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Babiesare coming, not just from Sulli and Jane. Farrow and Maximoff are having a daughter. Still thinking maybe a boy will pop out instead. Their surrogate Millie Kay has a December due date, and that’sthreenew kids. I’m fully expecting someone to need the guest room, even if they said they won’t.
It’s fine, though. I can just move back into the Rookie Room.
Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I listen to a familiarbuzz.At the breakfast table in the kitchen, only two soggy cheerios left are swimming in a bowl of milk, and my slim can of Lightning Bolt! is beside a glass of water. I don’t reach for either.
With black gloved hands, I ink myself using my tattoo machine. Sitting, my leg is stretched out, foot perched on another chair, and I work on a cover-up.
The needle pierces the flesh of my ankle, and I draw lines off the letters, connecting them to form an abstract shape.
Xander
Beckett
Tom
Their names disappear into a swirled design. Been thinking, eventually, it’ll be a planet, but I don’t have much time right now. It just needs to be unrecognizable.
I’m seeing my dad today, and I’m not making the same mistake twice. When I visited my cousin Colin at his row house, he spotted the tattoo and assumed I’m friends with all these names, and I’m not putting anyone else in danger.
My phone vibrates on the table. I stop shading the line between therinXanderand the firsttinBeckett.Peeking over, my stomach flip-flops.
Loren Hale is texting me. I’ve already sent him a message letting him know I’m meeting with my dad for lunch. I snap off one glove, just to tap into the text.
XANDER’S DAD
Meet me at Connor’s house first. As soon as you can.
My pulse is racing. I’m going to Papa Cobalt’s house. Which is commonly referred to as the Cobalt Estate. Connor Cobalt is going to be there—I’d bet money that I don’t have on it.
I tap out a short response.
K. See you.
I snap on a new glove and move faster on inking my ankle. Not my best work, but I’ll fix it later. Once I’m done, I clean up, sanitize my equipment, and apply a medical-grade waterproof bandage to the fresh ink. Without thebuzzing, my ears catch noises throughout the penthouse.
The shut and open of doors. Footsteps pad around, sounding more human than cat or dog.
Is Luna awake?
I shouldn’t stick around to see. Seven other people live here, not including Baby Ripley. It’s better if I just slip out unseen. My radio is already attached to my waistband, and my gun is holstered.
I’m washing out my cereal bowl when the footsteps grow louder. They’re heavy. Can’t be Luna. Sounds like multiple pairs of feet.
Gotta go.
Gotta go.
I practically chuck the bowl and spoon in the dishwasher. Kicking the thing closed, I whirl around to see Akara in crisp black slacks. He’s quickly tucking in his white button-down with one hand. The other is clutching his phone. Like me, he seems in a hurry.
Alarm bells are ringing in my head.
I’m not dumb.
But I try to play it off. “Nice pants, boss.” I nod to him while heading towards the exit. “You going to a fancy Thursday brunch?” I’m hoping those exist.
“Don’t go anywhere,” Akara says fast. “Donnelly.”
I catch myself midstride and swing back around to the kitchen. “Yeah?”
