Page 19
Same as Nash.
“Where have you been?”
He blinks again.
“That’s not — you can’t just disappear for two years and then show up with stolen jewelry like this is a normal day—” I stop. Look at the bracelet. Look at him. “Wait a second. Where did you get this?”
He tilts his head.
“This is someone’s bracelet,” I tell him.
He makes a small sound that I interpret as finders keepers.
I glare at him. “That is not how property law works.”
He hops off the stool and onto my shoulder like he lives there. Which, after two years of being ghosted by this asshole, is weirdly endearing.
When I look up again, Claire is standing by the kitchen door, watching us with her mouth open. Crow has materialized at the pass-through, spatula still in hand, expression caught somewhere between what the hell and I missed that little bastard.
“Is that—” Crow starts.
“Echo? Apparently.”
“Where did he—”
“Unknown.”
“Is that a real diamond bracelet?” Claire asks.
“Um. Probably not,” I lie, but she doesn’t look convinced.
Claire has never met Echo. But Crow has. And he already knows what the little klepto trash panda is capable of, as evidenced by the glare he’s aiming at my little furry friend.
Unbothered, Echo reaches into the bag on the counter and steals a breakfast sandwich. I let him because I don’t have the energy and also because I missed him more than I intend to admit.
“Come on,” I say, shooing Echo toward the door before Crow can make nuggets out of him.
When he doesn’t move, I pick him up and put him in my bag along with the diamond bracelet. He doesn’t fight me, and, in fact, looks perfectly content to catch a ride while stuffing his face.
“Thanks for breakfast,” I call out.
“Good luck getting that thing past Elena,” Crow warns.
I ignore him, mostly because he has a point.
Halfway to the door, my phone buzzes.
Dutch: Okay, so who is the tall drink of expensive suit who just stopped me in the hall and asked what you do for fun during your spare time?? And also, what counts as spare time in your world? He seemed genuinely curious, which is almost sadder than the question. EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
I stare at the message, my stomach in knots. Worse, the three dots that indicate he’s typing another message continue to warble on the screen.
Dutch: Nash Cross? Alpha of the Crossvale pack. Dean of the war college?? Is this someone I should know about??
Dutch: Mia.
Dutch: MIA!
Dutch: The man used the phrase “in her downtime” like that’s a concept that applies to you.
