Page 129 of Gambler's Fallacy

The shirts have a desert landscape design, with “Calamity City” emblazoned across the top.

Vortex looks at the underwear. “Tighty whities? Really?”

Havoc glares. “It was the only thing they had. Unless you want to wear your sweaty boxers again?—”

“Thank you, Havoc,” I say before he and Vortex can get at each other’s throats again. I kiss Havoc’s cheek, then take the clothes from him. “I’m sure Caleb will pay you back. Or I can.”

“You are not going to pay me back,” Havoc says.

“I have the money!” I protest.

“Which you will save,” Vortex says, grabbing his own set of clothing from Havoc. “Caleb can more than afford some tourist gear.”

Vortex and I shuffle out of the bathroom, and Havoc goes in to take his shower. Caleb is on the bed, stripped down to his underwear, with his eyes closed.

I pull on my new set of clothes, then go to lie down next to Caleb. His eyes fly open, and he gives me a surprised look.

“Seven. Oh. Sorry. I thought…” He shakes his head. “Never mind. I ordered pizza. How was the shower?”

“Shower-like,” I tell him with a half-smile.

I hear movement behind me, and glance over to see Vortex settling down on the other bed only a few feet away.

“Pizza sounds good,” I continue, and even though Caleb is still filthy, I rest my head against his arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Caleb glances down at his chest. The bandages we’d applied in the car are still in place, and I don’t see any blood seeping through.

“I don’t think I need immediate medical attention. Anything else… I’ll be fine.” He turns onto his side to look at me and strokes my hair. “I’ve already told you this, but you truly are strong, pet. And brave. You did so good today.”

My cheeks heat up, and I squirm under the praise. I don’t know what to do with it because I know he means it.

I wish I could believe him.

“I remindedyouabout negotiation tactics,” I say instead, mustering up a smile for him.

“Oh, Caleb negotiated,” Vortex says. “He annoyed them so much and distracted them so hard that they weren’t able to keep up with me.”

Caleb’s lips quirk into a smile. “I didn’t have a gun on me. What else was I supposed to do?”

“I’m just glad no one got shot,” I say, reaching out to trail my finger across Caleb’s lips before turning to face Vortex. “Youdidn’tget shot and conveniently forget to tell me, right?

“You saw me in the shower,” he points out. “Did I have any bullet wounds?”

I eye him, but I relax. “Just as long as no one got hurt more than that.” My stomach grumbles. “How long on pizza?”

“Another few minutes.” Caleb rubs his eyes. “I missed all my afternoon meetings. That’s going to be fun to explain.” I open my mouth to apologize, but Caleb puts his finger on my lips. “I already called my assistant and had her reach out to everybody.”

Havoc walks out of the shower then, completely naked. He’s using one of the small towels to dry his hair. “The water was already starting to turn tepid when I got out. You might want to wait for the hot water tank torefill,” Havoc says.

Caleb shakes his head. “I think I’ll brave the cold water.” He gives me a brief kiss, then heads to the bathroom for his own shower.

Havoc sits down next to me on the bed and reaches for a pair of underwear. “Christ, can that pizza get here already? I’m starving.”

I want to press up close to him, too. It’s like I can’t get close enough to any of them, and I want to roll around on the bed with the two of them like Nacho does when I give him catnip. It’s a weird feeling, but I need the comfort it might provide. I would go for Vortex, but he’s lying there with his eyes closed as he drowses, and I don’t want to disturb him.

As soon as Havoc is half dressed, I kneel up on the bed and wrap my arms around him. “Thank you,” I say. “To you and Vortex, for getting along long enough to save us.”

Vortex lifts his head, scowling at me. “Of course we were going to get along to save you. That wasn’t even in question, was it?”

---