Page 72 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

He hits the button for the airlocks. He looks at the sea floor button lit up and raises his eyebrows at me. “How is Nico?”

“Good,” I lie. I have no idea how he is, but that’s his response when anyone asks. Actually, it’s more of a grunt, or he says, “Adequate.” Good is close enough.

“Tell him I’ll be by later to check his last bandage.”

“House calls?”

“Yes, well, you know, anything for the return of Poseidon. Or rather, anything to keep him away from the nurses.” The elevator stops, and the doors open.

I laugh. Pertusio is a good guy. “I’ll tell him.”

“Thanks.” He gives a wave on the way out, and I finish the trek down. Now I have to talk to them. In the past, I’ve always walked right in, but that doesn’t feel right anymore.

I knock and wait.

The door opens. “Nico, it’s for you.” Eros backs up. He isn’t wearing a shirt, and his hair stands up, disheveled. “Holter,” Eros calls down the hallway.

I cross my arms over my chest, hiding the package tucked in my armpit from sight.

Holter is the first to appear down the hallway. I will not run and hide. Holter and Nico have been my friends for my entire life. I’m no stranger here. Even if I feel like one. Damn Eros. This is more than him helping his cousin get Annabelle back to the city. He made this happen. There’s no way this was happenstance.

“Hey.” Holter’s wearing even less than Eros, wrapped in a towel with wet hair.

“You look exhausted.”

“I’m not complaining. Really, I’m not. She’s truly coming into her mermaid hormones. I’m not sure if it was adding a third mate or the relief of being back here, but since Vividaria, I’m not sure I’ve slept.”

“That bad?”

“Nico threatened to strap her down so she slept.”

“Damn.”

Slapping steps run down the hall, Annabelle stumbles into the room.

“Female, you need to eat. And something besides protein gel,” Holter grumbles.

“Castor.” Her blue eyes light up. I swallow hard. I didn’t come here to crawl into her bed, but fuck, if I can be of service... She’s reaching out for me.

“Little Krill. You need to leave Castor alone,” Nico grunts. “And you need to eat proper food and sleep. For a week.”

“Yes, Daddy.” She laughs. “Oh, fudge tart. I didn’t just say that. But you’re right. You’re so, so right. I’m sorry, Castor. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

Holter grabs her by the waist and carries her to the island. In no time, he’s cracking eggs in a pan and has pushed a plate of pastries toward her.

Annabelle grabs one and starts eating. “This is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth. Wait, I don’t mean that.” She takes another bite. “Oh, fudge. Maybe I do.” Her face is bright red. “I’ll be right back.” She runs down the far hallway. Eros goes after her.

Holter laughs, and Nico sinks into a chair. The sharks are swimming back and forth in front of the window. They look inside more often than the trained ones at Mother’s apartment. Both sets were trained by my brother Milo and my mother’s mate Constantine. But this set seems . . . domesticated.

I put the package on the island. Nico eyes it and rocks back in the island chair. I’ve seen plenty of my brothers tumble over but not Nico.

“I met up with Pertusio in the elevator. He said he’d be by to look at your last bandage. How is it?”

“There.”

I swallow my smile.

“You need to stop bringing her gifts,” Nico says under his breath.

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