Ozzy lifts a hand. “Okay, Dad.”
Sawyer gives him a look that could curdle milk. “Not the time.”
Ozzy sobers instantly. “Yeah. Got it.”
Juno’s eyes soften. “Is Salem aware of who she can trust?”
Rae shakes her head. “Unknown. If she’s been moved through pre-auction conditioning, she might not trust anyone.”
Ozzy’s jaw tightens. Something flickers behind his eyes. I can’t name it. But I can recognize the start of a story when it shows up in a man’s face.
Knight seems to clock it too. He glances at Ozzy, expression unreadable.
I file that away.
The meeting breaks into smaller tactical conversations.
I’m leaning over Render’s tablet with Knight, evaluating a route map, when Gage appears at my shoulder.
“Hey,” he says. Suspiciously calm.
Which is how I know he’s about to say something that annoys me. “Hey, brother.”
He grimaces. “I’m trying to get on board with you and Knight.”
“I can see that. It’s adorable.”
He sighs. Then he lowers his voice. “I’m okay.”
I blink.
“What?”
“With… you two.”
I glance at Knight.
Knight’s pretending he’s deeply invested in the map.
He isn’t. He’s listening with the intensity of a man defusing a bomb using only willpower.
Gage clears his throat. “I’m okay with you dating him.”
“That’s shockingly mature.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
I grin. “Why the sudden brother approval arc?”
Gage pauses. Then he says quietly, “Because he didn’t just protect you. He respected you.”
My chest warms in that annoying way feelings do when they arrive without permission. “I’m still going to gross you out,” I warn.
“Yes,” he says flatly. “Which brings me to my only boundary.”
“Oh, here we go.”
“Stop kissing in front of me.”
