Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
But Cissi stood with a gimlet expression, her hands on her hips.
Yakov groaned inwardly. He hated pulling out the big, bad bear routine, especially against a person he’d begun to respect. He’d much rather use charm or logic, but he had a feeling that wasn’t going to work with this protective woman.
He reluctantly put on his mean face. “You live in bear territory.” His voice was granite. “Do you really believe that the authorities will bother to step in to protect three random Psy from us?”
Of course StoneWater didn’t just go around attacking innocent people—they weren’t animals. Well . . . they were animals, but not that kind of animals. But despite the fact she’d been in Club Moscow, it was unlikely Cissi knew much more than surface information when it came to StoneWater. The vast majority of Psy still had a massive blind spot about changelings, believing violence their default.
Which reputation you haven’t exactly helped with, Yakov Stepyrev.
Babushka Graciele’s disappointed voice.
But his gambit worked. After glancing back at her charges, Cissi looked once more at him, then at Theo. She frowned, tilted her head, a strange confusion to her as she stared a beat too long at Theo. But when she spoke it was to Yakov.
“Name’s Cecilia Bonet, but I go by Cissi. I became Santo’s and Janine’s carer three years ago—got the job through one of the listing sites. I had to submit to a security check, then an interview with their guardian, and I continue to be spot-checked.”
“You also have security training yourself.”
Cissi nodded. “That was my field in the time of Silence. I retrained as a carer afterward, and honestly, had no experience when I was given this job. Their guardian made it clear it was my security background that bagged me the position, but that I’d be out on my rear if I didn’t care for them as required.”
A softening in her as she looked back at Santo and Janine, who were now crouched by the garden, picking and eating what looked to be snow peas. Man had to have magic green fingers if he’d gotten a crop this early.
“I didn’t know that about his work, the field he was in. Makes sense, though—every so often, he says words I don’t understand, and when I look them up, they’re almost always related to chemicals.”
Theo stirred. “You did Janine’s hair.”
“What? Oh, yeah.” Cissi smiled. “Neither needs assistance with hygiene, but Janine loves my braids. It’s a mission to get them to hold in her hair; the strands are so slippery. I have to resort to fix-fast gel.” Affection in each and every word. “Honestly, they’re family now.”
“Janine,” Yakov said, staring at the small and skittish woman who hadn’t spoken even to Santo, “she’s a telekinetic.”
Cissi nodded. “Used to work for a private family as a teleporter. Was groomed for the position at a young age, and the family must’ve had enough political power that she wasn’t pulled into the Council’s corps.” The carer stared at Theo again, her forehead wrinkling up. “I’m sorry for being rude, but have we met?”
“Not as far as I know.” Theo’s voice was a touch too even. “Do you believe we have?”
Yakov understood Theo’s wariness. Was it possible Cissi had been a staff member at the facility? But that didn’t jibe with her relationship with her charges. Regardless, he took out his phone and tapped in a quick request to his brother: Work/residence history for Cecilia “Cissi” Bonet. Lives at the address you sent me this morning.
He slid away his phone as Cissi shook her head. “I get the strongest sense of what the humans call déjà vu when I look at you. Did you live in Missouri as a child? I grew up there.”
“No,” Theo answered. “I must just remind you of someone.”
“Yes, that’s probably it.”
“Santo’s and Janine’s guardian,” Yakov said, “you have their details?”
Cissi stiffened up again, folding her arms across her chest. “What’s this all about?” A hard line to her jaw. “These two are wounded and unable to defend themselves. I won’t allow you or anyone else to hurt them.”
Theo spoke before Yakov could. “We’re here in an effort to make restitution,” she said. “There’s a chance my family is responsible for their current mental and physical state. If so, we need to be paying for their expenses and any related medical costs. Our new CEO believes in accountability.”
Cissi took a single step back. “Their guardian made it clear that that’s already the situation. The apartment, my salary, the food, everything. Either your new CEO has the wrong information—or you’re lying to me.”
“Ah.” Theo nodded slowly. “Yes, that explains the financial draw.”
“We still need to speak to the guardian,” Yakov said. “There’s a chance there are more survivors in the same condition as Janine and Santo—Theo’s been tasked to make sure that every single one of them is being cared for to this high standard. StoneWater has offered its support to track down the victims.”