Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Everyone stood there, stunned, like they’d been hit by a truck.
They gawked as Tobias sauntered up to Kaia, tilting his umbrella over her.
“Let’s bounce,” he said.
“Cool.” Kaia nodded, unfazed.
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What the hell?! No one could believe it. This guy, who looked like he belonged on a movie poster, was here for Kaia.
Shock didn’t cover it.
When Kaia and Tobias slid into a sleek Maybach parked curbside, the crowd’s jaws hit the floor.
“That’s a limited–edition Maybach, right? Costs a fortune–tens of millions, easy. And money alone won’t get you one,” a car- obsessed guy muttered.
Everyone, Casey included, glanced at Philip’s sports car. It was cool, sure, but next to that Maybach? A toy car versus a rocket
Inside, Kaia shot Tobias a grin. “Thanks for the save.”
“Don’t get sappy,” Tobias said, stone–faced. “Grandpa sent me.”
“Yeah, but Mr. Moreno didn’t tell you to hop out, hold an umbrella, and clown on those jerks.”
Tobias shrugged. “Grandpa would’ve had my head if I didn’t. You’re basically a Moreno now with the engagement coming. No one’s messing with you on my watch.”
“Still, I owe you.” Kaia hated owing favors. She’d settle the score later.
Tobias glanced at her. “Wanna thank me? One condition.”
“Shoot
“Post–engagement, don’t go crushing on me.”
Yaia smirked. “Relax, man. You’re not my vibe. You could strip down in my bed, and I’d barely notice.”
Tobias frowned. He got his way, but her words left a weird twinge in his gut.
Soon, the car pulled up to the sprawling Moreno villa.
“Grandpa’s still out cold, Tobias said.
“Got it. I’ll wait in the living room, Kaia replied.
Kaia stepped inside and spotted Russell lounging on the couch, eyes glued to the TV like he owned the place.
“Hi” Russell gave a half–hearted wave, then ignored her.
Suddenly, something zipped through the air, aiming for Kaia’s head.
“Watch it!” Tobias shouted, lunging to block it.
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Chapter 9
Too late. He was too far.
But Kaia? She reached back and–bam–snagged the thing like it was nothing.
‘Damn, she’s fast. Damn, she’s fast.
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Tobias blinked, floored. Kaia hadn’t even flinched. She stood there, calm as a summer breeze, like she knew she had it handled.
No! My Sparky No. 2!” A kid, maybe eight or nine, sprinted over, looking like he was about to cry.
Kaia eyed the disc–shaped robot in her hand, buzzing like an angry wasp.
Chill!” the kid snapped, face beet–red. “I spent a month on that. Break it, and you’re dead!”
tussell grinned. “Easy, Kaia. That’s Caden, Tobias’s little bro. Kid’s untouchable around here. Lives for his robots, so don’t rash his toy unless you want a war. Even Mr. Moreno might not bail you out.”
Tobias glared at Caden. “Your gadget almost clocked her. Say sorry.”
Caden wilted under his brother’s stare, muttering, “Sorry.”
tussell whistled. “This kid’s a fearless little punk everywhere else, but Tobias? He’s his kryptonite.”
Shut up,” Caden snapped, snatching the robot from Kaia. “What’s wrong with my you? I checked the wires, the chip— verything! Why’d you go nuts?”
Laia crouched next to him. “Cleaning bot, right?”
aden’s head whipped up, eyes huge. “How’d you know?!”
Looked at it. Figured it out,” Kaia said with a shrug.
She clocked it just like that?‘ Caden wondered.
Laden wasn’t the only one stunned. Russell and Tobias exchanged a glance, both clearly impressed.
How’d you even guess?” Caden blurted.
Caia flashed a sly grin. “Easy. This ain’t your basic vacuum bot. It’s for high–up stuff–ceiling lamps, chandeliers, right?”
Caden’s jaw dropped. ‘She got it again?
Kaia held out her hand. “Give it here. I’ll fix it.”
‘No way! You? Caden yanked the bot behind his back, like Kaia’s touch might zap it dead.
Russell, who’d almost started liking Kaia for a hot second, felt that vibe crash and burn.
‘Show–off, he thought.
“Hey, Kaia,” Russell cut in, arms crossed. “Don’t let this kid’s age trick you. Caden’s a legit genius. Won a big–deal tech contest at five with a bot he built himself. His stuff’s high–end, not some toy you can fiddle with.”
Kaia’s cool gaze slid from Russell to Caden. “This thing screams like a banshee when you start it, yeah?”
11:45 pm
Chapter 9
Caden blinked. “How’d you know?”
“And it veers off a bit when it flies, doesn’t it?”
“You know that too?”
“Plus, it gets hot as hell if you run it long, and when it overheats, it goes nuts–like just now.”
“H–How—” Caden was speechless, his brain fritzing out.
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Kaia didn’t skip a beat. “Bet it’s got pulse output issues, maybe a wonky encoder cable and positioning circuit. Servo gain’s probably off too. That’s just from a glance. Gotta test it to know more.”
The room went dead quiet, like someone hit mute. All eyes were on Kaia.
Tobias had this weird glint in his eyes, like he was trying to crack a code. His brain was in overdrive.
Caden’s eyes were practically popping out. ‘All that from one look?‘
“Let me take a swing at it,” Kaia said, her voice cutting the silence like a blade.
11:45 pm
Chapter 10
