“Good,” Coda says. “Because I need you to go get the pretty but stupid lords who’ve gotten themselves detained.”
“What?!” I cry.
“It’s fine,” Coda says dismissively. “If they were okay with dropping a few bodies, it wouldn’t even be an issue.”
“We’re being circumspect,” Bolan says indignantly, more pissed at the not-so-subtle charge of incompetence than the suggestion that we should have murdered our way into the building.
Of course, now that we’ve confirmed these people kidnapped Tommy and Kitty —
“Answer your phone, rock star,” Coda says.
Bolan tugs his phone out of his pocket, sighing dramatically at the black-neon glowing screen.
“I need Mirth’s phone plugged in for now,” Coda says, caustically cajoling. “I’m grabbing as much data as I can before we meet more interference.”
“More interference?” Bolan growls.
“Mirth and the kid are safe here with me,” Coda says. “I control all the cameras and most of the security system now. You go collect your playmates. I’ll find the boy.”
Bolan wavers, clearly torn.
Arms still folded, glower firmly in place, Kitty taps her foot impatiently.
Bolan steps over to me, kissing me almost bruisingly, then nipping my bottom lip before growling, “Don’t fucking go anywhere.”
He stomps to the door, unlocking and flinging it open dramatically.
“Go right,” Coda says, through Bolan’s phone speaker now.
Bolan yanks the door closed, snarling, “Lock this,” before shutting it completely.
Kitty practically skips over to slip the lock into place.
“Possessive asshole,” Coda mutters through my phone speaker rather gleefully.
“He has a dirty mouth,” Kitty says, her tone chastising.
“Oh, I hope so.” Coda cackles. “For the princess’s sake.”
“Kitty is nine years old,” I say coolly. “Please act accordingly, Coda.”
A beat of silence stretches between me and the phone still tethered to the computer on the desk.
Then Coda says, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Unfazed, or maybe just ignoring us, Kitty crosses back to the safe, hunkering down to look at the keypad. “I can’t get in.” She looks back at me over her shoulder, blinking her still-reddened eyes.
“That’s what you have me for,” Coda says. “Grab the phone.”
“I thought you still needed it plugged in,” I say.
“Nah, I’m downloading direct now.” Coda chuckles darkly. “This chapter ain’t ever dodging me again.”
Kitty jumps up, running over to the desk and grabbing the phone.
“Press the screen against the keypad,” Coda instructs her through the speakers. “And hold it there.”
Energy shifts around the phone.
