Meanwhile, Ko was still hacking away, and I watched as he decapitated two of the rats with a single swing of his favorite blade. I probably should have helped him, but our mountain of a brother looked like he needed to burn through some stress.
That’s when I spotted the cookies, the distinctive blue wrapper peeking out from Ko’s ass-cheek pocket like a tiny edible beacon, and a wicked grin lit up my face as my little ol’ heart warmed with mischief.
Since he wasobviouslybusy, I stealthed up to him like a moon-damned cat and stole the pack of cookies with all the speed, skill, and grace of a—
Suddenly on the ground, I blinked up at the stuttering streetlight as my vision cleared. What hit me? A truck? A building? The entire moon? The world spun, then solidified as Koa’s broad self loomed over me and damn near broke my hand retrieving his cookies.
So much for these new tactical gloves, I thought as I laid there, remembering how to breathe. I’d paid good money for the promise that these would “enhance dexterity and stealth.” Apparently, the warranty didn’t cover “not getting your ass kicked by your little brother.”
“All dead?” Cas barked in the comms as he stuffed the chort’s corpse into a containment orb.
The dire rats would dissolve into goopy piles soon enough on their own, but the chort’s head was our proof for payment. Needed to preserve that at all costs because I had to restock my little toys. I was nearly out of incendiary rounds. And maybe pick up some better gloves while I was at it.
Answering Cas, Ko rumbled, “Z is lucky not to be.”
“Night’s teeth,” I hissed as I shook out my hand. The pain lanced up my arm, but I’d be damned before I’d let them know it actually hurt. “You could’ve just asked for them back, you know.”
“You could have just not touched my fucking cookies.” Greedy bastard was already stuffing one in his mouth.
Getting up, I dusted off my tactical pants and straightened my helmet, which had gone slightly askew.
“You’d probably be less of an asshole if you shared those once in a while. Scientific fact that sugar improves the general mood.”
“So does not getting your hand broken,” Ko retorted through a mouthful of chocolate crumbs and white icing.
As Cas came over, the chort’s head swinging from his hand in the containment orb, he assessed both of us with quick glances, then nodded.
“Target secured. Mission clock stopped 02:12.”
Still strung out on adrenaline and post-fight jitters, I decided this party needed lighting up. We’d bagged our target, nobody got maimed, and we were about to get paid.Wellpaid. This called for celebration.
I shouldered Lurleen, yanked a very special grenade from its pouch on my tactical vest, and popped the pin.
“We did it, boys!” I yelled, tossing it high in the air before either of them could stop me.
“You crazy, moon-damned—” Koa’s shout cut off as he dove for cover behind a dumpster.
“Cruor!” Cas yelled at the same time, also diving out of the way, clutching the containment orb to his chest to protect our payday.
Me? I held my arms out and turned my face to the ink-black sky, not even flinching at the loudpop!as the glitter bomb went off. A cloud of pink and silver sparkles exploded high above us, drifting down on me like the world’s most fabulous snowfall.
“Tenebris me devoret,” I heard Casimir mutter as he pulled Koa to his feet.
“Too late, bro! It already has!” I hollered back, trying to catch sparkly flakes with my tongue. “Behold! The glorious—Ack!”
A rapidly gooing rat corpse bounced off my forehead. Koa’s aim had always been scarily precise.
“One more fang-rotted glitter bomb,menace, and the next one’s going up your ass,” he growled, already stalking toward the SUV.
I turned to Cas, who was brushing futilely at the glitter on his tactical gear.
“Pizza?” I gave him my best pleading look.
“If you can find a place open,” he shrugged, “but it’s coming out of your share.”
“Meanie!” I blew a raspberry at him.
#
