Don’t need to know.

Yes, you do, Nine.

I realize if this has anything to do with why Donnelly has been tattooing more—I should know. I haven’t pried too hard, but if he’s in trouble…?

I want to protect him.

He should be a bigger priority. He’s SFO. He’s one of my men. He’s a friend. He’s been there for me as backup while Sulli is being hounded. I need to be there for him.

I focus back on Quinn and smile. “Welcome back, Quinn.”

He’s grinning. “Where am I going?”

That…

“I still have to figure out transfers. I’ll work it out tomorrow.” I pat his arm, and then Tom goes and talks with Luna and Sulli (they’re safe). He’s speaking fast, and they’re gesturing over to me.

I frown as Tom approaches. “Akara?”

“Yeah?”

Frog slurps on her coffee.

“There is a high probability I might not find a drummer today, but Luna and Sulli said you can play.”

“I’m a bodyguard—”

“Just for Summer Fest,” Tom interjects fast. “Dude, please. It’s the biggest music festival in Philly.”

I haven’t played in years.

Shoot, there’s no way I’d even reach his standards.

But Tom says, “I trust you—you’re dating my cousin, and that’s already a leg up on everyone else. So what do you say?” He’s wincing like preparing for an impact. If Eliot were here, I’m sure he’d be hanging onto his brother’s arm with added dramatics.

I eye the drumkit. My dad would’ve never wanted me to let something I love go, but grief wouldn’t let me return. And I think I’m finally ready to embrace what I lost again.

I nod. “Let me audition first.”

He does.

And when I’m behind the snare, when I touch the kickstand, the beat pumps through me, and rhythm is engrained in me. I play with a smile. I bang each drum like the music never left. Like it’s always been there, waiting.

“That’ll work,” Tom says with a deep exhale when I jump off the stage.

Sulli is smiling, and I’m about to playfully sneak up around her, just to lick her cheek—when my phone buzzes.

I dig out my phone and check the message.

Don’t worry about coming to Queens. We can chat later on the phone. I think I’d prefer that. Tell Sulli that I said hi. I love you, Nine. – Mom

She doesn’t want me to see her.

I’m not surprised. The entire reason she left Philly was to be away, so I don’t have to worry. Me visiting more often isn’t what she’s desired, and I’m going to respect that. But I feel better knowing I tried.

49

BANKS MORETTI

“Come join the party,” I urge my mopey, stressed-out metamour. Akara scribbles a bunch of lines across a sheet of paper, crumpled up balls already strewn across the room.

When we officially moved into Sulli’s room after the Olympics, Sulli and I bought this white oak desk and pushed it up underneath the window. That way when Akara works he can at least have the best view in the room.

He shakes his head and balls up another sheet of paper.

“If I’d known you would glue your ass to this desk, Sulli and I would have never bought it for you.”

“Just give me ten minutes.”

“That’s what you said twenty minutes ago, man,” I refute and wave a hand towards the papers. “All this shit will work itself out in the morning.”

He laughs dryly. “It won’t. Now that Quinn is ready to come back, I have to figure out transitions on the team. And I have to find a new manager to handle an overcrowded gym. And the baby still needs a fudging bodyguard.”

Yeah.

I heard that conversation during the last security meeting.

Went something like this:

Akara: Baby still needs a bodyguard.

Oscar: Babies. Redford is having another one.

Farrow: Okay, but Maximoff and I aren’t the only fuckers here having kids, and yet, we’re being pressured like hell.

Thatcher: I’m putting temps on my baby, and I’m guessing Akara and Banks will do the same.

Me: *nodding*

Akara: Yep. You’re the only one who’s refusing temp guards, Farrow.

Farrow: You all feel comfortable with temps on your kids and that’s great. But I don’t want a stranger breathing down my neck while I’m trying to protect Ripley. They always get in the way, and I’m not babysitting security. So it’s either I’m the bodyguard to my kids or someone from SFO. That’s it.

“It’s a lot,” I agree to Akara. “And that’s why you need to step away.”

He lets out a breath. “Where’s Sulli?”

“Pretending to be obsessed with Orion and Arkham so she can hide from Jane.”

Akara grimaces. “Crap.”

“Yeah, you’re not the only one swimming through shit tonight. I’m here to pull you both out.” I grab his elbow. “So let’s go.”

He follows my movements, thankfully. Many a times, Akara has been the one to keep the ship from sinking. It feels good being the one holding him and her above the water.

“What do you think I should do?” Akara asks me as he steps over the crumpled paper.

Tags: Krista Ritchie Like Us Romance
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