“It’s not something I want to do,” she said. “I have to do it. These people need to pay for what they’ve done, and I will dismantle the Ashford empire with this. I’ve already told you, I’m not going for the small operations managers, I’m going right for Margaret. And I know, her granddaughter, Sienna, is the current face of the company, but she didn’t make those decisions.” Maya was so headstrong about the entire thing. I envied her so much, although I often emulated that type of confidence.
“What do you want us to do if they attack you?” I asked. “We have guns.”
“You do, and I would ask that you don’t use them,” she said. “This entire thing is about justice. I’m in the camp of justice should be served in a cell, no amenities, just reflection, and maybe an occasional medieval rotten tomato throwing with a choir of people heckling.”
Donovan burst out into laughter. “I think I’d like to see that as well,” he said. “And we’ll make sure guns are holstered at all times. Artemis here has a lethal punch though, so I’ll make sure he keeps that down too.”
“If it Julian, go for the face, he’s had his nose done twice,” she said with a wicked smile.
“Noted,” I said.
“And for everyone else, stun guns might be appropriate,” Donovan said. “We have those too.”
I guessed now it was just a waiting game. Waiting for all her information to be processed and published. I pulled at the collar of the constricting shirt.
“Oh my god, we also have an outdoor area with a hot tub, but I was told it was off-limits because snipers and whatnot,” she said.
I knew I was gay, but in that moment, I was ready to switch sides for someone who would treat me to a hot tub on a balcony—high above the city. “Oh my god, I’d—”
“We can’t,” Donovan said. “But if you want to, we can stand outside and make sure there are no threats.”
“Perfect!” She jumped upright. “I say we go check it out now then.”
She was the boss—going over Donovan’s head, which made me suppress a giggle.
AAA
14. DONOVAN
It seemed hard on Artemis, to take in the bigger picture of it all. He didn’t really know at the core of it what Sanctum did, or Mercy for that matter. Mercy was the head of it, but she was nothing without the billionaires funding her—funding us. I loved his eat the rich and free the people attitude to life, it’s why I’d hoped he would’ve taken a different path in life. I wished I could’ve fucked him harder—maybe better—or worse, something that stopped him from wanting to chase after me.
Maya finally went to bed after getting drunk, throwing herself a party in the hot tub, and then blabbed to us both about how she thought we would make a cute couple. And that we just didn’t see it.
Our shirts had become unbuttoned and we no longer had to be stiff around her. She didn’t want that, she liked us to bleed out our feelings and tell us why we did what we did. I wasn’t mad about the protection detail, I was just frustrated.
On the sofa in the foyer, we sat staring at each other.
“You should get some sleep first,” I told him.
“No, you should,” he countered quickly, pawing a hand at me. “You’ve been up for much longer than I have.”
True, but I knew he needed it. “Take the first shift sleeping,” I said more firmly. “I’ll wake you when it’s time to change over.”
“Or,” he said in a softer tone. “There’s security outside. Sanctum’s drones are in the sky, or whatever. We can just—go into the bedroom together, and work some of that stuff out from earlier.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Ok, fine.” He rolled his eyes and threw himself all sloppy from the sofa. It was adorable, and I really didn’t need him tobe that right now. I needed him to be a brat, to annoy me, something I could be fueled by.
I gestured with my comms piece in hand. “I need to check in anyway.” I didn’t, but it was a protocol, especially for overnights.
Jinksy was immediately in my ear. “Ok, how are the lovebirds?” he asked.
“Ms. Chen doesn’t have birds,” I said, plainly. I wasn’t in the mood for him to be on me about it as well. “She does, however, enjoy a glass—sorry, bottle of champagne. And to talk. I can see why we’ve been hired.”
“Wasn’t that in the file?” he asked. “I’m sure it said somewhere that you’d have to listen to her.”
“It was a thick file, Jinksy, I read as much as I needed to read.” The lengthy tome could’ve contained the secrets to everlasting health, but I’d still only skim read the thing. “Anyway, is there anything pressing?”
