ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

40.5

KATERINA WAS AT the Golden Lotus even earlier than she had been yesterday — nine am, which was a surprise to her and everyone else in the building — in order to be debriefed on the next mission.

She was waiting for Jules, though, as she'd had her date last night and probably woke up late, considering apparently she'd been at a club until two am, according to the drunk texts Katerina had received. And the Instagram stories she was tapping through.

"Mikhailova," a voice interrupted, and she looked up to see Kiara Mori, Katerina's personal favorite FBI agent, mostly because she didn't really act like she was part of the FBI. Humble, badass, and beautiful, she's got it all. "Didn't expect to see you before your partner in crime."

Oh, and did she forget to mention? Kiara knows that they're criminals, but she doesn't care because at least they're doing some good shit. And she doesn't really care. Katerina would totally fall in love with Kiara if she liked girls. Unfortunately, she doesn't, because she doesn't have good taste like Katerina does.

"You're working this with us, Mori?" she smirked. "Fuck yeah."

Kiara rolled her eyes, sitting down in a comfy chair beside Katerina, though she didn't relax. Katerina didn't think she ever relaxed. "I'm here to receive and give the information, though I presume I am working this with you considering I don't have another job yet." Her dark eyes bored into Katerina's, unimpressed and impatient. "You didn't answer my question yet. What's taking Feingold so long?"

"She's on her way," explained Katerina, glancing down at her phone. "Should be around five minutes."

One corner of Kiara's lips pulled into a reluctant small smile. "If that were you, you'd be here in about an hour."

Katerina shrugged. "Maybe I've taken your advice to sleep earlier and wake up earlier."

"We both know that's a bold faced lie, Mikhailova." Kiara raised her eyebrows, now looking more unimpressed, if that was even possible. "Anyone with half the training and experience I've had would be able to figure that out."

"Are you calling me a bad liar, Mori?" Katerina pouted. "You've seen me in action before. Besides, you've been training to be something meanwhile for, what, your entire life?"

"Since I was eight years old."

"So your entire life."

Kiara shrugged. "That's what happens when your mom dies when you're a child and the police officer sees potential in you at eight years old to work for the FBI."

Katerina stared at her, examining her to see if she was lying. Her lie detector powers told her Kiara wasn't lying, but she didn't know what the fuck to say in this situation. Oh, yeah, I understand! I grew up in a family that's been part-god ever since fucking negative 29384998 BCE, and I'm also part-well-mostly-god and I've been raised to be a child soldier since I could walk.

Yeah, like that was a smart idea.

Nonetheless, Katerina opened her mouth when Julia barreled through the door, right on time as always.

"I'm here!" she declared triumphantly, throwing her arms in the air. In the process, her bag flew in the air toward Kiara, who caught it as if it was that easy.

"Kiki!" Jules grinned, bounding over to them. She took her bag back, kissed Kiara on both cheeks, then pushed Katerina's head as she walked over to her chair, collapsing into it. "You're working this with us?"

"I have told you many times before not to call me Kiki," Kiara bristled at the attention, glaring at Julia as she fell back into the chair. "I was waiting for you to show up, strangely enough, so I can figure out why I have to spend more time with you two."