Page 44 of Breakaway
"If they don't throw a fit," Reese scoffs. "You heard how mad Jeremy was when I told him he could come over, but you were there. They're probably all going to be upset about it."
"Let them be," I tell her, offering her a small smile. "If it's your final goodbye, let them be upset with you."
"You don't–" Reese takes a deep breath as she stops herself and rubs at her eyes. "So we visit my family, that's the first part of the plan."
My brows pull together, my lips pressing hard together because she's changing the subject. As nonchalantly as I can, I look to Isha and Kolos. Both of them are giving me nothing to go off of, but they both know the thought that almost left Reese's mouth. If it were important, they'd be tapping on my mind again to be let in. I might not like that Reese doesn't feel comfortable enough to tell me, but she's allowed her own thoughts. I don'tneed to know them all. Even if I'd very much like to know every single thought in her head.
Someday I will, but until then, I'll just try to enjoy the mystery of not knowing. My shadows tell me there's nothing to enjoy about that, but I refuse to sink to their level of sulking.
"After we speak with your family, we'll go back to the ship until the interview. Mauve's already getting everything set up. She's billing it as your retirement goodbye, and says she already knows who she's asking to do it."
"When is that again?" Kolos asks, and I frown at him because he knows when it is, and if he didn't, it's already all been uploaded onto his comm. "There's a clear set of rules Reese gave me on how and when I can annoy you. Now answer my question so I can make a comment about how many days we're going to have to listen to Reese think about suck–"
Isha punches Kolos in the arm. It's not nearly as hard as she can. I've seen her and Skia spar before, and she can really hurt someone when she wants to. The punch she gives Kolos is more of a love tap. Sure, it's a love tap that's going to bruise, but Kolos is more than expecting it based on the way his eyes light up when he overemphasizes how badly he's been hit.
"Ow, was that really necessary? What if I can't use this arm to fend off Reese's stalker?" Kolos asks.
"Then you're not a very good security guard, are you?" Isha asks without a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Genuinely, I am more than excited when you find a bond, Isha, because if you think I'm behaving poorly now." Kolos shakes his head, a feral smile on his lips. "Gods, I pray they're not a Sombran."
"Acting like you'll get to meet them," Isha says with a shake of her head. "If anything, I'll keep them so far away from you even after the bonding that you won't even know what they look like."
"We could always go and find Skye," I say, knowing I'm playing with fire for even mentioning her, but if Kolos is going to dish it, he'd better be good with getting it too. "I'm sure she has plenty of interesting thoughts we could sift through."
Kolos's eyes go wide, his shadows moving around the most I've seen them move in a long time at the mere mention of the woman who broke his heart. They swirl and sway, and then fall back down to the ground with a speed that makes me think Kolos is pushing down their hopes of finding the human.
"Don't be mean," Reese nudges my side with her elbow.
"Yeah, Zill," Kolos says with an exaggerated sneer. "Don't be mean to me. I'm a broken-hearted male. No need to kick me while I'm down."
Reese shakes her head, but she's not upset. If anything, she's probably still getting used to the dynamic between all of us. She'll get more used to it the longer she's around, and I plan on having her around for a long time.
"The interview is in two days," Reese says, getting us back on track and answering Kolos's question. He doesn't so much as make a peep, though he looks like he's ready to make a comment if Reese allows it. Based on his remaining silent, she's not.
"I have another photoshoot to finish out the new covers for the old albums in five days, and then we should be done." Reese shrugs and looks between the three of us.
"And what are we doing about the stalker?" Isha asks.
It's something that hasn't been brought up because, in all honesty, Reese hasn't wanted to talk about it. The most that's been said about it was when Mauve and she were both trying to tell the other it wasn't their fault. Since then, Reese has been avoiding the topic, at least out loud.
"I'm hoping since I'm not going to be available, they'll just leave me alone," Reese says with a smile that looks more like a wince.
Isha nods, taking Reese seriously. When she speaks, it's with a voice she usually uses on distressed clients or children. "I think that's what we're all hoping. Just in case that's not what happens, I think it's a good idea to have another plan."
"You're right," Reese says, leaning her head against my shoulder.
"For now, since you're going to have all three of us, the best thing to do is to just let us know if you get any weird feelings at all. We're all very good at our jobs, and that means listening in on everyone's thoughts. Whoever is threatening you won't have a chance to get close to you if you're with us," I tell Reese, turning my head and placing a kiss on her temple.
"He's right," Kolos says, back to slouching in his seat. "You don't have anything to worry about so long as you stick with us."
Reese relaxes a bit more. The reality of the situation sucks, but she truly has the best people to keep her safe surrounding her. For her sake, I hope whoever's stalking her doesn't make an appearance, but if they do, we'll be there ready to protect her.
CHAPTER 17
REESE
Breaking News! Empress's Sombran lover finally identified! Now if we can just get him to sit down for an interview…
