Page 70 of Thaddeus

I was getting ready to tell Zane to lay off Emerson when she spoke again. “I didn’t know we were playing a game, Zane. And using my sister was screwed up.”

“Of course you knew you were playing. Eight years ago you entered my world, a world that is all about lies, deceit, and out-maneuvering your opponent. A game you’d been successful at. It’s ugly, it’s distasteful, but it is what it is and you know I’m right. So suck it up, buttercup. I used what I had to, to get the information I needed. Which incidentally worked out well for you, considering you’re standing there with Thad and the two of you are no longer actively hating each other. I’ll expect an invite to the wedding. Whether you decide to forgive me for being a better asshole than you are, is up to you. But there’s more at play than your love life, you, or your sister.”

Emerson was looking at her feet and I wasn’t sure if she was gonna take another swipe at Zane or if she’d had enough, when Zane called out again, “And, Emerson, I’m damn impressed you stepped up for your sister in the first place. Says a lot about the type of person you are.”

“I’m not who my file says I am,” she whispered.

“I know you’re not,” Zane returned. “None of us are. On paper I’m a cold-blooded, narcissistic murderer. But I can assure you my bullet has never met an innocent man or woman. I know who you are, and you’re the type of woman I’d be happy to know better.”

“Any word from the local authorities about the women we left behind?” Tatiana thankfully changed the subject.

“Five were rescued,” Zane confirmed.

That was good news, but what was better was the smile on Emerson’s pretty face.

“Thank God,” she breathed. “I was worried about them.”

“You’re on standby. You’ll be on your way to Manicore tomorrow morning unless something changes, so be ready.”

“Copy that,” Dec answered.

“Out.”

The line went dead and I wondered if now was a good time to take Emerson back up to my room. It seemed we had a lot more shit to sort through than we did before we’d walked down the stairs.

“Who wants some lunch?” Brooks asked, and my stomach grumbled.

“Whose turn is it?” Dec asked.

“Kyle’s.” Brooks smiled.

“Hell no. I’ve been on KP duty three times in a row,” he protested.

“That’s because Thad can’t cook a fucking thing, so he’s always skipped,” Max complained.

“You still can’t cook?” Emerson looked up at me.

“Nope.”

“Why not? I mean, how do you eat?”

“The why is simple, because if I learn, I get put on KP rotation, something I hate. The how is even simpler, they all feed me.” I gestured around the room.

“Asshole,” Kyle muttered and headed for the kitchen.

“See?”

“I heard that, you prick. I’m cookin’ for everyone but you. If you wanna eat, cook it yourself.”

“Agápi mou?”

“No way.” She smiled. “I’m not getting in the middle of this. I’m starving and I’d like to eat whatever Kyle’s cooking.”

I leaned down and brushed my mouth against hers, for no other reason than I could. Then I moved to her ear and whispered, “Babe, Kyle’s full of shit, he’d never let me go hungry.”

“Heard that, too, asshole, and you’re wrong!” Kyle yelled from the kitchen.

“How’d he hear that?”