Free Losing Nuka (Litmus Book 1) by Kayla Howarth Page A

It’s not much, certainly nothing compared to what you have, but it’s enough for me to live off for a long time, probably forever. It’s also the reason I’m not here for your money. I don’t need your money.”
    “Oh.” Her face brightens a little, making me realise she still doesn’t completely believe I’m not here for her other reasons. “Well, it’s up to you. You can keep your trust fund in savings and work for us, if you like. We kind of got excited when you turned up last night. We’ve already got pretty big plans for you.”
    “You do?”
    “I’ll explain everything as we go. You want to come tomorrow and see what we have to offer?”
    “Sure.” But lunch with Declan. “How long will we be? I’m meeting a friend for lunch, but I can cancel if you want?”
    “Oh, we won’t be getting started until tomorrow evening. We’ll show you around, explain what we do.”
    “What do you do?”
    She smiles. “All in good time. I’m going to head to bed,” she says, even though her food has barely been touched. “Goodnight, Nuka.”
    “Goodnight … umm …”
    She grins. “You can call me Cade until you feel comfortable enough to call me Mum,” she says reassuringly.
    “Goodnight, Cade.” I like how her name rolls off my tongue when I say it.
    She pauses in the doorway. “One more thing.”  She waits until I’m looking at her to continue. “It’s probably best we don’t tell Jonas about your little trust fund. He’s always looking for investors, and while most of his ideas are inspired, it can be risky to invest with him—financially speaking. We’ll tell him that you have a little money left over from a previous job, but it’s not much and you’re willing to work for us to earn your keep. Okay?”
    “O … kay,” I say, a little confused.
    “I just wouldn’t want you to lose the money your father put aside for you.”
    I nod to her and she leaves.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    “I hear you’re one of us now?” Brett says, catching up to me as I walk down the hallway to my room.
    “One of you?”
    “Maybe you were placed in the employee section of the house on purpose after all.”
    “So, you know where my missing toothbrush is, I hear?” I ask, changing the subject.
    He winces. “I had to,” he says quietly.
    “Well, can I get another one? Brushing my teeth with my finger is sure to cause some cavities.”
    He smiles and looks a little relieved that I’m not pissed off at him. “I’ll go get you one,” he says, turning and walking the other way.
    Grabbing some new pyjamas from my shopping bags in my room, I start to head to the bathroom. Brett meets me in the hallway with a brand new toothbrush, still in its packaging.
    “Going to steal this one too?” I ask, reaching for it.
    “Not unless they ask me to.”
    “They could’ve just asked me . It’s not like I don’t understand their concern. It may have upset me, but it’s not as bad as finding out they went behind my back.”
    “They still would’ve checked you out, no matter what you told them. You know that, right? People like your parents—”
    “Mother,” I correct him. Jonas is no father of mine.
    “People like your mother and Jonas,” he rephrases, “have to watch their backs. They have a lot to lose.”
    “A lot of money, you mean.”
    “To some people, that’s everything.”
    “Is it everything to you? Is that why you do this job?”
    “I’m just trying to keep my head above water. Being Defective doesn’t exactly open doors for great careers. We do what we have to just to survive.”
    “That’s bullcrap.”
    He raises his eyebrows at me.
    “Look at my adoptive family. Nearly all of them are Defective. They’re doctors, politicians, directors, police officers. They don’t let their abilities hold them back.”
    “Must be nice living with that sort of privilege available to you,” he mumbles.
    “It’s available to all of us. You just have to want it bad enough to chase it.”
    “You