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She feels smaller. When’s the last time she ate?
“I’ll be all right,” I mumble, and force her to look at me. The anger in her gaze dissipates, and I see what’s truly there. “You don’t need to worry about me so much, Maeve. I took the long way. No cameras saw me. I’m a big boy now. I can take care of myself.”
“Debatable,” Killian mutters, leaning against the wall. “You did hire me to kill a guy just a few weeks ago.” I give him a dry look, then shoot one at Hayes, who has the balls to laugh. Traitors.
She exhales harshly, body slumping slightly. “Fine.” She points at the laptop. “What did you find?”
“I got the shipping details, but Roman has a code.”
“Fuck,” she curses, slamming her fist into the desk. Turning to look at her Reaper, she tilts her head. “Think Paolo will give it up?”
Killian smirks slowly, shaking his head. “Princess, he’s dead by now. He won’t be telling us much of anything.”
She curses under her breath, and I scratch my head. I should be focused on helping my family—hell, it’s the first time she’s let me—but as she turns, I can’t help but think of Valentina. The way her legs curve, the way her long neck stretches as she pliés.
Fuck me.
Closing my eyes, I throw out my hand, talking without thinking. I need a distraction. “I could potentially break it. Hack through the shit. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” I can totally break it.
But Maeve has to think it’s her idea. I can’t seem too eager to be involved. Her primary concern has always been to keep me alive, and letting her brother play with the mob doesn’t do that.
Biting her cheek, she shifts uneasily before sighing. “Just this one time,” she clarifies. “Only with hacking. You don’t go anywhere dangerous. You stay away from here. We can’t have you associating, even if you’re hidden. Got me?”
I salute her. “I got it.”
Excitement courses through me. I never wanted to be part of the clan—not my father’s clan, anyway. He wanted to dominate his children, use their fear and status to propel him further. He had no problem selling us off if it benefited him.
Not Maeve. I don’t agree with this world, but for the sister who sacrificed everything for us? I’d give my left nut to help her cause.
Exiting the office, she grips my arm as I dig out my phone. It’s like memory recall at this point, and I fight the urge to check.
What if she fell?
“Wait.” Maeve shifts, biting her bottom lip.
“What?”
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” She wrings her hands in front of her belly. It’s probably the most adorable thing, ever. “I mean. You’re already here.”
I jerk a thumb over my shoulder. “I should really get back.”
Her face doesn’t betray any emotion. “Right.” Gently, she pats my chest, right over the tattooed crest. “Be safe.”
As she turns to go down the hall with Hayes, Killian saddles up to my side. We both watch her retreating form, and I shove my hands into my pockets.
“Is she eating?”
Killian shrugs. “Some days are harder than others.”
“Still goading her into taking a bite?”
“Obviously, but she’s getting better.”
“Good.”
Clamping a hand on my shoulder, he makes a point of staring at me with those soulless eyes.
“Be careful.”
