“With my sister perched on my arm, I walked to the elevator. A business man with a rolling suitcase was waiting by the doors. His eyes widened as he saw me. I must’ve looked pretty strange—a tall black kid in dirty, ragged Egyptian clothes, with a weird box tucked under one arm and a bird of prey perched on the other.“How’s it going?” I said.“I’ll take the stairs.” He hurried off.”

“Marshall perched hesitantly beside me."They asked me to protect you."My eyes widened. "What? Who did? The Sisterhood?""No, the Teletubbies did. Of course, the Sisterhood." Marshall rolled his eyes at me, and it took all of my will power not to shove him off the bench.”

“I rolled my eyes, trying to keep my eyes off his body, just the sight of his abs or arms was enough to make me want to get naked and let Carlo take over anything he wanted.”

“I meant what I said before. You need to walk away, Pidge. God knows I can’t walk away from you.”I touched his arm. “You don’t want me to leave.”Travis’ jaws tensed again, and then he took me under his arm. He paused for a moment, and then kissed my forehead, pressing his cheek against my temple. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try. You’re going to hate me when it’s all said and done.”I wrapped my arms around him. “We have to be friends. I won’t take no for an answer,” I quoted.”

“I never take out clients. It’s bad policy.” He looked me straight in the eyes as he said it. Reaching across for the glove compartment, his arm accidentally brushed my leg.”

“Look!” piped Korbal Broach.Bauchelain paused. “I see.”Tucking the mangled head under an arm, Korbal Broach walked to the steps, and up he went.”