Page 45 of Blind Luck

“He’s going to be okay?” she asked Dr. Howlett.

“As things stand, it’s likely he’ll make a good recovery. The initial test results came back clear—he’s a real little trooper. Do you have a name for him yet?”

“Apparently. Go with Trooper.”

“Yes, yes, that suits him. No more food tonight if we’re going to operate in the morning. I know you often carry treats in your pockets.”

Who was Sin? She could skilfully pilot a helicopter, she kept a knife in her bra, and she wasn’t short of cash. She didn’t carry a purse, but she did carry dog treats.

As they left the animal hospital, Erin said, “A transplant scientist? Really?”

Sin shrugged. “You don’t know for sure that I’m not one of those.”

Erin just rolled her eyes.

CHAPTER 15

ERIN

Every day used to be a long day when I worked three jobs, but over the past several months, I’d grown used to early nights. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be this tired. But we’d saved the dog, and that was awesomely cool.

“Where do you want me to drop you off?” Sin asked as I buckled up in the back seat. Rusty had offered me the front seat, but I’d waved him off. Had I overreacted in the waiting room earlier? I’d woken up and felt his hand on my shoulder, and my thoughts had still been fuzzy as I lashed out. Then I’d spilled more of my secrets than I intended. What did he think of me now?

“You want to go back to the Galaxy?” Sin continued when I didn’t answer right away. “Or are you staying at Rusty’s place too?”

Rusty turned to her. “What do you mean, ‘too’?”

“I’ve been allocated surveillance duty in your spare room.”

“I thought Ari was doing that.”

“Ari’s communing with the math guy, so you get me instead. Congratulations. If you don’t piss me off, I mightorder extra pizza.” She twisted in her seat to look at me. “What’s it to be? If your shower still isn’t working, Ari left a spare key at the desk so you can use hers.”

“Your shower doesn’t work?” Rusty asked, his words polite but his tone saying, “What the fuck?”

“Water comes out, but it’s cold.”

“Why are you still staying there? Move to literally any other hotel in Vegas.”

“Uh-uh-uh,” Sin sang. “They’re at the Galaxy for operational reasons.”

“This surveillance thing has something to do with the Galaxy?”

I put a finger to my lips. “Shhh.”

“Rusty should know the basics,” she said. “One of the people involved in the case is connected to the Galaxy. They think someone’s following them around, and right now, we’re trying to understand whether they’re in genuine danger or cuckoo for cocoa puffs.”

“And which way are you leaning?”

“The jury’s still out. Erin—hotel or house?”

“I’m not sharing a room with you.”

“Relax, I don’t snore.”

“It’s not snoring that I’m worried about.”

She probably slept with a gun under her pillow, cocked, locked, and ready to rock. One wrong move…

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