“Gross,” Neve said. “I heard that.”
“Sorry!” He glared at Kaz and mouthed, “Shut up”. “Anyway, I don’t know what I’m doing for New Year's. Why? Did you want to do something?”
“We have plans,” Kaz stated, spinning into an empty parking spot fast enough to give Nate whiplash.
The move stunned him and prevented him from replying, so by the time they came to a stop, he was still in a daze and didn’t react when Kaz snatched the other earbud attachment out of his multi-slate and popped it into his own ear.
“The first New Year together is supposed to be a really important milestone for new couples,” Kaz explained, keeping his tone light and inviting. “I’m trying to do right by your brother, which means celebrating just the two of us. You understand, don’t you, Neve?”
Her laughter filled Nate’s right ear. “Yeah, I do. Good for you guys. I’m keeping track, though, for the record. Keep your promise, Kaz. If you do, you and I won’t have any issues.”
Kazimir chuckled. “Anyone ever tell you you’d make a good Brumal member?”
“Flix once, actually.”
“Excuse me?” Nate hadn’t heard that story before.
“Relax, big brother,” she said, and he could practically hear her eyes rolling. “The second he found out I was related to you he tucked his tail between his legs and scampered off.”
Kazimir burst out laughing at that description, but Nate still wasn’t in the mood.
“If he bothers you again—”
“He didn’t bother me the first time,” she corrected. “Besides, this was a couple of years ago.”
“Flix is away on vacation at the moment anyway,” Kaz cut in. “He’s not around to bother anyone. Thank Light.”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” she stated suddenly. “Verga just got home. Have fun! And, brother, I want to hear all about your New Year’s after!
“Maybe notallof the details,” Kaz winked and both she and Nate made sounds of disgust.
“Ew, bye.” The line went dead.
“Stop talking to my little sister about sex,” Nate stated.
Kaz opened his mouth to reply—no doubt with something witty and absolutely annoying—only for his multi-slate to interrupt. He frowned when he checked the number and then gave a sigh, handing the earbud that went to Nate’s device back before releasing one of his own to place it in his ear.
“Head up without me,” he instructed. “It’s the penthouse suite. You don’t need the code, just use the facial recognition pad.”
“What?” Nate frowned.
“I added you to the system,” Kaz explained. “I have to take this. It’s Brumal shit. Could take a while and it’s cold out here. Go ahead, make yourself at home. I’ll be up as soon as I’m done with the call.”
It made him uncomfortable entering the building on his own. He felt out of place in his Velvet Brew uniform, and he badly needed a shower. But Kaz’s pinched brow made itclear that the call really was important, and that Nate probably shouldn’t be around for it, so he forced his worry aside and climbed out.
“Just,” he hesitated with the door partially open, “don’t take too long.”
“Missing me already, babe?” Kaz grinned wolfishly. “I’ll be right behind you. Give it twenty minutes, and I’ll mean that literally.” His gaze dropped to the spot between Nate’s legs and his grin widened when that made Nate slam the door shut.
Nate crossed the lot toward the glass entrance mumbling curses under his breath. Couldn’t Kaz ever take anything seriously?
That wasn’t fair. He was about to deal with Brumal business. That was serious.
There were sentries dressed in three-piece suits at either side of the door in the gold and cream-colored lobby. The ceiling stretched high above, and at the center was a massive crystal chandelier that was larger than the hovercar they’d used to get here.
Nate half expected to be stopped at the door, but one of the guards merely gave him a once over and then bowed in greeting, the other following quickly after. He nodded back to be polite and passed through, searching for the elevators. There were several seating areas and a check-in station that took up almost the entire right wall. Guests and residents dressed in outfits worth more than a year of Nate’s paychecks put together idled and moved around him, not a single one giving him so much as a glance, even in his uniform.
Had he been overthinking again?
