Don't Fear The Reaper

Chapter 9

"How do you want to handle this?" Phil asked as we got closer to Desdemona's house.

"Playing slightly stupid. The old reconnecting with people card but also wondering if I could get ahold of people I used to live with thing," I shrugged. "She might buy it. There were a few foster homes that weren't so bad, and I liked a few of the other kids."

He glanced over at me. "I really am sorry you had such a rough time, Knox. I honestly never knew how bad it was for you. I never would have left you in such situations."

I reached over to pat his arm. "It's over and done with and can't be changed. But I appreciate it. I know now. I just can't believe I didn't see it sooner. For someone who's supposed to be so smart, I was pretty damn dumb for not seeing what was right in front of me." I heaved a massive sigh of discontent, folding my arms under my chest and frowning.

"Knox Alyse Coulson, you stop it right there. You were a kid. If anything, it was me who should have seen it. I was the adult and didn't," he scolded.

My lips tipped up. "Haven't had anybody full name me in," I paused in thought. "I can't remember." I started to chuckle.

"KAC, Kasey," he murmured.

My head swilved to stare at him. "What did you say?"

His mouth opened and shut before letting out a huge breath.

"I know your name," he said, glancing over at me.

I frowned at him. "Of course, you know my name, dumbass. You just said it."

He waved a hand at me, scowling. "No, no. You're Kasey LoveLace. Named after the famous Countess of LoveLace, Ada, Lord Byron's daughter who was a famous mathematician," Coulson spouted. "That's your handle. LoveLace."

He stared over at me. "Watch the road!" I yelled at him as he almost steered us into traffic.

"You're not denying it," he grinned as he adjusted his steering.

"I'm not confirming it either. Love the idea, though. Lord Byron was always one of my favorite poets," I conceded. "But I don't need to be a bug on a windshield because my brother thinks I'm some elite hacker."

"I never said elite hacker," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Moron."

He snickered. "Still not a denial."

"You know we can hear you, right?" Daisy asked. Phil and I both cringed a little at the reminder. "And if what he says is true, well, that is just freaking the most amazing thing. Named after Countess LoveLace, the first computer programmer? Hacker Elite Kasey LoveLace is just that. Elite."

"Hunh, interesting," I said with a shy smile.

"It is. I'm good. Like genius good, but Kasey LoveLace is a goddess when it comes to such things. No one knows who she is," Daisy said.

"If she's that good, then maybe there's a reason no one knows who she is?" I queried.

We all heard her humph over coms. I chuckled.

"Still won't tell her your handle?" Lance laughed.

"Maybe I should just interrogate you instead," Daisy threatened.

"Like that would work well. He'd tell you I was the Queen of England," I laughed.

"She's not wrong. Wait, didn't we have you as the Princess of..." Lance started.

"Yeah, yeah, with the handsy guy." I shook my head at the memory.

"He wasn't that handsy when we got through with him, though," Lance chuckled.

I snorted. "No, no, he was not."

"I don't remember that story," Bobbi accused.

"No worries, lovely. Just a little mission to clear out a human trafficker and gun runner. Didn't take us long, did it, Firecracker?" Lance said.

"In less than a week. I had him eating out of my hand, quite literally; he was so smitten with me," I smirked.

"And how did you play into this game of cat and mouse?" May asked.

"I was her cherished bodyguard, of course," Lance said.

"Of course," May repeated.

"Sounds like you two had some fun," Phil glanced over at me.

My lips tipped into a full smile. "Certainly had our moments. And admittedly, 007 was one of the few blokes I didn't mind working with more than once."

"I'm irresistible, love," Lance cajoled. "I grew on you."

"Like a goddamn fungus that I couldn't get rid of," I laughed.

"I wore her down," Lance bragged.

"Asshole stalked me. Give the man credit; he's good at what he does. He's lucky he was charming, or I might have tried to kill him," I shrugged.

"See, I knew you loved me," Lance exclaimed.

"We're five minutes out," Phil said.

I sobered pretty quick. My heart beat a little faster at the idea of seeing the woman who had a hand in terrorizing me as a child. Knowing she did it with intent and purpose made my adrenaline spike. I had to start counting to slow my breathing. As irrational as it was, I felt like a child again, lying afraid in the dark, waiting for the monsters to come.

As if Phil knew what was going on in my head, he reached over and took my hand. "You hunt and kill the monsters now."

I blinked and squeezed his hand back. "Damn right, I do."