To Ezekial.
To me.
To Julien.
To Kane.
No jokes. No sass. Just her.
And yeah, it kinda ruins me a little.
I clear my throat, reaching into my back pocket. “I’ve got something else.” I pull out a new piece of paper. “And this one, you kinda do need to sign.”
Her brows lift suspiciously, eyes regaining some fire. “Another fake contract?”
“Nah, Red. No hidden clauses, either,” I tease, and she gives me a tiny smile. “Though I might add one where Zeek has to be nice to me at least twice a week.”
He glares, but she laughs, really laughs, and it’s like sunlight cracking open a storm.
“I also had nothing to do with this,” Kane calls from his dark little corner.
Over Jasmine’s head, Julien leans over slightly to see.“Sai, what is this?”
I flash him a grin. “My turn to keep a secret.”
Ezekial steps forwards.“Sai…”
“Ezekial…”I mimic his serious tone. His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t push.
Jasmine reaches for the paper, placing it on top of her contract,and starts to unfold the top.
I gently stop her with my hand. “Just… trust me, yeah?”
Her eyes flick to mine, searching and a little unsure. Pen pinched between her fingers.
Come on, Red. Give me this, please.
She signs. A neat little curl of her name in black on white. And my grin? It’s stupid and smug, because she trusted me enough to do it.
Chapter 30: Ezekial
“Tomorrow morning, straight to the Lead Commanders’ meeting?”Jasmine confirms, repeating back an earlier conversation.
She’s dropped the mental wall, and I’m taking full advantage.
It started with questions about the banking app, then I suggested others: a language app, email, clothing, food, and then we didn’t stop.
“We’ll go straight to my office from here.”
Much to Sai’s irritation and his disgruntled complaints that nowIwas cutting into his alone time.
“Any more ideas on who the leak might be?”she asks.
I slip the tie from my collar. It’s been hours since we started talking, but I’ve been so engrossed I still haven’t undressed.
“Everything indicates it’s one of the four… Hopefully.”
“Hopefully?”
