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Darby
We shut off the equipment and prepared to leave. “I can’t decide if them not knowing who I am is a positive or not.”
Mark picked up both our glass tablets. “Based on Barrett’s low-level super-hatred, I’d say it’s a positive.”
“To tech?” I suggested.
“You read my mind.”
“Only empaths do that.”
He pressed his lips together in a thin line. “Whatever you did for an hour must have helped.”
“I beat a training droid to within an inch of its existence.”
He snorted. “So, we’re good?”
I gave him a sidelong look. “You gonna keep harping on me?”
“If you need it.”
“Mark...”
He stopped walking.
I faced him.
He wore the serious look he usually reserved for informing family a loved one was dead. “I’m going to be keeping an eye on you, Darb. I will go to our bosses and your doc if I have to.”
I groaned. “Mark, can we let this go?”
“Not until you agree that if I think you’re not able to handle the job, you’ll defer to my judgment.”
I scowled. “You act like a horrible older brother, you know?”
“It’s my job.”
Mark had arrested my older brother, Eric, when I was a teen a few weeks after my mother’s murder.
“Eric never cared. Anyone on this floor cares more about me than he ever did.”
“Probably in this building, but that’s not the point.” He put his other hand on my opposite shoulder. “If Moira or Magnolia were having problems, they’d be getting the same speech.”
I gulped. “There’s one difference: Moira and Magnolia don’t have superpowers.”
“Even more reason for me to want to keep you healthy. I want you to be careful.” He pulled me into a hug.
The tingle returned in full force.
I jumped back. “That was too intense.”
He pulled away but cupped my chin.
Electricity flowed through my skin.
He raised an eyebrow. “Maybe it’s a sign you’re going to save my life one day.”
I laughed. “And why would I do that?”
“Because you wouldn’t know what to do if you lost your partner.”
“Maybe Lieutenant Douglass would let Celia and me work together.”
He snorted, and let go of my chin. “I don’t think I’d want to be a killer the two of you were after.”
“Why not?” We turned and walked to the bank of lifts.
“I’d hate to see you two hopped up on estrogen, ready to tear any guy apart who crosses you.”
I gave a mock scowl. “Women jokes? Really? With four older sisters?”
“Hey, who do you think I learned from? Dad and I had to have some fun.”
I rolled my eyes as we stepped in.
Mark pressed the button for the main floor. “So, we’re good?”