Page 35 of Artificial Moon

He smirks. “Suit yourself.”

Then Dr. Calloway digs in, and I squeeze the hell out of his hand.

“Oh,” he deadpans.

The pain is immediate and electric. The bullet had time to work its way deep into my flesh and up against the bone. My vision swims for a moment, but I keep still, grinding my teeth and crushing Kingsley’s hand, all while whimpering like a sick puppy.

“Almost there,” Calloway murmurs.

The forceps scrape against the bullet—or my bones—and a fresh wave of agony shoots through me. I feel Kingsley tense beside me, no doubt resisting the urge to intervene. The bullet finally gives. The doc pulls it free with a sickeningslurp.Itclinksloudly when it hits the metal pan.

I let out a slow, ragged breath, sagging against Kingsley’s hip.

Calloway cleans the wound quickly, dousing it with something that stings like hell but, apparently, helps flush out the residual silver. “You should heal fine within a few hours,” he says, wrapping my shoulder with practiced efficiency. “But you’ll be sore.”

“No kidding.”

He disposes of the bullet into a lead-lined container. “I’d advise avoiding silver bullets in the future, Ms. Moon.”

And with that, Mara appears in the doorway, tablet in hand. “Your payment has been processed, Ms. Moon. You’re good to go.”

Kingsley helps me up. I nod to Dr. Calloway. “Thanks for the assist.”

He smiles faintly. “I’m here if you need me. You know the way in now.”

“Just got to memorize that knock.”

As Kingsley leads me back to the Jeep, I glance over my shoulder at the hidden hospital ward. A secret place where immortals can get patched up without questions, without consequences. It’s efficient, professional, and just a little unnerving.

And something tells me I’ll probably be back. Perhaps many times.

Great.

Chapter Eighteen

We’re back at Kingsley’s mansion in the Yorba Linda hills.

My shoulder hurts, but it’s getting better by the minute. Every now and then, I catch myself rubbing it and even rolling my shoulder in its socket.

Allison isn’t happy about being left out of the action and thinks I took a risk. My kids aren’t happy, either. I promise to bring everyone the next time, but I know that’s a lie. Allison, of course, can read my mind and shakes her head.

When I get a text from Andrew asking me to come by his place ASAP, that the FBI is there and they want my input about Norm and his attack on the nuclear plant, I send a reply and let him know that I’ll be there with the whole gang.

Gang?he writes back.

You’ll see,I text.My motley crew.

Soon after teleporting into one of York’s many bathrooms (and the only one I had personally seen), we step out into a lively living room—and to some surprised reactions. I reach out to a few of the minds and command them to believe we had been there all along. I introduce my kids, Allison, and Kingsley to the famous billionaire. Allison immediately crushes hard. Andrew seems a bit smitten himself, until I command him to find her unattractive.

Girl block,mumbles Allison in my mind.

There’s a homicidal cyborg out trying to destroy southern California, Allie. Not a time for schoolyard flirting.

Whatever, Sam. Not all of us have what you have with Kingsley.

What do I have with Kingsley?

A stable, loving relationship with lots of hot sex.

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