Page 57 of Apollo

What was he supposed to think of her now?

She was a woman. All right, that part was blazingly, gloriously obvious. But she’d just jettisoned her emotions with the surgical rigor of a man. He could only guess about the origins of that skill but sensed they lay in more than just hanging out with spec ops guys for a living.

Well, shit.

His fascination jacked to full consternation. The mental cut-off some mortals possessed . . . despite what they told themselves, it wasn’t good for them, damn it. It built up garbage in their minds and hearts, until one day it snuck up on them and killed them. And unlike the little men in their favorite video games, they didn’t have the ability to simply respawn. He’d watched it happen to too many mortal friends now, good people who could’ve done their realm some extra good by a few years, if only they’d learned that stress and anxiety were best faced instead of suppressed.

So, what was he supposed to think of her?

That officially became an irrelevant question.

The more accurate issue hit him like a Herc-style bitch slap.

After they found Genny and he returned them to LA, how was he going to let her go?

How was he going to simply step away, knowing what stupid things she did when shit got stressful? What stupid things she’d make him do because of it? The way he’d drag her to therapy—or better yet, his bed—just to pry the stopper from her mental bottle?

Fuck.

His bed.

Or hers.

He wouldn’t be picky about it. Even now he wasn’t.

Kaw spoke up again, not a moment too soon.

We know they might still be in the car. Since they slipped us so fast in this direct vicinity, we assumed they’d only used the car to get to a train station and hop on a private car, possibly a Shinkansen line.

Irowen visibly fumed before muttering, “Shitballs. I forgot about the Shinkansens. How can we be sure they didn’t get on one? If that’s the case, they could be scaling Fuji by now—”

Or they could still be in that limousine, inching their way south through Yokohama.

As soon as Kaw made it clear where his assertion ended, Irowen’s scowl deepened. This time, Apollo joined his to it. “You throwing any theory against the wall now, Captain, just to see what sticks?”

And do you think my imagination is that good? Kaw weaved his head and flared his wings. Sadly, I’ve not returned here for the snacks, good anax. If that were the case, I’d be fighting my broheims between the leftovers down in Kabuchiko right now . . .

Before he got too far with the meandering, Apollo cut in again. “So what do you need from us?”

Some help, the corvid readily replied. At least that’s what we’re hoping.

“Help how?” Irowen asked.

We need information. About your sister.

“Okay, but what kind of information?” Her frown deepened. “I can show you some more phone photos, but if you want anything like her own phone number to track, it’s a dead end. I’ve not stopped trying that every hour of every day since they nicked her. The signal’s not there. I mean, at all. Likely means they either destroyed the device or—”

We already know that, Kaw interjected. And we’ve been trying just as often, believe me. And in less than ten words, showed off the firm compassion that made him a more effective right-hand ace than most mortals. But at this point, I’m looking for deeper details. Things that only you can provide, Irowen Steed.

“Me? Why? I mean, I’m at your service, Captain Kleos. But I’ve already told you everything I know—”

Yes. But I haven’t done the same.

The crow’s confession both impressed and troubled Apollo, especially since he suspected what his captain planned for a follow-up. It wasn’t like Kaw had never exposed key intel on a mission; the decision was usually just reserved for forcing an adversary’s hand instead of a situation like this.

Damn it.

The team must really be out of actionable options on this one.