because his head snapped to the review mirror and looked at Aurelo before the road again. “I didn’t mean Fabian’s sister is weak or women in general. I just meant to them she was and anyone is weaker than ten on one.
“She could have taken them of course being a vampire, but they didn’t know that. They attacked her thinking she would be easy prey and that’s unacceptable is what I mean. If you and I got into it, fine, we’re about evenly matched. I’m not going to beat on Chicago.”
“Because I’m weaker than you,” I supplied.
“Right.” I turned away and looked out the window as if he’d smacked me as Aurelo growled quietly. “Fuck, just shoot me. That’s not how I meant it.”
“No, it’s fine. I get it.”
“No, you don’t,” Orlando explained as he turned around and tenderness shone in his eyes. “I get what Boston is trying to say and royally screwing up. Physically you are not as strong as him, Chicago. You’re smaller, but it’s not even that. You don’t work out. You don’t have any weapons or fighting training. He does, having worked for the PP. He’s saying it would be an unfair fight and you don’t fight when it’s stacked like that.”
“Yes, that’s what I meant.” I could hear the grief in Boston’s tone that he’d upset me. “It’s not a judgment against you as a person, Chicago. I think as a man you’re stronger than me. I might physically be able to best you but that big brain of yours saved us all. How cool is that? A hundred other people could have been downloading what you were and never noticed those file names. They would have let it go right past them. And adapting to the situation like that? Nope, couldn’t have done it.”
“Okay, you’re forgiven,” I chuckled as I tossed the wrapper of my now finished burrito in our designated garbage.
“Yeah, that was a pretty good apology.” Aurelo gave me a wink as he slipped his hand in my free one to show me support. “And I agree with him. Director Fabian does as well. I know that’s a big part of why he hopes you and your family will come back after we’re done in DC, speaking strictly as our leader. He told Julus and me to try to convince you guys, give you whatever you’d want to make it happen.”
“Because he wants Chicago and Milwaukee’s genius on his side?” Boston asked hesitantly.
“Not just that. All six of you are huge assets. You and your brother used to be PP guards, which means you know your shit, weapons, and how to handle yourself no matter how bad things might get. You train people to fight and in the days ahead there might be a lot of that. Seattle knows vehicles which is always an asset. Chicago and Milwaukee can hack to keep us in the loop and help us stay off the grid along with our security people.
“Orlando is an EMT and from what I hear one with lots of accommodations and extra certifications. Phoenix—the same, but for teaching, and again, if people are going to need to be taught new things and crossed trained, good teachers are always needed. Plus any little ones will need schooling and will no longer have the same opportunities if we’re secluded.”
“You’ve been doing your homework on us,” Orlando said evenly, not making it a question but the why was kind of implied. Plus I saw a sliver of fear floating in his eyes.
“I did not. But it was wise of Director Fabian as a leader to know the people we were getting into bed with and not only trusting but becoming allies with like this.” Then he chuckled and glanced at me. “I meant in the business and alliance sense.”
“I got that.” Then I had a thought. “You said he wanted us to stay as the leader in him. What about the rest of him? Why did you make that distinction?”
“I’m saying when he’s thinking with his business brain and what’s best for the coven.”
“And when he’s thinking with his personal one and what’s best for him ?” I stared at him in earnest, letting him know I
“She could have taken them of course being a vampire, but they didn’t know that. They attacked her thinking she would be easy prey and that’s unacceptable is what I mean. If you and I got into it, fine, we’re about evenly matched. I’m not going to beat on Chicago.”
“Because I’m weaker than you,” I supplied.
“Right.” I turned away and looked out the window as if he’d smacked me as Aurelo growled quietly. “Fuck, just shoot me. That’s not how I meant it.”
“No, it’s fine. I get it.”
“No, you don’t,” Orlando explained as he turned around and tenderness shone in his eyes. “I get what Boston is trying to say and royally screwing up. Physically you are not as strong as him, Chicago. You’re smaller, but it’s not even that. You don’t work out. You don’t have any weapons or fighting training. He does, having worked for the PP. He’s saying it would be an unfair fight and you don’t fight when it’s stacked like that.”
“Yes, that’s what I meant.” I could hear the grief in Boston’s tone that he’d upset me. “It’s not a judgment against you as a person, Chicago. I think as a man you’re stronger than me. I might physically be able to best you but that big brain of yours saved us all. How cool is that? A hundred other people could have been downloading what you were and never noticed those file names. They would have let it go right past them. And adapting to the situation like that? Nope, couldn’t have done it.”
“Okay, you’re forgiven,” I chuckled as I tossed the wrapper of my now finished burrito in our designated garbage.
“Yeah, that was a pretty good apology.” Aurelo gave me a wink as he slipped his hand in my free one to show me support. “And I agree with him. Director Fabian does as well. I know that’s a big part of why he hopes you and your family will come back after we’re done in DC, speaking strictly as our leader. He told Julus and me to try to convince you guys, give you whatever you’d want to make it happen.”
“Because he wants Chicago and Milwaukee’s genius on his side?” Boston asked hesitantly.
“Not just that. All six of you are huge assets. You and your brother used to be PP guards, which means you know your shit, weapons, and how to handle yourself no matter how bad things might get. You train people to fight and in the days ahead there might be a lot of that. Seattle knows vehicles which is always an asset. Chicago and Milwaukee can hack to keep us in the loop and help us stay off the grid along with our security people.
“Orlando is an EMT and from what I hear one with lots of accommodations and extra certifications. Phoenix—the same, but for teaching, and again, if people are going to need to be taught new things and crossed trained, good teachers are always needed. Plus any little ones will need schooling and will no longer have the same opportunities if we’re secluded.”
“You’ve been doing your homework on us,” Orlando said evenly, not making it a question but the why was kind of implied. Plus I saw a sliver of fear floating in his eyes.
“I did not. But it was wise of Director Fabian as a leader to know the people we were getting into bed with and not only trusting but becoming allies with like this.” Then he chuckled and glanced at me. “I meant in the business and alliance sense.”
“I got that.” Then I had a thought. “You said he wanted us to stay as the leader in him. What about the rest of him? Why did you make that distinction?”
“I’m saying when he’s thinking with his business brain and what’s best for the coven.”
“And when he’s thinking with his personal one and what’s best for him ?” I stared at him in earnest, letting him know I
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