I grinned wider. “It’s called reading between the lines, Cal.”
Nova shook her head. “Gods, Cal. How can you be so fucking smart andsodumb at the same time?”
All of us sisters were always ready to gang up on Calix for no reason other than he was the boy of the family.
He spun toward her, eyes blazing. “Oh, and you’re a genius? Who thought it was a good idea to let Syris and Ternin take turns with thesex darts, huh?”
Nova cringed at the memory. I raised a brow.
“Whathappenedafter I left? They were just watching and drinking when I… got called away.”
Nova’s expression went grim like she was about to recount a battlefield trauma.
“It started with a bet, then some people volunteered…. Next thing we know, they’re shouting instructions,graphicinstructions, on how to really pleasure someone as they play. I actually feltbadfor the poor couple when they demanded a third round to break the tie.”
“Youwatched? Why? Why didn’t you just leave?” Despite how horrified I was feeling, I was having a real hard time keeping in the laughter.
Nova rolled her eyes. “Like we could leave your reopening early. It’s Syndicate business, and we’re Syndicate bosses. We stay ‘til the end.”
“Plus,” Calix added, gesturing wildly, “I had to be here to make sure all the upgrades worked properly.”
He didn’t, and he knew it. In fact, he could’ve left Rack here, like what happened last time, and I was about to say just that when Nova cut in.
“E call you?”
My smile tightened. “Bright and early.” Dragged me out of the post-mate-pile bliss and back into the chaos.
I motioned toward my screen and exhaled. “I’m reviewing the financials she sent me from last night.”
They gave me sympathetic looks, but I waved them off. Honestly, after the way I got railed into rebirth last night, I felt more alive than ever.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see Alic’s name. Butterflies flitted through my chest, but I looked at my siblings and crushed them under the heel of professionalism. I refused to be one of those mates who turned into goo over a phone call. Not doing it.
“Yes?”
His voice was tight. “We found Glen.”
Ice filled my chest, and my voice became steel. “Where?”
“Bronx dump.” He sounded like he was frustrated. “Torn apart and… it's not clean. Someone wentoff, Niya. It’s a mess.”
“Send me the address.” I wanted to see it for myself in case I could notice any patterns.
“I-I don’t think?—”
I gripped the phone tighter, fury rising. “Send it.” I didn’t care that he was my mate. In this moment, in this situation, he worked under me.Icalled the fucking shots.
Ending the call, I moved around my desk and yanked open a cabinet for my moto jacket, feeling the urge to wear black leather pants and a pink jewel-studded halter today. Not my normal style, but it still had some of my pizzazz thrown in.
Lucus was working on closing some deal, and Van would need to stay here and take care of the place. Ras was doing some tweaks on the security software, and Maso was with Alic, so that meant I needed to go alone. The fastest way was by motorcycle.
“They found Glen,” I told Nova and Calix.
Instantly, they stood and came to my side. Nova wrapped me in a tight, brief hug. “This was fun. Let’s do it again, but, next time, come to my neck of the woods.”
I snorted. Me? In the Montana wilds? I was a city girl. I wouldn't know what to do with so many trees surrounding me. Still, I nodded. Never say never.
Calix tugged on my collar, pulling me into a rare brotherly hug. “Go get ’em, baby sis.”
