Kiki looked directly at him. “Because I feel them. Like static on your skin. Like a vibration in your bones. I know who’s out there.”
Angel tapped his fingers against his mug. “And the other two? You mentioned Eric?”
Kiki nodded. “He can feel the residue of what has happened in a room—almost like seeing ghosts. He can also make you see things that aren’t there. Anticipate what you’ll do before you know it yourself.”
“Sounds delightful,” Cole muttered dryly.
Angel narrowed his eyes. “And what’s the likelihood that they know we’re here? I mean, it’s not like my lake house has a giant neon ‘Come Get Me’ sign.”
Before Kiki could answer, another voice did.
“No… but it might as well.”
Every man shot to their feet. Chairs scraped, some toppled over as the men moved into a defensive position. Weapons drawn in a blink and steadied on the man standing with his hands raised in the doorway of the kitchen.
Nikos studied Cosmos Raines. The billionaire tech nerd stood completely calm, as if he hadn’t just slipped past one of the most secure systems in the country.
“I was hoping for a warmer welcome,” Cosmos said in a dry voice. “RITA was supposed to have warned you.”
He stiffened when Kiki placed her hand on his arm. “Nikos, Cosmos is okay. He’s been like a guardian angel to me over the past eight years,” she murmured.
Cosmos groaned and shot her a wry smile. “Annnd… so much for my anonymity. I should have anticipated that you’d know,” he retorted dryly.
Nikos exhaled slowly and gave Cosmos a wary nod. “Where in the hell did you come from and how did you know where we were?”
Cosmos shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “My assistant, RITA, can be very persistent, and she’s great at finding people.”
“But… how did you get by my security?” Angel growled, aiming his pistol at Cosmos’s chest. “You set offnothing?”
Cosmos shrugged. “I didn’t exactly want to have you all shooting me before I explained.”
Before anyone could respond, a shimmer lit the space beside him. A tall, curvy redhead in fitted military fatigues appeared, folding her arms.
“I decided the element of surprise might be the best course of action,” RITA’s sultry voice cheerfully retorted. “Hello, boys. I’m RITA, Cosmos’s really intelligent technical assistant. Hi, Kiki. It’s wonderful to meet you in person.”
Lucas let out a strangled sound. “It’s official. I’m defecting if that’s your team.”
Kiki stifled a laugh when RITA winked at Lucas.
“I was afraid they might be a little trigger-happy, and I promised Terra I would keep you from getting shot,” RITA cheerfully retorted before she turned back to Lucas. “Sorry, handsome. I’m married,” she added with a brilliant smile.
Cosmos ignored the banter. He looked at Angel. “My wife and daughter would beveryupset if you shot me.”
Angel’s finger twitched on the trigger, before he lowered the weapon with a muttered curse.
Cole crossed his arms. “How do we know you’re not one ofthem?”
“If I were, you’d already be dead,” Cosmos said coolly. “And so would she.” He tipped his head toward Kiki. “But we don’t have time for philosophical debates. They’re coming. And they’ll bring a shitload of weapons and men with them.”
Nikos stepped forward. “Tell us something we haven’t already figured out ourselves. I doubt having just you and a shimmering hologram is going to be of much help.”
Before Cosmos could speak, the air behind him shimmered again—thicker this time. A vertical ripple of energy parted reality like water, and an enormous figure stepped through.
A broad, muscular Black man in tactical armor surveyed the room with piercing eyes. Two beings flanked him—tall, humanoid… butnothuman. Both were dressed in black leather with eyes that glowed silver.
Every weapon in the room lifted again.
Nikos moved instinctively to shield Kiki.
