Page 20 of Kennedy

“Not a pod person,” he answered, winking at Jamison. “Just happy.”

“Can’t wait to get out of here?”

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere. My mate lives in town.”

Jamison’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me you’d met your mate.”

“I didn’t tell anyone but Hawthorne. It’s not a secret—I was just busy.” They all were. They’d written report after report, both for Bennett and for the council. This had been the first time the council had a program like this, so they had to make sure the results were what they’d been hoping for before expanding it.

As far as Kennedy was concerned, it was. They’d only end up with a handful of council assassins, but they’d always known that would be the case. The others would continue working for the council, so it was a win-win situation for everyone.

“Let’s get this over with,” Rhonda said as she breezed into the room. “I have things to do and places to be.”

“Kennedy met his mate,” Jamison blurted out.

Kennedy glared at him, but there was no heat in it. He wasn’t planning on keeping Lewis a secret.

“No shit?” Rhonda asked as she quickly hugged Kennedy. “Well, I hope the guy knows what he’s getting into.”

Kennedy gently pushed her away. “Not funny. Just think about when Jamison will meet his.”

“Hey,” Jamison protested.

Kennedy was going to miss working with these people. He hadn’t known Jamison and Rhonda before arriving at the facility, but the four of them had worked together seamlessly. They’d been Kennedy’s family for the past few months, and it was hard to imagine his days without them.

Hawthorne, at the very least, wasn’t going anywhere. Wallace wanted to stay in town, which meant that Hawthorne would, too. With Jimmy here, it made sense that Wallace didn’t want to go anywhere, and Kennedy wondered if Hawthorne was as anxious as he was, not knowing what would come next for them.

Jamison got to his feet. “They’re all outside?” he asked Rhonda since she’d been the last one to come in.

She tapped her phone screen and sat in the last empty chair on their side of the table. “As far as I could see.”

“Let’s begin, then.”

Jamison opened the door and leaned in the hallway. He returned with Cynthia, who had a smirk on her face. She already knew she’d passed the program, and she was one of the few who would become an assassin.

The next few hours flew by. They didn’t have any problems with most of the trainees, but a few weren’t happy with their decisions, like Barry. He was pissed when Hawthorne told him he didn’t think he had it in him to become a council assassin, and he tried to argue for almost fifteen minutes. By the time he left, claiming he’d talk to his father, Kennedy wanted to scream. All of his happiness had vanished, popping into thin air like a soap bubble.

Barry slammed the door shut, and for a moment, the room was silent. Kennedy glanced at the others, not one bit surprised that they looked as frazzled as he felt.

“We still have more of them to talk to,” Jamison said with a moan.

“I think Barry was the worst,” Rhonda told him.

There was a knock on the door before it opened, and Lewis came in. For a moment, Kennedy stared at him, wondering what was happening. Lewis wasn’t in the program. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

“Hey, Seymour,” Jamison said, looking down at his notes.

Kennedy snorted. “That’s not Seymour,” he said as he got to his feet and walked around the table. Lewis hesitated only for a moment before tucking himself into Kennedy’s arms and pressing closer to kiss him. Kennedy was happy to do so, still smiling as he leaned back.

“Wait, your mate is Seymour’s twin brother?” Jamison asked.

Kennedy blinked at him. “I didn’t mention that?”

“No. And how the fuck do you tell them apart? No offense, Lewis, but you look exactly like your brother.”

“That would be because we’re identical twins,” Lewis said.

Kennedy snickered and kissed his mate’s forehead before stepping back. “I have no problem telling them apart.”

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