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“I found notebooks from Nico’s mother, Richeal Callis. She was a scientist working with others in the science domes.”
Atlas nods. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yes, she left a series of notebooks written in a code that a regular block can’t analyze. But with some tech from Eros’s uncle, I was able to find a note that she wrote in the later section. Hold on, I’ll go get it, but I want Nico and Holter to read it first. Can you come into the library with me?”
34
HOLTER
“Sure, Belle.” My heart races. My mom. Not Nico’s mother—my mother too.
Belle pulls Nico along, and I follow her into the library. Eros hasn’t moved from next to Atlas. “Eros?” I call to him.
“It’s okay,” he says.
“No, we’re a pod. It’s not okay.” I cock my head to beckon him in.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and he comes in. “We’re going to be a minute.” He shuts the door a lot more carefully this time.
“What is it, Belle? What did you find?” My heart thumps.
“I think it’s better if you read it yourself.” She pushes a piece of paper across the table. Belle’s careful handwriting is on the page. She already found one thing from my mother that shook me to the core. I can’t imagine what more it could be. Nico’s taken a seat at the table, and I read over his shoulder. He’s gotten a head start on me because I’ve spent time looking at Belle. Her blue eyes are glistening. I haven’t even started reading the words on the page when Nico’s shoulders shake. And I have to peer around the side of him. He’s almost crying. Now I’m not sure I want to read it. He picks it up and hands it to me.
My chest stops moving. I’m not sure I even know how to breathe. My legs shake. I’ve faced death ten times over. I’ve dealt with what I thought was losing my mate forever. But this hits so hard I sink into the nearest chair. Nico’s golden eyes shimmer with water. He hasn’t spilled a tear, but he’s close. I’m not close. I’m crying.
I stand and pull Belle to my chest. She’s given me a mother. She’s given me more than I could ever hope for in my life. Nico’s on the other side of her. His nose is in her hair. Then he pulls on Eros until we surround Belle completely. Belle’s crying. Her chest hiccups against mine.
“I’m sorry. I know we have a lot going on. But I couldn’t not tell you about it.” Belle sniffs.
“Shh, this is the best thing ever. Thank you.” Nico kisses the top of her head. “But Atlas doesn’t get to see this part.” Nico puts his finger on the personal message to our family, our fathers, Salvatore and Pietro. Alder talked about them growing up, but Muster didn’t. He cut all of that from his past, our past. But no more. I will celebrate with them. I lift my head from Belle. Nico’s staring at me.
Belle kisses my cheek. “Are you okay? Both of you?”
“I’m better than I could ever imagine. But forgive me when I say I’m going to tear this city down until I find who killed our mother,” I growl.
“You will have to stand behind me, brother,” Nico says.
“No, we will stand together,” Eros says. “We will find him, or them, together.”
Eros closes the front door behind Michio, Atlas, and Forrest. Forrest and Michio are off the suspect list, and Atlas has assured us that they will not be brought in for questioning. Atlas also took the bag of stolen blocks. They’re out of our hands, and I’m damn glad.
“We can’t stay here any longer,” I say. “I’m not feeding Belle another meal of canned stewed fish.”
“Yes,” Eros says. “Let’s go home. You too, Drakos.”
The omada ride back to Glyden is a hell of a lot less nerve-racking, but long. By the time we’re in the elevator heading down, it doesn’t even occur to me that Castor hasn’t pushed the button to go up until Nico crosses his arms over his chest and says, “Curfew is over. You can go home.”
“I am home.”
“I vetoed you.”
“Yes, but you’re not going to change your mind if I’m upstairs and you’re on the seabed.”
“True. Go home.” Nico’s tone isn’t as dark as I would have expected.
Belle cocks her head. “Nico. It’s been a long day—days? I’ve lost track. We’re all tired. Just let him come in. He’s right. You need to see his face to think about what we talked about.”
Nico growls. He stands in front of Castor. “Do you have any food upstairs?”
