A Stolen Heart
Luc, a former space pirate who's gone straight, rescues a vulnerable child adept at breaking into things. Nothing is beyond the boy's reach. He's even stolen Luc's heart...
In this scene, Luc is carrying three-year-old Senth and meets Nikko, his Deshai (apprentice) in the hall.
Earlier, one of the other Deshais had brought a policewoman to the house, and idBot (the security company Luc owns) discovered she'd left behind trackules - a type of spyware. Luc needs to go out to deal with a related issue.
Excerpt from A Stolen Heart
Outside Luc's bedroom door, he met Nikko as the young man came up the stairs. A glance told Luc what he needed to know; idBot had informed everyone.
Senthys squirmed, so Luc set the boy down.
"Nikko?" The boy tapped his brother on the leg. "Can you take care of me? Please?"
"What? You know it. I'll always take care of you, Senth." He turned back to Luc. "I'm sorry I doubted you. Why would Orella do that?"
Luc locked his door. "There's no proof she did it on purpose."
"I don't get it." The young Deshai looked at him askance. "First you accuse her, and now you defend her?"
"Nikko?" Senthys tugged on the young man's hand. "Will you play with me and my bears? Please?"
"Not yet, Senth."
The boy sulked. "But I said please. Ms. Fasra says when someone says please then you are supposed to do it."
"Yes, you did, and she's right." Nikko squatted. "But adults can't always stop what they're doing and play. Even if they want to. Sometimes we have to do adult things first."
An unfortunate truth. Like hunting monsters when you'd prefer rocking a sweet little boy to sleep and putting him into bed where he was safe. Luc slid one hand into a pocket.
Senthys pouted. "But I don't want to adult."
"I don't either sometimes. Neither does Luc." Nikko flashed a smile up at him. "Right?"
"Exactly right."
"Then play with me."
"In a few minutes." Nikko stood.
The boy gave an exaggerated sigh. "Okay."
"Um..." Nikko hesitated. "What were we talking about?"
"Orella and trackules. I never accused her. I said I suspected there might be spyware. Shohn Lexius at idBot thinks she might have been dusted with trackules without her knowledge, and I agree. I doubt Orella would jeopardize her relationship with Kaydn."
"Okay, I can see that. But how could she be dusted and not know?"
"I plan to investigate, that, Nikko. I hope she didn't do it herself. Now, I'm going to need help with something important. Who else is home?"
"I'm here," Brinn called out, coming up the stairs. He stepped out onto the second floor.
Holding his bears, Senthys ran over to him. "Will you take care of me, please?"
"Take care of you?" Brinn gave Luc and Nikko a questioning look. "You know it, little brother."
"Can we play?"
"Sure. In a few minutes. I have to talk to Luc first."
"Okay." Senthys heaved a drawn-out groan. "I know. You have to adult."
Antonello Brothers
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#SciFi #Romance
You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
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My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images from Nik Nitsvetov Pietas cosplays.
