Honestly, dealing with us seems to be a perk, not a punishment.
“You’re headed to Calisan tomorrow.” It’s not a question. Kimba wouldn’t get something like that wrong.
“That was the plan.” He scowls at something and then I hear the sound of typing on a different screen.
“I’ll tag along, if you don’t mind.” And then, because this isn’t a question either, “Or even if you do.”
This time, he does look at me. Eyes narrowed, he says, “It’s not really in your jurisdiction.”
It doesn’t feel like an argument so much as a reminder.
“Whatever is going on, it has something to do with us and with the Shadow Zone. If you want me to go on my own…”
I’m not serious, but he doesn’t know that.
“No.” Riann squares his shoulders and grimaces. “Meet me at my office tomorrow morning. I’ll send the time and address.”
“I’ll be there.”
“And come in civilian clothing. It’s a quiet town, full of quiet people. They’ll take one look at you and run screaming for the safety of their homes.”
“I can do that.” Margot has an unspoken rule that we shouldn’t come in our suits, so I do have other clothes. “Anything else?”
“I don’t suppose I can get you to leave your guns at home?”
“No chance.”
“It was worth asking.” He huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
When he disconnects, I immediately call Drift to let him know and when he answers, I wonder if he knows Kilo is lounging on the couch behind him, eating borelon clusters straight out of the box.
The fact that he doesn’t bring up Chrys tells me he might.
“It does mean I may miss the meeting.” The next one is the day after tomorrow, and if we run into problems, I don’t want anyone to expect me.
“Understood.”
When he hangs up, I finish unpacking the latest and last—for now—order… something I could not do while on a call with either of them.
The chocolate would be fine… the other boxes would not.
I may have gone a little overboard. One sucks, one vibrates, one has a pump to make it bigger if needed. One might as well be an exact replica of Risk’s. I chuckle as I gather up the boxes and take them to my room—toherroom.
And once I’ve set them on the table beside the bed and put the bottle of cleaner in the bathroom… I don’t have anything else to do.
But there is a small mountain of clothes to fold and that will have to occupy me for the moment.
CHAPTER
FIVE
ARC
I knowthey’re almost back when Risk stands and goes to the kitchen.
When it’s just him and me, things are quiet. He knows what I would say, I can hear his thoughts…
I don’t need to ask him why he’s started making her food. She’s dizzy.
