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“What are we talking about?”
“Briar has a girlfriend,” Collins singsongs, placing the kettle on the stove.
I throw the tea bag at her head. “Narc!”
“Is it the same one you snuck off to visit?”
My eyes widen, and I look between them. “Do you all know about that?” Am I really that bad at sneaking around?
Maeve cuts to the fancy coffee machine, hitting a few buttons. The thing makes a god-awful noise as it grinds beans, and I grit my teeth. Thank fuck, I don’t drink that shit. Pretty sure she shouldn’t either right before bed.
Once the noise stops, she looks at me over her shoulder.
“You’re not exactly stealthy, kid.”
“This is badgering,” I exclaim, pointing between my sisters. “Both of you. It’s late, and you come in here attacking me with these outlandish claims. I should talk to my lawyer.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure Xavier would love a call right now.” Maeve drawls, putting a steaming mug to her mouth, hands wrapped around it as if to suck up the warmth. “Who is it?”
“He’s not telling us,” Collins murmurs, pouring boiling water into her cup. The saint grabs my tea bag, rips the package, and makes me a cup too.
Bless her. She’s now my favorite.
“Why not?” Maeve tilts her head, assessing me. “Is it someone we don’t like?”
“Maybe someone we don’t approve of?”
Maeve snorts. “Hardly. Sloane is a De Luca, I’m sleeping with a killer, and you’re engaged to a son from the Bruno family. Unless he’s falling for Roman, there aren’t many people I would disapprove of.”
Almost got it. I refuse to catch her eye, and fiddle with my phone.
“Anyway,” I cut off and Maeve narrows her eyes. Fuck, I’ve never been good at lying to her. “I have plans. I will see you later.”
“Wait.” Maeve slams the cup onto the counter, crossing her arms. “I need your help with something.”
“Something?” A grin breaks over my face. “Are you finally asking for my help?”
She scoffs, looking to the side. I share a look with a wide-eyed Collins, and we both make a face. Maeve never asks for help. This could be a sign of the apocalypse coming. Better play the lottery now.
“Money tracing,” she clarifies. “You said you would work on it. I need that information.”
“Oh, easy.” I wave my phone. “I have a program running right now, hacking through Bruno’s various money-laundering bullshit. Once it cuts through the red tape, we’ll know where his funding is coming from.” It’s taking a long time, which is irritating. But at least I’m doing something.
“Good. Then you can stay home while that happens.”
She exits the kitchen, and I groan. Collins giggles, but the brainiac keeps her comments to herself.
Rushing through the door, I catch up with her down the hall. Two guards are stationed at the end, tensing as I whip her around. My sister is the most dangerous woman in this city, and she doesn’t reach my chin. They’re just for show.
“Hold on. I have to stay here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She rolls her eyes. “Did you already forget about the latest assassination attempt? More are out there. You’ve seen it. Hell, you killed a guy two days ago.”
Touché, but still, unfair.
