1 – OtherworldlyHector leaned against the faux mahogany counter, waiting for the bartender—a synth in a railway uniform—to fill his order. He turned to his left, letting his gaze drift over the sparsely populated train car until he was looking at the two booths occupied by his party. Lemon and her kid brother, Kit, sat in one with Sass. The other booth, further on, was occupied by Orin, Grando’s top enforcer, and a fighter they’d recruited for added security—a local guy who went by the colorful moniker Demon.Hector sucked his teeth, looking away before the other fighter felt his gaze. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the guy; it was more that he was annoyed Grando felt like he had to provide muscle for Orin, especially when the enforcer’s job, ostensibly, was to be there in case Hector needed something. Still, Demon seemed like a decent guy—capable and quiet. Hector had met him once before, back on his very first day in his new life. One of the local tough guys had been trying to start trouble with Hector, and Demon had warned him off.Good instincts.//He may be a respected fighter, but he’s not a match for you.//Hector smiled at Evie’s intrusion. Relax, I’m not feeling threatened. He’s not the one going into the rift, right?//But you feel it’s a window into Grando’s mind—a reflection of his lack of trust.//He’s got a lot of money riding on this venture. Maybe he just wants to make sure someone will be watching my—and Orin’s—back.Hector smirked, realizing that Evie had deftly tricked him into looking at the situation from Grando’s perspective. At least it’s not Jam. Somehow the thug who’d caused Lemon so much trouble was still alive and kicking, but Grando knew better than to send him off with Hector; there’d be a very real chance he’d never return, regardless of any trouble they did or didn’t run into.“Your order, sir.” (...)