Page 90 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Yeah, well, this is a Schrödinger’s cat kind of situation. And that’s one box I’m not willing to open.” She points to the trident.

“Understood.” I pull her close to me, my hard length pushing into her soft tunic.

“Nico.” She playfully bats at my arm. “You need to shower.”

“Yes, I will. Come into the bathroom with me.”

She nods once, not asking why. Which is good because I don’t know why. Only I don’t want to be alone now.

* * *

“You need to turn left here,”Eros says from the seat next to me. We’re in the back of theomada. “Here’s your gloves Sunshine. You left them on the counter.” She smiles and takes them from him.

“I’m showing Belle the school buildings,” Holter calls back.

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Show her where I won the big game.” Eros laughs.

I put my hand on Eros’s knee and squeeze until it makes a nice cracking sound.

Eros grimaces and straightens his leg, making my hand loosen. “You won the big game. I seem to remember that was Glyden.”

“Are you two being nice back there? Don’t make Holter turn thisomadaaround.” She laughs.

I can’t help it. I’m like a podlet when she makes that noise. I lean forward. When I growl, she laughs harder.

“I will I will turn this thing right around. Is that how it goes?” Holter takes his hand off the controls and puts it on Annabelle’s leg. She nods with a smile.

My eyes travel to where he touches her.

And I do too. “We are not your children.” The tightness in my gut vibrates, filling theomadawith a low rumble.

Annabelle turns in the front passenger seat, and Holter’s hand slides up her leg. “Nico, it’s a joke. It’s an overdone joke from every sitcom of my youth.”

“Sitcom?” Eros asks. I hold my chin firm. He taps my arm.

“What you don’t know is what a sitcom is.” I shake my head. He claims to be an assassin. He should know things human

My lips are firm. He’s right, but I have a guess. “It’s something to do with their fascination with television.”

“Exactly—” Annabelle is about to explain when she gasps. “That’s where you won the big game.” She’s really picking up on the city.

“Yes.” Holter says, pulling theomadaout of the lane of traffic. We hover next to the playing rink. It’s close to dome twenty-nine.

Anomadaweaves in front of us, zipping into the airlock. Next to me, Eros elbows me. “Wonder if they are lucky ones?”

“Lucky ones?” Annabelle asks.

“Yes, not all are selected for ageminaepodlet, only the best families. It’s an honor.” Holter moves back into the flow of traffic.

“Oh,” Annabelle says.

“My aunt and uncles waited years for my cousins, and even then, they only have two. They would have liked a dome full,” Eros says.

“I didn’t know.” Annabelle stares at Holter. My brother. He’s the only one of us who’s even remotely good enough for her. The damn piece of whale shit. I’m not even mad at him.

The airlock outside the Razor Edge is clear, showing the place is packed to the gills. Holter’s got us, though, and with some fancy piloting, pulls us into a dock spot with only a few inches of clearance left.

Eros opens the door and reaches for Annabelle’s hand. I step between him and her and let Holter guide Annabelle into the restaurant. She hooks her hand in the crook of his arm and turns around, giving me a warm smile. It’s enough to knock Eros and me over.

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