Page 65 of Tangled Like Us

I’ve wondered if it frustrates him when people try to shorten his name, but I haven’t found the proper time to ask.

I’m not even sure now is. Especially since the stairs creak behind us. Our heads swerve as Luna descends with a long yawn.

Bodyguards glance at Luna, but they offer privacy and try not to plaster their gazes for more than a few seconds.

I smile at my cousin. “Good afternoon, sleepyhead.”

Light-brown hair splays messily on her shoulders, faded green marker streaks her cheeks, and her lanky arms and body are hidden beneath an oversizedThrashershoodie.

“Howdie.” She yawns longer. “I heard something upstairs about a squirrel in a box.”

I shift from the staircase to let her pass. “You heard right.” I explain what Akara told us in depth.

Luna hardly flinches at the news. She was gifted poop in a bag by a bully in high school, so this isn’t shocking for her either.

“People suck,” Luna says under her breath while she skates past Thatcher and me, and then the adjoining door quietly opens.

Banks slips inside.

All of Security Force Omega is now here.

I thought Thatcher’s brother would be in New York all day. I look to Thatcher, and he leans closer to me. Just to speak privately.Do not elevate any dangerous hopes or wishes, Jane.

I inhale his strong woody scent as he says, “Tom’s bodyguard went on-duty earlier.”

“Right,” I breathe.

It means that Banks is now off-duty and floating to wherever anyone on the team must need him. Especially if Farrow has a med call.

It’s sometimes strange how security is more attuned to the happenings of my family as a whole unit, more than I can ever possibly be.

Sulli groans. “Cumbuckets.” She just lost the competitive arm-wrestle match.

“There’s always next time, Sul.” Akara pushes himself off the cushion to a stance and steals a Fruity Pebble off the donut she’d been eating. He makes his way over to Banks, who has screeched to a halt beside Oscar.

Banks stares at the photographs of suitors. “What’s this?”

Akara starts explaining the plan that’s already spread through the rest of Omega, and everyone quiets to listen.

I hold the banister with two hands. Apprehension rolling around my stomach. Just having Maximoff, Farrow, and Thatcher in my plans is much easier. Having the whole room is more intimidating, but I’m open to more ideas and input.

I do the math.

7 Omega Bodyguards + 3 Cousins + 1 Exec Producer = 11 Brains.

Eleven brains on top of mine could easily make the situation more dysfunctional, but the professional hierarchy in SFO makes them afunctionalteam. Most of them are good about checking their egos.

And when they don’t, it never bothers me. I was raised in a family with parents and siblings who love to be right. The ego of my dad alone could fill the entire Milky Way.

Donnelly rips a photo off the wall. “This one looks like a straight up prick.”

“Man, they’re not dating you,” Farrow says easily.

He grins. “They wish they could have this ass.”

Oscar turns his head to me. “It’s not a bad idea, Cobalt.” He stuffs his hand in the chip bag. “You openly dating a guy should calm down some of the aggressive men outside. They’ll leave knowing they lost their chance.”

I hadn’t even considered that benefit.