we're not lovers, but we're not brothers either. Like, some title that makes it not weird."
"Boyfriend-in-law," Braden said. "I'll shorten that to boyfriend."
"Dream on," Psyc teased. "Get your kicks when I'm distracted by her."
Braden just lifted his glass and gulped back what was left. "You know, craziest thing. You just told me you're also dating my girl, and this jealousy? Gone. Like, all I feel is relief right now."
"It'll come back," Psyc said. "I've kinda been bouncing between the two all weekend. Relief that I'm getting a chance with her, and this anger at you for getting there first. I don't want to be the backup boyfriend, Braden. I just don't. I want to be hers, however she wants me."
"Same," Braden agreed. "And when I see you two together, I feel like the easy fallback plan. Like, you're the guy she gets excited about, and I'm the starter pack."
"No, she loves you," Psyc assured him. "She kinda threw that in my face last night, too."
"And you?" Braden asked.
Psyc just looked up. "I'm serious about her, man. Very serious."
"Not ready to say it yet, huh?"
"Just figured I should wait until she's ready to hear it first," Psyc told him. "Just tell me this shit is going to work with us? That we won't tear each other apart in the process?"
Braden gestured between them. "We're talking it out like real men. It's gonna work, Psyc. Might be a few bumps, but with all the shit we've faced down in the last year or so? This is a piece of fucking cake."
Psyc just smiled. "You're a pretty good boyfriend-in-law, Braden. Might have to keep you."
"Same," Braden agreed, pouring a bit more rum into both of their glasses before lifting his. "Here's to not giving in to the toxic masculinity that raised us."
"I'll drink to that," Psyc agreed.
Chapter 48
Over the next few days, the entire group made progress, but not nearly enough. For every step forward, it felt like they took two steps back. Granted, thirteen more people were arrested for their connections to KoG, but none of them were Soul_Reaper. By Wednesday afternoon, the entire group was getting frustrated, and Adam couldn't put off his last-minute checks any longer.
With Kate's help, they made one final check of the entire hotel. In the gaming hall, extra cameras had been added, just like he'd requested. The network that would handle both the team and the individual tournaments was secure. The demonstration hall had been cleared out, and the first booths were just starting to arrive. One of those was Kate's favorite, the little cartoon-looking USB drive vendor.
"I have a problem," she admitted, pausing to look at a puppy drive. "I can't get enough of these things. This looks like Crysis, doesn't it?"
Adam chuckled at her. "Only barely. I mean, the color is kinda close, and that's where the similarity ends. You should get it."
Kate looked over at the guy putting together the racks they'd eventually hang on. "Do you have a way to ring up a sale yet?"
"Uh..." He glanced back. "No, ma'am. Gonna be another couple of hours."
So Kate put the drive back. "I'll come back, then." She turned to Adam to say something else, and her watch beeped. Kate just sighed, swiped at the screen, and then scanned the microscopic font. After a few more taps, she looked at him suspiciously. "Ok. So, did you know that Deviant isn't running the team tournament?"
"They never do," Adam pointed out. "It's why Braden usually plays in those."
Her eyes lit up. "And Rhaven?"
"Oh, no," Adam groaned. "Why do I think I'm about to get myself in trouble?"
"The girl's team," Kate said. "Means you'll need to play with someone else, though."
"I can handle that." He caught her hand. "Who told you?"
"Nancy." She jiggled her wrist where her watch rested. "An email from her saying that she'd upgraded them to the suites. Not our floor, but wanted to make sure that the game developers know that Degrass Industries respects them and all that. She said she hoped she'd done right and that you wouldn't be mad. I sent back that she did good." Kate made a face. "Please tell me that's ok?"
"That's fine," he promised, the pair of them walking to the first of the lecture halls. "So, I'm going to say something, and you're going to yell at me, but hear me out?"
She waited until they were inside the large but empty room. "Is this about KoG?"
Adam nodded. "He made a kill list, Kate. Not just a