Page 115 of Steinbeck
“Yeah, it’s for me.Nothing but soft pudding and broth for you there, Miss Two Broken Ribs and You Scared Us All to Death by Nearly Dying.”
She cocked her head at him.“I’m starved.”
“I’ll split it with you.”He smiled.
“You are so annoying.”
“But helpful.I mean, someone had to give you mouth-to-mouth.”
“That’s so unnecessary,” Nim said.“And a little gross.Listen.He’s right—soup for you.But I do have people wanting to see you.”
“People?”
“Well, aside from a grateful nation, and perhaps the president?—”
“The president?Of the United States?”
“No, of Argentina.Yes, of the United States.You did save his daughter’s life.And not to mention Princess Madeline of Montelena.”
“Are they okay?”
“Other than needing therapy and maybe some Krav Maga lessons, yes.I think Britta said she wants to be just like you when she grows up.”
“Maybe she and I need a little chat about that.”
“I think probably you need to talk with”—and her voice fell—“Mystique first.”
“Mystique is here?”
“Yes,” Nimue said.She made a face.“She’s a little intense.”
Emberly laughed.“Okay.”
Nimue walked to the door, motioned outside, then came back.“Let’s be clear.I don’t like you going off-grid and scaring me like that.”
“Me either.”The stern voice came from Mystique, who walked into the room, her hair pulled back, a grim look on her face.
Shep came in behind her, nodded at Stein before turning back to Mystique.“You should talk.I was really worried.”
“Long story.”She wove her fingers into Shep’s and looked at Emberly.“Let’s just say that it’s a good thing Shep has my back.Luis had set a trap for us with the Bratva.We had to go dark for a hot minute...Anyway, I want to know how you ended up in that room with Britta White.”
“It was impulse.I just kept thinking about the Bratva and how whatever they did with Declan’s AI program wasn’t...it wasn’t something that could drag the US into a war.So I thought...whatcoulddo something like that?And then I remembered Princess Imani telling me how excited she was to meet the president’s daughter, and it just...clicked.The death of someone that important...It could rock a nation.”
“Smart.”
“I mean, it was either that or they’d figure out how to take over all the AI-controlled drones and attack the capital.”
Stein stilled.“That could happen?”
“I don’t know—I mean, what happened in the exhibit?”
“The dogs turned on us.Just like before.”
She nodded.“I thought so.But how?Didn’t you shut down the Internet?”
He nodded.
“But not the cell phones,” Nim said.
