Page 131 of Nemesis

Finished, I tuck away the cloth and wave to Bobby. He’s just now serving them food, and I let myself onto his boat with a smile.

Shrugging off what I just did and turning on the charm takes practice, but I fall into it with ease. It’s that permanent switch from work to civilian life that doesn’t work so well. Charm is just a bravado anyway.

“Hey. How’d it go?”

Artemis chews on her plump lower lip. She and Saint sit across from each other, and choosing who to sit beside is… well, not quite the no-brainer. I want to feel her pressed up against me, but I also like poking the tattooed man’s buttons.

And he doesn’t seem to like physical contact.

Not from me anyway.

It’s why I drop into the space beside him. I spread my legs until my knee brushes his, and he recoils.

I smirk, then announce, “I’ve got a location.”

Bobby returns with a bowl for me. Today, fishnet tights cling to his tanned legs, with black cargo shorts over them. His white button-up shirt is covered in orange and blue birds. His hair is up in a bun on top of his head, and the fallen pieces at his nape are caught in the hairnet he always wears.

His style is distinct, and I struggle not to laugh at the way Saint appraises him. If only I had been here for his reaction when they first saw him…

I thank Bobby, pay him for the food, and he retreats back into his houseboat. I dig into the nachos. He’s covered the corn chips with pulled pork, cheese, and a mix of other stuff. Corn, black beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream.

“You’ve got a location?” Tem asks. “And you’re eating?”

“Torture makes me hungry,” I say through a mouthful.

Saint frowns.

“What?” I knock my knee into his again. “Did you think I was going to ask him nicely? You wanted to find Reese. This is how we do that.”

“Okay.” Tem swallows. “Okay, fine. Where are they?”

I don’t answer until I’ve eaten most of the nachos and drank most of the water Bobby brought with it. Artemis’s burger is three-quarters gone, and Saint’s paper plate is empty. Satisfaction fills me that they were able to put aside their queasiness over what has to be done.

It’s like this in war, too.

Eat when you can.

Sleep when you can.

I wipe my mouth and drop the soiled napkin into the bowl.

“There’s an abandoned church up near the reservoir,” I say.

Artemis groans.

“What?” I glance at Saint, then do a double take.

The bastard is naturally pale—it makes his tattoos, which climb up his throat and frame his sharp jaw nicely—but right now, he’s downright green.

“The Titans held him there,” Artemis manages. “You don’t have to go.”

Saint shakes his head. “No. If you’re going…”

“It was blown up,” Artemis adds. “Unless it was rebuilt.”

I take in that information. I didn’t get a lot from the asshole in the boat—just the location and a general idea of the layout—but what thefuckgoes on in this city? Gang wars, people being taken, buildings blowing up?

“We were rescuing Saint,” Artemis says. “We blew up one of the propane tanks to cause a distraction and get a clean escape.”

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