Page 131 of Pucking Them
He says it with such calm certainty.
I wish that I had his self-assurance.
His words make me sit straighter in my chair. “Thanks, mate.”
Unnervingly, he stills his flipping of the bullet. “Don’t call memate.”
Garcia says it in the voice of someone about to pull the trigger.
I freeze, paling.
“What did I say about freaking out the newbies?” Axel leaps off the chair with a dancer’s elegance like he has too much pent-up energy to keep sitting any longer.
He twirls behind Garcia, as if to lay his hand on his shoulders.
“Try it and see what happens,” Garcia says without looking around.
Axel pulls his hands away, giving a light laugh.
Despite Garcia’s gangster vibes, Axel doesn’t appear intimidated. In fact, they have a weird friendship going on. If Garcia is close to anyone apart from D’Angelo and Fleet, then it’s him.
I eye the bullet.
When don’t I push my luck? I love a thrill.
“If you don’t want to be calledmate, how about spy?” I lean forward.
Garcia narrows his eyes. “D’Angelo is right. You’re a brat who likes to play with fire.”
“Love it.”
“Garcia is one of the Kinks.” Robyn is struggling to keep a straight face, but I love the way that she lays her hand on my shoulder, backing me up. “Our Sir’s best friend. The co-owner of On the RACK.” Then she dramatically whispers, “What if Garcia is here on a special undercover mission? A plant from the doms to listen to our conversations and take back our treasonous bad behavior to them?”
Axel and Everett are laughing, but Cassian is looking worried like it’s a real possibility.
Garcia plays along, cocking his head.
“I could be,” he deadpans. He somehow manages to pull off the dom brow. I shiver at the same time as Robyn does. It’s scary. “You won’t know, unless you interrogate me.”
“Not happening, Garcia,” Everett says, sternly. “No torturing over tea.”
Garcia appears disappointed. “You’re boring, Ev. Then I’ll interrogateyou. Are you intending to be bad?”
“Always,” Axel and I reply at the same time.
I grin, saluting my fellow brat.
Cassian vigorously shakes his head. “I have promised Ev that I won’t be. Also, we don’t discriminate. Even spies are welcome.”
“I’m a switch and I’m welcome,” Robyn points out.
“Not the same as a spy,” I grumble.
Garcia slips the bullet back into his pocket. “I may be best friends with Jude, but sub solidarity comes first. I’m no snitch.”
He says this like we’re not teasing and with the same seriousness as if we’re in the prison yard.
“Good to know.” I sneak a glance at Robyn.
