Someone like Zaden Price would have chuckled and quipped something along the lines of…
“Imagine finding you here of all places.” He smiled, but his face remained focused, his eyes fixed on them both, searching for weakness, evaluating them as targets.
Her instincts wailed in alarm.
“Needs must,” Augustine said.
“Ortega?” Zaden asked.
“Not at all,” Augustine said. “A private House matter.”
The intensity of Zaden’s stare eased a little. He gave her a slight, self-mocking bow. His voice gained a smooth overtone. “Prime Harrison.”
“Prime Price,” she said.
“You know my name. I’m truly flattered. Perhaps we will see more of each other going forward.”
“Perhaps not,” Augustine told him.
Zaden grinned. His body spun, like a piece of paper twisting into a spiral, and the red-headed teenager was back. She gave them a long look and squeaked in a high-pitched voice. “That suit is mid, Augustine. It’s giving beta. Later!”
She sauntered down the hallway toward Sutton’s office.
Augustine sighed and turned toward the elevator. They were out in the parking lot, before Diana said, “Ilike your suit. It goes with your eyes.”
“Thank you,” he told her.
“Since he was pretending to be a teenage girl, he had to read you. It’s in the job description.”
The murderous demigod smiled, opened the rear passenger door for Lila, and then held the car door open for Diana. “No worries. I’m secure in my rizz.”
She slipped inside and buckled her seat belt. He got behind the wheel and guided the car onto the street.
“Helicopter?” she asked.
He nodded. “It’s a forty-five-minute flight.”
MII had access to a military helicopter. Nice. “From the MII building?”
“Yes.”
She tapped her phone. “Gerardine? I need Akela and Whiskey at MII. Please bring my work clothes and a new pouch.”
“Understood,” Gerardine murmured.
Diana hung up.
Augustine threw her a curious look.
“Backup,” she said. “The hills are wooded, and it will be evening by the time we get there.”
He didn’t respond. Diana settled into her seat and took a long breath. Kayson’s face shimmered, rising from the depths of her memory. Fury bit her with scalding teeth.
A hunt was coming. Finally, a chance to bleed off all the rage, grief, and frustration.
About time.
[ 5 ]
