“I know,” I murmured. “Trust me, I know. But…”
I hesitated, weighing the risk of telling them about the tattoo, my feelings, my fears…
Nova pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. “Niya, we know you’re smart. We know you’re careful. We trust you even if we want to burn out the eyes of everyone who even looks at you.”
Calix nodded solemnly. I nearly laughed.
“We love you. So, do what you need to do with those five tall drinks of water.”
“Fucking gross,” Calix groaned, releasing us as he backed off.
He slumped into the couch, slightly defeated. “But she’s right. We love you, so I’ll trust your judgment.”
Then he pointed at me, stern. “But if they hurt you, if they make you cry, or rage, or feel even aflickerof badness, I’m dragging them to the dungeons in Vegas. I’ll make them pay tenfold.”
I smirked. “Got it.”
“No, I mean it.” His voice rang loud and clear. “Don’t come knocking, beg me to stop. You made the choice to date them, butIget to end them if they fuck up. That's the deal. Take it or leave it.”
I walked up and shook his finger like it was a normal business deal. “Deal.”
“Now, what’s going on with your lead?”
Leaning back against my desk, I let out a breath that felt like it had been sitting in my chest all damn day. The dried blood was crusting against my skin, but I didn’t have the energy to pick it off yet. “I did my best to get any information out of the fucker.”
Nova's eyes swept over me, taking in the blood-smeared mess I’d become. Instead of concern, she flashed a feral grin, all teeth and pride, like a wolf admiring another’s handiwork. “Obviously… which, by the way, good job. Looks like you did some solid damage.”
Despite everything, I gave her a small nod, acknowledging the praise without letting it in too deep. “Yeah. A lot of good that did me.”
I folded my arms across my chest as if that could somehow hold in all my frustration. “Right when he was about to give me the name of the person who orchestrated it, he died.”
Calix jumped in like I’d left an opening for criticism. “Well, Niya, that’s called taking too much too fast. Which artery did you nick? I can show you?—”
“Shut up,” I snapped, my voice edged like a blade. I didn’t want this turning into another anatomy lecture or an I-told-you-so moment. “It wasn’t because I killed him.”
I exhaled hard, too tired and pissed off but not sure who to direct it at. “The dick had a vow of silence placed on him. As soon as he tried to say the name, his body convulsed. Then his heart exploded. Just…boom.”
That final word came out as brittle as the last thread of my patience.
Nova and Calix shared a look, quick, sharp, silent. A thousand conversations spoken in half a second.
“Did you tell Ezra yet?” Nova asked, her voice gentler now, with a thread of concern tucked into her usual cool.
I shook my head. “Not yet. We’re still tracking down the security guard who might’ve been involved. Once I’ve got his location and enough to give her something solid, I’ll do a full report.”
Calix started spinning the ring on his thumb, a sure sign he was thinking too fast and already ten steps ahead. “That’s probably for the best. We don’t know yet if this was a move against the Syndicate or just a personal vendetta. Either way, we’ll respond, but we need more.”
I stood up, trying to look like I had more energy than I actually did. “I’ll keep you guys in the loop.”
I assumed they’d be heading out soon since they had their own lives to get back to.
Calix stretched, the movement slow and exaggerated. “No need. We’re sticking around for a few days. Make sure the reopening goes smoothly.”
My mouth opened reflexively, ready to argue, to push back, to tell them I had this handled, but the words stalled, caught between pride and fatigue. I didn’t want to hurt them, but gods, I wanted them to back off.
Nova, because she knew me like the back of her hand, patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll stay out of your spotlight and let you have your big moment. Trust me, you’re going to want us here.”
Something in her tone set my nerves on edge. Calix was already grinning, which made it worse. They were totally about to drop some flaming bullshit in my lap.
