Page 18 of Creeping Beautiful

“So, listen.” Donovan touches my arm. “I heard some rumors about you.”

I open my eyes again. “What kind of rumors?”

Donovan’s crooked-smile response makes my heart skip. But only once. “From who?”

He shrugs. “I have feelers out there.” Then he leans into me again. “But you need to be careful with her.”

“Who?” I ask, because I have to. I’m not gonna admit anything to this kid. Not about me, not about him, not about his father, or my father, or the things I’ve heard. And I’m sure as fuck not going to admit I had anything to do with Santa Barbara or Sasha Cherlin. But that’s what he’s getting at.

Donovan smiles. And even though he’s only fifteen, I have to give credit when it’s due. He’s fucking smooth like that whiskey in his glass. “Just… lie low, man. Don’t do it again. And don’t ever talk to her again, either. She is the whole reason snake girl is in a world of shit.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Zero Project is a failure. You know that, right? Indie—that’s her name, by the way. She’s one of the last. There’s maybe half a dozen younger than her. Mostly babies, but the older ones didn’t pan out like we’d hoped so they’re just shutting the whole thing down.”

“So she’s a waste of my time and money? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No. I’m not saying that.” He looks away, takes a sip of his drink, then side-eyes me. “But you gotta train her, Adam. Right from the start.”

“I have Core McKay waiting for me back home. He’s taking care of that.”

“McKay, huh?” Donovan considers this. “He’s not a bad choice.”

“You know him?”

“Not well. But I’ve read his file. Patient. That’s always a plus when dealing with kids like Indie. But he’s… young, ya know? You might consider someone with more experience under his belt.”

“He’s older than you.”

“He is. But he doesn’t have my connections.”

“He’s only a year younger than me.”

“Or your connections either, for that matter.”

“So what are you saying, Donovan? I should buy her? Or not?”

“Buy her. One hundred percent. I kinda promised her I’d make sure she went somewhere good. Just… be careful. Her kind… they’re… fragile.”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair, wanting this whole trip to be over. I’ve been renovating the family home since my trust fund matured two years ago and it’s finally fucking ready. All I want to do is go back there and settle in to… something. Something normal, and predictable, and easy.

And snake girl is starting to sound… well… not easy.

“Did you hear that I’m off to medical school?”

I pull back from my thoughts. “Yeah? Good for you.”

“Duke. Not too far from your stomping grounds.”

“I guess. Not really a day trip though.”

“I’m not driving, Adam.” He laughs. “Private jet.”

“Sucking down all the old money now, are ya, Donovan?”

“My trust matured when I finished undergrad.” He holds up his glass. “Here’s to early graduation.”

“Nerd.” But I laugh. “It’s smart though. If I had your brain, I’d have done the same thing.”