He-he-he-
Wait a second. Wasn''t he always the cold, untouchable type before?
Yeah, that look of his just one icy nce and you''d freeze on the spot. He was the guy who could silence a whole room just by walking in.
That was Susanna''s impression of Hull.
Dangerous. Severe. Unapproachable.
He seemed like the kind of man who didn''t have feelings. People around him either thought he had some health problem or was justpletely uninterested in, well, anything romantic. Zero needs.
And yet, this guy-this absolutely straightced, all-business man—just leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Make sure you''re squeaky clean..."
Susanna sat at the kitchen table, stunned into silence for what felt like forever.
By the time she snapped out of it, Hull was already gone.
Her face was burning red-way redder than she''d ever let anyone see.
Of course, that''s when Barnaby and Ss walked in. Just perfect timing.
Barnaby couldn''t help himself. "Whoa, somebody''s got spring fever over here—”
He didn''t even get to finish before Ss smacked him hard on the back of the head. Loud enough for a sharp "whack!" to echo off the kitchen tiles.
Barnaby yelped. "What the hell was that for?"
"I told you, if you run your mouth this afternoon, there''ll be consequences," Ss warned, giving him a look that could curdle milk.
Barnaby''s mouth really didn''t have a filter. Ss had threatened to hand him over to Dr. Finley the other day-no one knew what kind of wild punishments the doc woulde up with. The boss, for some reason, hadn''t signed off on it. Maybe only Hull had the patience for Barnaby. Anyone else would''ve snapped and "identally" lost him a dozen times by now.
Barnaby grumbled, "I didn''t even say anything..."
His voice trailed off, sheepish and a little shaky.
Ss shot him another re, sharp as a p. "How long''s it been since you had your mouth taped shutst time, huh?"
Barnaby flinched, his face clouding over. "Still can''t feel half my jaw."
"Exactly," Ss replied, hands on his hips, "and you''re still spouting nonsense."
He looked at Barnaby like he was a lost cause, shaking his head in exasperation.
Susanna, meanwhile, was still
reeling from Barnaby''s "spring fever"ment her face getting ev redder. She joined Ss in ring at him.
Once Ss was done chewing Barnaby out, he turned to Susanna with a respectful nod. "Ma''am."
That word-ma''am-made Susanna''s cheeks re even hotter.
The night Hull had first...well, after that, Ss and Barnaby had been at the
house, grabbing something. They''d definitely heard what happened.
Now, everyone in Hull''s crew called Susanna "ma''am." Everyone except Barnaby, of course, who insisted on calling her "Susie."
Honestly, Susanna often wanted to duct tape his mouth herself.
But she managed a polite "yeah" for Ss. Barnaby, though, got nothing but an icy stare.
Ss cleared his throat. "Boss says Barnaby''s supposed to stay here with you this afternoon."
Susanna blinked. "What? Seriously?"
No, please no.
Barnaby''s mouth was dangerous. He always said exactly the wrong thing, and his brain worked overtime, cooking up wild theories.
They''d only spent a few minutes
together before, and he''d already used her of being a mole for è ck Gate. If they were left alone for a whole afternoon, who knew? Next time he''d probably decide she was an international spy.
Bottom line-Susanna did not want to be stuck with him.
Ss nodded. "Yeah, things are getting a little out of hand. Boss wants someone nearby."
Susanna protested, "But it''s safe here..."
Last night, Hull''s crew barely even
had to lift a finger. Just the security system alone bad put a couple
of
intruders hatway to the hospital. One of the twins, in fact, got pretty banged up.
Ss shrugged. "Still better to have someone by your side. Boss''s orders."
And when it came to Hull''s orders, there was no arguing.
Susanna slumped. Did it really have to be Barnaby? Of all people? Why not literally anyone else?
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!