Page 35 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Castor, I’ll send hourly updates.” He drags my name out, like there’s something else he wants to say.

“Anything else?”

“Is it true? The news about Nico?”

“Which news?” Because this rumor web is settling over our city.

“That he found the actual trident first planted by Poseidon.”

“Interesting.”

“Damn, you’re not king yet, but that’s a king’s answer if I ever heard one. Hope Nico is back to his fluke soon.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

I close my eyes, shutting them tightly.

“What are you doing here?” Holter stands by the door, his arms crossed.

“Sorry. It’s loud upstairs.”

“It is.” He sits on the sofa and kicks his shoes off, leans back, and closes his eyes. I’m staring at him when he opens his eyes. “What? You know your sister has your same energy.”

I sit on the other end of the sofa. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I can pick on her all day long, but I’m not about to let anyone else do it. Not even Holter.

He shakes his head. “Nothing bad. She’s just got the same ‘take charge’ demeanor as you.”

“She kicked you out of Nico’s room?”

“She kicked out Ophelia too. Everyone but the nurses they’ve brought in.”

“I’m not surprised. It was a bit of a circus up there.”

“That’s why you came down here, to the sea of boxes, instead of your comfortable apartment with a view?”

I turn to him. “I could say the same thing to you. Your things are still upstairs.”

“We’re both here for the same damn reason. Because it smells like her and her sharks are here.” Holter shifts on the sofa and taps the side of the glass lightly with his knuckle. Two sharks come to the glass and peer in. Their eyes scan the interior of the room.

“They’re missing their leader.”

“Yeah, I don’t know where Mickey went.”

“I’ll ask Constantine and Milo.” My mother’s youngest mate and my youngest brother trained the sharks for security for Annabelle after the apartment was broken into. “They must have moved him.”

“Really? No one knows she’s gone yet.” Holter frowns at the glass.

“Yes. True.” I need to tell him about Annabelle.

“He won’t let it go, you know.”

“Nico?”

“Yes, Nico. He won’t let the trident go. Kai fixed up a cot and put it next to his bed. He’s got one hand on it.”

I raise my eyebrows. “One hand on it, and have they—”

---