shown her that the Boss was using her.

Then again, ifIF was a fifth, they’d all be drunk. She held in her chuckle at that saying she’d often heard one of the older Timeless Superiors say. Her gaze drifted to Seven, who was staring into a computer screen as always. In her lap sat that damn cat. Exa didn’t hate cats or anything.

Despite the cat being black, Exa didn’t think it was bad luck. However, that particular cat seemed strange. When it stared at her, she felt like it was peering into her soul, deciphering all of her secrets. Whenever she encountered it in the hallway, it swiped at her ankles, attempting to take her down. Plus, its name was Killa.

Who the hell names a cat Killa? Killa looked up at her and purred – as if to say, “Bitch, mind your business.” Exa looked away. She’d stared down enemies twice her size. Yet, she couldn’t make eye contact with a damn cat. Either something was wrong with her, or something was wrong with that cat. Her gaze drifted to Skye, who was looking at a weapons manual Liam had made.

Skye stared over at Seven. “Your boyfriend may be a dweeb, but he’s great with weapons.”

Seven rolled her eyes. “He’s not a dweeb.”

Skye grinned and rolled her chair closer to Seven’s. “But he is your boyfriend, right?”

Seven pushed her twin away, sending Skye’s chair rolling back to its previous spot.

“I don’t have time for a boyfriend,” Seven said. “And you don’t have time to be asking me these kinds of questions. Read the manual and stop bothering me.”

“Come on.” Skye rolled back over to Seven. “You can tell me. I won’t make fun of you.”

Seven glared at Skye. “There’s a woman and child missing. Yet, this is what you want to talk about. Really?”

Good girl, Seven,Exa thought.Stay focused. The job comes first. Men can come later.

“Oh, okay! I see you,” Skye said, not easily offended or deterred. “You’re solely focused on the job, right?”

Eyes on the computer screen, Seven nodded.

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