Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
WORK/HOME BALANCE
“From Zero to (Subpar)Hero: A Beginner’s Guide to Minor Superpowers.” Kassian read the title aloud from the screen of his phone. “Is this seminar today?”
Leif didn’t blame him for the slight whine in his tone. He felt the same. Having a ghost living rent free in his head was proving to be a lot of tiring work.
Let everyone else gathered around the table think what they wanted. His exhaustion was all the damn ghost’s fault.
Roger smirked across the table at Kassian and Leif squeezed his hand.
A single day spent in and out of naps and tangling on Leif’s and Bjorn’s bed had not been nearly enough to figure out how they were going to work, but Sal had called them back to the office today for a conference call, so here they all were.
“Harlan Dean is one of the best trainers in the industry.” April’s voice over the phone’s speaker was even more metallic and edged than normal. “And no, it’s tomorrow. He’ll be in the office and the seminar will start at nine sharp. You had better all be there, because the man does not make these special trips for just anyone.”
“Who’d dare say no to April,” Kassian muttered.
“Ex-c-use me?” April snapped. That word did not have as many syllables as she imbued it with.
“Nothing.”
“In other business.” There was a pause to emphasize her annoyance. “Leif.”
Leif’s fingers spasmodically began to twitch and Kassian tightened his grip, stilling them, and the jumping nerves that caused them.
Bjorn skimmed a hand—and a few sparks—along Leif’s thigh, which helped settle his jittering heart. Better to address his unsettling actions during their mission sooner, he supposed, than later. “Yeah?” His voice cracked over the word.
“Calm down.” How she knew he was freaking out when she wasn’t even in the room, and it wasn’t a video call was a mystery. “Nothing to do with your little passenger.”
“My… what now?”
“Oh, don’t worry. Your berserker alter-ego is considered an asset. So long as you can control him, Albert Lewis is a welcome addition to our little family.”
“That’s—” Leif glanced around the table. “Okay?” That was it? His abhorrently violent mental parasite was just another member of the team?
“About your other skills.” April moved on with brutal efficiency.
“Other skills?” What other skills? The only so-called power that had made itself obvious technically didn’t even belong to him, and he had no idea if it would ever manifest again. He sort of hoped not, because bare-handed killing. Ugh.
“You are an ee- lec-tric-ian?” She pronounced every syllable of the word as though he was very stupid.
“Oh. Well, yeah.”
“Someone will deliver plans for the floor below later today. Please get started as soon as possible.”
“Um.” He glanced around the room, but none of the others seemed to know what she was talking about, either.
April grunted. “Sal cannot continue to live in the office. And Anthony needs accommodations as well.”
“Oh,” Sal said. Very quietly. “Didn’t think she knew that.”
“I, um. Yes,” Antony said. “I do.” His cheeks got pink. “Sorry.”
April tsked. “It’s fine, dear.”
Dear? It wasn’t just Leif who startled at the endearment—any endearment—coming from her.
“One of the others can put you up until the rooms below are ready, then you can watch over your sibling, and they can live where they feel safe, and also not be living in our office. We don’t have that kind of insurance.”
“That’s very generous,” Antony said.
“We are hardly dictators,” April snapped. “We take care of our people. Bjorn.”
Bjorn sat up straighter in his seat.
“When your feet are better, and the electrical is done, you can help with the construction. Don’t short anything out.”
“Of course. I mean, of course not. Sure.” He slumped back down. “Thanks? I guess?” He looked so confused, Leif wanted to hug him.
“Antony, you will help Leif, and Kassian, get your brothers up to speed.”
“Yes ma’am,” Antony said with a smile.
“You want me to train them?” Kassian stared intently at the speaker, like he could see her through it. He very obviously didn’t look at any of his older brothers.
“Time you Briggs boys got your heads out of your asses.”
They all sat back like she’d slapped them.
“Good.” There was a sound like she was straightening papers. “I think that’s everything. You all have your assignments, so well done not dying, people. Keep up the good work.”
A click, and silence. She was gone.
“Well done not dying, people,” Kassian mimicked. Clearly, his muscle brain was at the wheel this morning.
Leif chuckled. He was, in fact, pretty damn proud of not dying.
Antony shrugged and Sal said, “At least she didn’t say way to burn that building down, kids, or even good job defeating evil, team. Shows where her priorities are.”
They had a point, he supposed.
“Can we go home now?” Bjorn asked suddenly.
“We just got here, babe,” Leif pointed out.
“Yeah, but…” He skimmed his hand up Leif’s thigh again. Sparks flew far enough some of them sparked against Kassian’s bare arm and he twitched.
“Nine A.M.!” Sal called after them as they got up as one and dashed for the door.