Page 74 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
“Thatis all I need to know.” Hisoka kissed his forehead and promised, “I will reward your trust.”
FORTY ONE
Beware of Dragons
A softpingfrom the direction of the desk turned Tsumiko’s head
“Were my instructions too complex for you?” Argent inquired acidly.
“Sorry.”
“Sit still.”
Argent hadn’t wearied of their game of traded obedience. Tsumiko murmured another apology as he continued to brush her hair. Over and over. Long past the point of untangling or tidying. She couldn’t see the point, but Argent had insisted. So she submitted to his ministrations. There was little else to do in the evenings whenlittle Tsumikowas supposedly going to bed early.
Anotherping.
She twitched.
Hetsked.
“What if it’s my brother?” Tsumiko asked.
“Unlikely. Or is your brother in the habit of texting in the middle of the night.”
The phone gave anotherping.
“If it’s not Akira, then it’s from home.”
The hairbrush stilled. “Fetch the thing and bring it here. I am not finished.”
She obeyed. “It’s Michael.”
“And?”
As she returned to her perch, she read, “Are you there? Please be there. We need to talk.”
Argent peered over her shoulder at the small screen. “At this hour?”
You are up late.
I don’t expect to sleep
Is something wrong?
Not here
We are well
The baby?
Too soon
Argent said, “Why begin in urgency only to dither in small talk?”
Do you want us to call?
NO.
