are given the option to move their own teams into the other apartments at their discretion. It’s entirely your call, of course, but soldiers are a lot more loyal when they have an incentive like a swanky apartment,” he tells me, swiping a keycard through the lock before swinging the door wide.
I think about what he says and realize he might be right. It’s at least something I need to think about when I’m recruiting.
Walking down the short hallway, I find myself in the entrance to the central hub of the living area.
As Reid places the keycard on the kitchen counter and flicks the lights on, I take note of the floor to ceiling windows, the fancy kitchen, and the wooden floors and turn to Reid with a question on the tip of my tongue but he must anticipate what I was going to say.
“Yes, it’s all pretty much the same as my place—everything from the kitchen to the bedrooms. The same designer did all the penthouses in all the divisions. The only differences you’ll find are the structural ones. Zodiac didn’t want it to seem like he was playing favorites.”
I nod, moving past the kitchen area on my left, to the living area on my right. It’s as big as Reid’s place, if not a touch bigger, the layout is just different. The living area has a sunken floor, meaning I have to step down into it. I move quietly across the room, passing the large sofa, the same color and style as Reid’s, but a huge oversized three-seater instead of a corner piece. The table and rugs, the cushions, and lighting are all the same. It’s flipping weird, but I bite my tongue not wanting to sound ungrateful. The dining table in the far corner near the window is a circular one, seating four people but feeling cozier somehow with its rounded shape, making me picture intimate dinners. I shake it off and move to the bank of windows and look out.
Bright city lights illuminate the inky sky as far as the eye can see, looking like a blanket of neon fireflies. I stare for a moment, picturing Megan and Wyatt staring out at the same sky, and perhaps for a second, I imagine Drake gazing up at the moon too. Feeling nostalgic, I allow myself a brief moment to dwell before I lock everything away in the box. I try not to open it very often, especially around others.
“So what do you think? There is one other place I can show you, but I’m not gonna lie, it looks just like this one. It’s the one the previous Gemini lived in so you would be living in his old apartment, and something tells me that would annoy you.”
“No, you’re right, this place is fine. Trust me, I’m not picky. This is all a little overkill for just me, but I get it, appearances and all that.”
“Yeah, Zodiac’s big on showing off his wealth. He cares what others think, so he wants his team to look the part.”
I nod, having already figured that out for myself. “This place is good, I swear. I just wish I had some coffee and stuff, toothpaste, and the essentials, but tomorrow will be fine.” I shrug. He glances down at his watch before shaking his head.
“Give me an hour, and I’ll be back. There is a twenty-four-hour store not far from here. I’ll pick up some stuff for you while you settle in.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I protest, but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“Call it a housewarming gift from me to you.” He smiles.
“Well, in that case, thank you.” I smile in return, lifting up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.
He gazes down at me, a warmth filling his eyes before he blanks his face and nods.
“Lock up. The key is on the kitchen counter. I’ll buzz when I’m back. If you think of anything specific you might need while I’m gone, just text me.”
“Will do, and thank you again.”
He waves me off and heads out. I stare out the window a little longer, absorbing the quiet until I see Reid climb on his bike and pull away. I don’t waste another second. I grab the keycard and head out the door, slamming it behind me.
I head to the elevator and hit the button for the ground floor, tapping my foot impatiently while I wait. When I finally make it to the ground