Page 92 of Manhattan Tormentor

My chest is lighter when I slide into my car, already looking forward to tomorrow.

I will go around the world and back again if I thought that one act would make any part of your day happier. I’ll do anything to make it right between us, Sage.

Finn:Ready to feel the full effect of the Mav experience, Fierro?

Sage:You think a lot of your skill.

My lips twitch. I have it bad for a robot.

There’s someone sitting on the stoop to my apartment when I pull up. I stride up the path as Sofia jumps to her feet in her summery top, white cut-off shorts and flip-flops. She beams. “Hey, I’ve been waiting.”

I give her a one-armed hug. “Let’s go in.”

The diamond on her left hand blinding from the sun.

* * *

Sage

Mack Hennessy, mom’s former hacker and now business partner and one of Thatcher’s dads, is sitting at the kitchen island tapping on a laptop when I let myself in to my parent’s house.

He grins when he sees me, “hey, kiddo. How’s college treating you?”

“Good so far, I got the science class I wanted.”

“There’s my baby boy cub,” mom announces with a grin. I take the hug and let her fuss over me, even though I only saw my parents a few days ago.

“Mom, I’m starving, what you got for me?”

“No, hi, Mom, how are you, Mom.” She tuts.

I kiss the top of her head. “Hi, Mom, how are you? Feed me, your favorite child is starving.”

She chuckles and starts pulling stuff out of the fridge until I have a plate full in front of me. Not even a fork to my mouth before she asks, “any boys sniffing around yet?”

I side-eye Mack, who only swallows his laugh.

We’ve indulged mom too much because we love her, she thinks nothing about being up in our business.

“Yes,” I answer and I see her eyes light up. It’s not enough that Lachie has handed her a new daughter with Delaney. We thought it would occupy her. Nope. Sena Fierro has time to nose into all our lives. “We got married this weekend.” I add on and she shoots me a stare I laugh at.

I think of Finn, but it’s too early to mention him yet.

Not sure how she’ll take it when she knows. I recall a conversation we had in the hospital when she asked me if he was involved in the accident. I emphatically told her he wasn’t.

“Someone who makes you feel bad isn’t a person who loves you, baby.”

“It’s not as though I chose it, mom. It’s chemical. Something inside me wants him. He does dumb shit to get my attention and then when he has it, it makes him angry. Like he hates knowing he wants my attention.”

“That doesn’t sound like someone is worth your time, Sage.”

Feelings don’t come with logic.

I leave the two IT geeks brainstorming whatever project they have going next, shoving the new beta game mom wants me to test in my bag.

I’d swear on a bible it’s my car’s idea to direct me to Finn’s apartment building.

He opens the door with a startled look, then he grins. I go for him, eating that fucking grin off his face.

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