Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lilah:You’re going to be an uncle again, Mal!
Mal:I heard.
Cass:Congrats, Uncle Mal. We should get together to celebrate. You know—have sex.
Lilah:How exactly does sex qualify as a celebration of the birth of Mal’s niece?
Cass:Who the fuck knows. I’m horny. Also, I heard your mom’s heading out on a cruise.
Lilah:Not until September. Switching gears—are we excited about the Moon & Maple Festival?
Mal:Is it happening already? Fuck. I hate festivals.
Cass:I love them. They bring in so much money I might retire before sixty.
Lilah:Wait—you’re selling the bar when you turn sixty?
Cass: No, I meant I’m retiring from CQS.
Mal:Like they’ll let you walk away. You’re locked in for life. They always need your expertise for something.
Cass:You tried to quit?
Mal:No. But there’s always some old guy “consulting” on every mission.
Cass:Okay, focus. How do we spend the night together—all of us? I’m tired of sneaking off to the cabin and saying goodbye before sunrise.
Lilah:You two spend nights together at your place.
Mal:We don’t. I head to the bar, spend an hour with him while he closes up, and then I check on you before the bakery opens.
Cass:Yep, it’s tragic. I wish I could convince him to stay—or you.
Lilah:Maybe I’ll tell my mother what’s happening between us.
Mal:No.
Lilah:Wow. That was fast.
Mal:It’s for your safety. You’ve seen what happens to everything the Timberbridge brothers own—or care about. If you recall, I’m one of those brothers. I’m not putting a target on your back—or Cassian’s.
Cass:What he said.
Lilah:Fine, but this is torture.
Mal:We’re working as fast as we can to end it. I promise.