Hadrian put his hands in his pockets. “I have someone I need you to trace.”

Suspicion crept into Syn’s eyes. “Haven’t you heard? I’m retired.”

Hadrian let out a derisive snort as he swept his gaze over the expensive tech setup. “You don’t look retired.”

“What? This?” Syn gestured at his gear. “Hobby.”

Jayne scoffed. “Some hobby.”

Syn shrugged, nonchalantly. “Keeps me out of trouble.”

“And it means that you can run a trace.”

Syn growled at Hadrian’s persistence. “Nero know?”

“Above his paygrade.”

Syn snorted. “Nothing is above his paygrade where you’re concerned. You trying to get us killed?”

“I’m trusting you on this.”

That garnered a full laugh. “I don’t keep secrets from your brother. I can’t.”

“Yeah . . . he’s a massive pain in the ass that way. Can you at least avoid him for a bit?”

Syn scratched at his cheek. “Can try. But like you, he has a nasty way of tracking me down.” He shifted his gaze back to Jayne. “I don’t even want to know why you’re here. Eddon on a ladder, you two are going to get me mutilated, aren’t you?”

Hadrian scowled. “What do you mean?”

“You know who her sister is, right?”

He shook his head.

Syn laughed even harder. “Damn . . . You want to tell him, Jaynie? And how is it possible that you don’t know, Hady?”

Hadrian screwed his face up. “Stop with that name. I hate you both. As for the other . . . can’t read her. Wish I could say the same for you, buddy. Your head’s a mess.”

“Always.” Syn held up his bottle of cheap alcohol. “Why I drink.”

Hadrian turned toward Jayne. “Eve of Destruction? Seriously? That’s the sister you keep going on about?”

Ouch. He really could read Syn’s thoughts. Until then, she hadn’t realized just how lucky she was to remain silent where he was concerned. Apparently, he really could pull all thoughts from someone’s head.

“Yeah.” She winked at him. “Still think your brother’s the bigger pain?”

“He can read my thoughts if I let my guard down . . . what do you think?”

“That would suck worse.”

Syn shook his head. “Try being in the same room with the two of them. You feel butt-ass naked.”

“That, I am familiar with. Jinx and Eve have the same effect when they start cross-examining me on where I’ve been or what I’m about to do.”

Syn nodded. “Yeah, I can see where that would a wreck a day.”

“And your balls.” Jayne crossed her arms. “So, miracle Syn, what can you tell us about who took the contract out on our boy here?”

One dark eyebrow shot north as Syn realized why they were there. “Who did what?”

Jayne held her comm up so that he could read the warrant. “Someone’s pretending to be his blood. I’m assuming you’re the one who scrubbed Hadrian’s past. So, you probably know his history better than anyone.”

“‘Deed I do.” He took her link and studied it. Then let out a low whistle as he stared at Hadrian. “Nero know about this?”