Fearless Like Us (Like Us 9)

“Like this,” I try to mimic very fucking poorly, and Jane starts laughing. We smile over at her, happy to quell her sadness.

Moffy licks his lips, then gestures his phone around the circle. “So the cat sitter planted the bugs—but why? Makes no damn sense, in any universe.”

“In my universe, it makes a lot of sense,” Luna says. “The cat sitter is obviously a smuggler of space dust.”

Maximoff smiles. “Makes total sense now. Space dust is high currency, and I’m guessing Luna is hoarding a massive amount.”

“Tons,” Luna grins.

A weird sense of calm passes between us now.

For two months we’ve endured the leaks. Strange to think in a couple hours, maybe even less, this could be the end of the constant unease of what bomb is dropping next.

Our phones go off again.

We all try our best to read out loud for Luna and to piece together information we’re given. “Banks just told me Tatiana was a pawn. She was being…”

“Blackmailed,” Maximoff says rigidly. “By wealthier ‘individuals’.”

“More than one person?” Jane muses quietly.

I say aloud, “So Tatiana isn’t the mole.”

“Oui,” Jane nods. “They just used her to plant the bugs.”

We text back for more info, but the messages go silent for a little bit. And I take the opportunity to tell them, “Akara and I are back together. Banks is still with me too.”

Luna bursts in a smile. “The trio’s back in town.” She wags her fingers with my fingers, and light illuminates in me but flickers knowing I need to face Moffy and Jane.

Maximoff is harder to read. My big brother in spirit. He straightens up, swimmer’s shoulders pulled taut with a sort of protectiveness I’ve always known and seen. A genuine smile touches his green eyes. “He better not leave again.”

Sudden emotion nearly spurns tears. “Is that you saying…you actually want us to stay together?”

“Yeah. Totally. Completely. Colossally. Together.”

Holy fuck.

I’m stunned speechless.

“It’s not really for me to decide what you do.” He licks his lips again, empathy so clear now. “You know I have this husband who lives his life so damn authentically. He makes me a better person…and all I want is for you to be happy, Sulli, and to be able to live your life so damn proudly too. So whatever you might face out in public or in the media, I’m here if you need me. Just one Bat Signal away.”

I immediately reach forward and hug Moffy.

He hugs back.

“That means…everything to me, Mof.” To have my family more firmly and supportive on my side—it’s the best feeling in the fucking world.

It dawns on me that I’ve rarely extended the same offer to Moffy. Maybe because he so rarely turns to others for help. The FanCon Tour was one of the biggest times I could be there for him. “If you ever need me, too, Moffy, I’m just one Mermaid Signal away.” I’m not sure if he’ll ever take me up on the offer, but he’s not flinging it aside.

He smiles. “Thanks, Sulli.”

We break apart, and Jane mimes the tip of a top hat to me. “I’m here as well. I can’t promise I won’t always love Banks a little differently since he’s my brother-in-law, but I sincerely believe you three are better together as one.” She smiles brightly. “Toujours.”

I know very few French words, but that one I’m fucking certain means always.

I breathe in the word and mime the tip of a top hat back. We share a burgeoning grin, and then our phones go off again.

We fumble for them, and my jaw unhinges at the new texts. No fucking way. I go cold. Stomach roiling. “Did you guys…?” I whip my head up to Maximoff and Jane. She has her fingers to her lips, blue eyes like saucers.

Maximoff’s gaze flashes hot. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“What? Who?” Luna asks, crunching on Chex Mix.

“Oh shit. Sorry, Luna.” My voice is tight, ribs shrinking over my lungs. Anger tries to boil, but shock is overriding any rage. “They know who the mole is. Tatiana ratted them out.”

I can’t say the name.

The name we all know.

The name I intimately know.

I stare haunted at the phone. Like it’s a fucking typo.

Maximoff tells his sister, “The Rochester family—they created The Royal Leaks.”

Luna immediately turns to me. “Are you okay?”

“Sulli?” Moffy asks.

I swallow harder. “My ex-boyfriend wouldn’t…Will is nice.” I’m in denial for a hot second, then I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fuckfuckfuck, what if this is break-up revenge?”

And he came after my roommates.

This isn’t Jane’s fault. It’s mine.

I feel sick.

“He’s dead.” Moffy is on his feet.

Jane pulls him down.

He’s trying to cool off, and Luna side-hugs me.

“They just said the Rochester family,” Jane reminds us. “Will Rochester isn’t the only sibling. Wesley, Wyatt, and Winnifred—not to mention, their parents. The probability that their parents were going after our parents is high. An old money family trying to manipulate the stocks of their competitors.”