Page 16 of Capture of Capricorn (The Thirteenth Zodiac #3)

The shower proved large with multiple jets and scorching-hot water.

The bar of soap, while lacking the usual logo of the one back home, felt and smelled the same.

The shampoo provided was the same brand she usually used, and she could have cried at the relief of finally feeling some semblance of normal.

She’d been making do in her prison with generic crap that left her skin feeling dry and her hair a frizzy mess.

“Thank you,” she murmured. She’d finally accepted the fact that this place didn’t have an AI running things, but figured that whatever did provide would probably appreciate politeness. A building that could whip people through floors probably shouldn’t be pissed off.

As Capricorn predicted, when she emerged from the shower, wrapped in a huge fluffy towel, she found her dirty prisoner scrubs gone and a pile of clothes waiting for her. Good. Those rags were good only for burning.

The ensemble left for her could have come from her closest. Cargo pants, T-shirt, sports bra, and cotton undies. For her feet, athletic socks and, oh hell yeah, some steel-toed boots. Unlike most women, Zora hated heels and flimsy shoes. Given her line of work, she preferred something sturdy.

She emerged to find Capricorn watching his television. It took her a moment to grasp what he watched: a news report.

“What’s going on?” The scene on screen displayed military vehicles and personnel as well as people sitting on the ground, hands cuffed behind their backs.

“It appears the invasion of Area 51 by alien enthusiasts got the attention of the media. The military was called in to clear the protestors.”

The camera panned to a dark plume of smoke. “Did Crius’ base burn down?”

“They’re not saying, but it appears the fire we set hasn’t yet been put out. The place is mostly made of concrete, though, so I don’t imagine it will suffer too much structural damage, but their machines and shit will likely be ruined by smoke and water.”

“That should slow Crius down.”

“If we’re lucky. This isn’t the first installation of theirs we took out. Although, Aquarius has yet to find another.”

“You think the relic you’re looking for is still inside?”

“Doubtful. Dickhead most likely fled with it once he realized shit went south.”

“How will you find it, then?”

“By not looking. Apparently, I’m supposed to sit put for the moment and wait for it to surface.”

Her brow creased. “Wait? Doesn’t that give the asshole time to figure out how to use it?”

“That’s what I said,” he exclaimed. “But Aries seemed adamant that I’d be wasting my time seeking it out.”

“What about that Sage chick? Can’t she see where it is?” Zora still struggled with the idea of someone seeing the future, but Capricorn believed.

“She’s been having trouble seeing anything. Same with Olivia.”

“The little girl I met.”

“Yeah. When Sage asked her if she’d seen anything, Olivia apparently said, ‘Don’t worry. It’s coming.’”

“What’s coming?”

He shrugged. “Dunno, but I’ll admit it wasn’t exactly reassuring.”

“So we’re supposed to just sit around on our asses and wait?”

“Apparently.” He sighed.

“Poor baby. Stuck with me.”

“Actually, that’s probably the least annoying part.” He offered her a smile. “You ready for that tour I promised?”

“Will it end with dinner?”

“Yes,” he replied with a laugh. “Shall we?”

He showed her several of the tower levels, from the admin office, where she got to meet Aquarius and admire his impressive surveillance and research computer setup. He set up an untraceable phone call that allowed her to call Mama, a conversation that went fairly well once Mama stopped yelling.

“Where have you been? You didn’t call and weren’t answering,” Mama accused.

Zora couldn’t exactly tell the truth, so she gave an excuse her mama would enjoy. “Met a guy who kind of kidnapped me.”

“What? Do I need to call the cops?”

“No, Mama. I’m kind of staying with him at the moment.”

A moment of silence before a whispered, “You’re shacking up with a man?”

The surprise was understandable, as Zora had never done that before. “Yeah. At least for the next little bit. We’ll see how things go.”

“You should bring him by so I can meet him. I’ll make my battered catfish and Cajun collard greens.”

“Maybe. Let’s see how things go.”

“Don’t you be scaring him off,” chided her mama.

“Either he takes me as I am or he can bugger off,” Zora replied, not for the first time. She refused to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.

“Would it kill you to wear a dress and be nice?”

“Yes.”

“I’m never gonna have grandbabies to spoil,” her mother lamented.

“Would it help if I got a cat?”

“You’re a brat.”

“Love you, too.”

When Zora hung up, Capricorn grinned. “Your mom sounds awesome.”

“She is, but she’s also a bully, especially about the whole having-a-kid thing. Your eggs are going to shrivel up if you keep waiting. ” Zora pitched her voice to mime her mama’s tone.

“Do you want kids?”

She shrugged. “It’s not a top priority for me, to be honest. But I wouldn’t hate it if it happened. What about you?” she asked as they left the office area to do more stairs.

“I wouldn’t mind a rug rat or two. But finding a woman who can handle me is the challenge.”

For some reason, her gaze dipped to his groin before she naughtily said, “Maybe you’ve been dating the wrong type. I’m pretty sure you don’t have more than I can take.”

His dropped jaw was worth it, and she skipped down some steps lest he see how her own daring statement made her flush.

They continued their tour, hitting the training rooms, which included some neat hologram options. The game room, which indeed held pinball machines, a pool table, foosball, and even a few arcade units.

“You have the original Gauntlet ?” Zora squealed. “I fucking loved this game as a kid. Used to scrounge and return bottles just so I could have change to play.”

“I see we’ll have to come back and play after dinner.”

“Hell yeah, we will.”

They saw no one as they went level to level, the stairs not so bad when she got a break between flights to peek around.

They finished at the cafeteria, where they ran into some of his friends and their partners.

She’d already met Leo, Olivia, and Sage but also got introduced to Cancer, Aries, Scorpio, and his girlfriend, Rebecca, and Ruth, Leo’s better half.

“Is that everyone who lives here?” she asked Capricorn as they sat down at the giant table since none of the others would fit them all.

“Nah. Depending on missions and marital status, the other warriors come and go. Plus, Tower has some other folks stashed. Not that I’ve met many of them. They’re usually refugees of some kind and kept separate from us.”

“Why?”

His broad shoulders rolled. “Only Tower knows.”

The meal provided had her taste buds singing.

Some kind of flattened steak rolled around herbs and goat cheese drizzled with a red wine reduction sauce, served with some roasted potatoes and grilled veggies.

For dessert, Crème Brulé, the caramelized sugar on top crackling when smacked with a spoon.

Along with the delicious meal, she got to interact with some of Capricorn’s coworkers, who were more like family in the way they spoke and teased.

While Zora wasn’t a very social person usually, she did quite enjoy herself.

After dinner, a bunch of them ended up in the game room, where they played and chatted. Zora found herself fascinated by Rebecca, who was a glaciologist, amongst other things. To her surprise, she even liked Ruth, a shrink, who didn’t give off a pompous, I’m-analyzing-everything-you-say vibe.

At one point, Zora and Capricorn got competitive playing Gauntlet , and she didn’t realize the late hour until she yawned wide enough to crack her jaw.

“I think that’s our sign it’s time for bed,” Capricorn stated with a laugh.

“You might be right.” Her lips curved. “I had fun.”

“Me too. Rematch tomorrow?”

“Already cruising for another spanking?”

“Only if you’re the one punishing,” he quipped.

Returning to his room meant suddenly dealing with the sleeping situation. Unlike Leo’s and Scorpio’s ladies, who’d apparently balked when they realized they’d have to share, Zora eyed the large bed and said, “I usually start off on the left side, but be warned, I move in my sleep.”

“Should I wear protective gear?”

“Only if you’re a pussy. Also, I will mock you if you whine because you ended up elbowed or shoved to the floor.”

“Has that happened often?” he asked.

“A few times.” Zora’s eyes sparkled with mirth as she added, “But if you’re a good sport about it, then maybe I’ll kiss your boo-boos better.”

“Is it wrong I kind of hope you do maul me in my sleep?”

“Maybe you’ll get lucky,” her flippant reply.

Should she seduce him? The man definitely showed interest, but at the same time, given the situation, maybe she should abstain.

After all, they were stuck together for who knew how long.

What if he sucked in bed? What if the sex was great and she ended up liking him more than he liked her?

“You’re thinking too hard,” he murmured from his side of the bed.

“Been an interesting kind of day.”

“Tomorrow will probably be even more so. You should get some sleep.”

Good plan. She could figure things out in the morning.

Despite her warning, Zora didn’t bruise Capricorn in her sleep. On the contrary, she snuggled. She woke to find herself wrapped around him, and when her leg shifted, rubbing over his erection, she murmured, “If you tell me that’s a morning pee, I will slug you.”

To which he replied, “I’d rather you kissed me.”