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“And two.” Atlas scratched his head. “And you take them where?”
“To land as soon as they’re born. I have contacts with several hagissa. They get humans to adopt them.”
“And you take money for that.” Atlas stepped closer to Fero.
“Only enough to pay the Kraken a fair rate for transport. Never any more.”
Holter turns the corner to the temporary Maelstrom. “Holy shit.” The entire thoroughfare is newly decorated with the colors of the ten domes shining in pillars. The Braesen colors are tattered and dangling from a pillar. The old financial building is covered in the Dorian flag. This is going to take a long time to get through. I’m not sure how I feel about someone having torn down the Braesen colors. Their leadership is tainted, but does that mean all of Braesen should pay?
“Let’s get our statements recorded and get home to Sunshine.”
Holter nods and pilots into the closest docking dome.
45
HOLTER
“How’s your arm?” I hand Nico a glass of seaweed gin.
“It’s been two weeks. It’s fine. I’m not sure why they insist on me keeping this sling on.”
It’s because Belle bribed Dr. Pertusio with a supply of coffee to keep Nico from going off and tracking down more rogue Braesen. It’s fine. We can leave the security wrangling to others. I shrug my shoulders at him.
Belle comes into the apartment from the foyer, Castor right behind her. “Any word on when the Centauri is getting here?”
“No, Belle, I’m sorry.” The Centauri was almost to the city a week ago when it raced off to defend a boundary dispute with the Vikings. They’ve had to go radio silent as well.
“I figured you would have told me, but I just?—”
I pull her to my chest. “I know you’re ready to see your aunt and cousin. I’m sure they’re ready to see you too. But you’ve met Broderick. He would never let anything happen to them.”
She nods. “I know, you’ve both said.”
“How’s the podlet?” Nico asks, tugging her away from me.
“Oh, Kai’s baby is the cutest little thing. Her nose is adorable, and I can’t get enough of the way she smells. Isabel is a perfect little mermaid.”
I laugh. “With a good set of lungs. At least, that’s what Ellery told me.”
Belle smiles. “Are you ready to go?”
“Ready for what?”
“I told you we have an appointment today.”
I glance back at the pod room. “I thought that was a metaphor for...”
“Sexy times?” she asks. “No, but maybe after.”
“Okay then, I’m ready.”
“Great.” She takes my hand and gives Castor a wink. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Oh, this is just the two of us?” I say.
“Yup, this only takes the two of us.”
“Okay.” I wave over my shoulder. Sitting in the omada, I look at her from the pilot seat. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
