Page 97 of Abundance of Obsession

She’s sitting down there, at the bar. Chatting with the bartender. They’re laughing. Curiosity killed the cat, but I’m still dying to know what they’re talking about.

After returning from the mission, I could see happiness on her face. Happiness and relief…

As soon as she saw me, she climbed onto me like a tree. Wrapped her legs and arms close around me. Didn’t let go for the next few minutes. So I sat there with her in my arms until she calmed down.

It twisted into a passionate spell between us.

The air crackled, a low hum vibrating in my chest, as the unspoken thing between us coiled, tightening like a hot, invisible thread, pulling us into its potent, intoxicating weave.

I could get used to being welcomed home like that.

And now we’re in Feather. All together.

Everyone who took part in the operation is celebrating downstairs. They’re having fun, drinking, and enjoying the company of the girls. And Zoe is part of it. She’s celebrating our victory.

When we got here, Theo surprised me. Spare with his words, he said to her, “Good job, little one.”

That’s more than any of us expected.

I’m proud of her too. So damn proud.

“A little while longer, and you’ll burn through the glass with that laser gaze,” Theo says, standing next to me. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried,” I answer, taking a sip of Coke.

“And that’s why you can’t stop staring? Are you afraid someone will snatch her up?”

No answer. I only grit my teeth. The very thought of it ruins my perfect mood.

“Don’t tease him,” Ryker warns, standing on my other side, taking a sip of whiskey. “Zoe did great. Thanks to her, we foiled Veirix’s takeover. Took down the weapons container.”

“And Nico’s dead,” I add.

“Yeah. And Nico’s dead. Though that doesn’t change much.”

That’s true.

Veirix, like most organizations this size, will simply change its leader. Same as in the Pact. James died; Ryker took his place.

“But Ricardo and Damien are alive. And Emilio wasn’t with them. Which one of them will take the lead?”

“We’ll see.” Ryker gives a sigh. “Anyway, we’ll worry about that later. Today we’re celebrating.”

“You should find a new place for this sort of thing,” Theo adds.

We both ignore him.

There’s no sense in it. My best friend has no intention of staying at the top of the Pact for the rest of his life. It’s all temporary. And Feather—the income from all the circles—is enough so that his grandchildren won’t have to work.

One thing keeps bothering me, though.

We didn’t find Ortega’s body.

Or Damien’s, of course.

I thought Ortega was dead. None of us checked. Apparently, though, that wasn’t the case.

“Doesn’t it worry you that we’ve opened the door for Aiden and his father?” I ask. “We made Veirix weaker by killing Nico.”