Thor turns red, and I can’t help but chuckle. “I approve of you both, okay? No need to hide from me anymore. I’m happy you have so much love. You deserve every bit of it.”
Thor opens his mouth to respond, but another voice interrupts him. “Hey guys. Just checking on Cynthia. How are you feeling?”
Nothing but crickets follow. My jaw unhinges as I peer at Maverick, who’s shifting foot to foot. Even Thor looks startled.
Cynthia grins. “So good. Are you my second boyfriend now?”
Man, she doesn’t hold back.
“Uh... I like you, Little Terror. I'd like to get to know you better,” Maverick admits.
“Bro, dude... what the hell? Stepping on toes much?” Thor looks so offended, it makes me laugh. Once I start, I can’t stop.
Cynthia looks at them both, wiggling out of Thor's arms. She moves to Mav’s side.
“Yes, I’d like that.” She pushes up on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.
“With that, I think I’ll go,” I say on a wheeze. “You three play nice, you hear?”
Mav and Thor continue to bicker as I walk away, still laughing.
Purge
Fuck, I’m beat. I've been making sure to take long breaks from this damn computer screen, nothing of top importance keeping me glued to it now.
A ping alerts me to a notification. It's a new email. I click in to check, and startle when I read it.
Sender: V. Volkov
Message: Son— we are coming back, with your mothers. It’s none of your business why. I'm only telling you this because there are going to be heavy consequences for you boys’ actions. Be prepared to take your punishments.
What the actual fuck is that supposed to mean? Why would the son of a bitch give me a heads up?
My heart pounds out of my chest as I ponder the possibilities. There is only one conclusion that makes any sense: They mean to kill us.
I'm already up and out of my chair, running full-on out of the room. Bill calls out behind me, but I don’t stop. My feet pound against the floor as I go to look for everyone.
I check the media room first, but it’s empty. So, I just start knocking on doors, shouting. “911! Everyone come out!”
Panting, I put my hands on my knees to catch my breath. Doors click open, and they start pouring out.
Valley and Bryan are first over to me.
Sam comes next, followed by Razor, Frost, Ghost, and Trikk.
“The fuck is going on?” Razor asks, but I just shake my head.
“Synn?” I ask, but his door opens, and he walks out with Iskra in tow.
Before I can explain, I hear Harris shout from down the hall. “What’s going on?”
I wait for him to catch up, then I tell them about the message.
Synn roars. “That’s it. They die. No more waiting!”
Nodding, I say, “I agree. We need to take them out.”
“Fucking gladly,” Ghost says.
