“What?” I asked.
“Come again?” Knox asked.
“You said something to her,” Lee said to me. “And she told Alexeyev she knew she could let Knox go because someone was looking after him.”
Oh.
Well then.
“What did you say?” Knox asked me.
I pulled my shoulders forward.
Not letting my hands go, he turned to me. “What did you say?”
“Maybe it was the speech I gave about having your back and being on your side in everything. Other than that, all I said was that I wasn’t going to play go-between for you and maybe I got in her face a little about her leaving you. But that’s all. I think.”
Knox just stared at me.
“Whatever it was,” Lee broke into this, “it worked. She says if you ever want to heal the breach, use the Russians. But she isn’t expecting that and she’s content to let you live your life without their interference.”
“That’s big of her,” Knox bit out.
“It’s done, honey,” I reminded him.
His fingers around mine squeezed.
“It is done,” Lee stated in a way we both looked right at him. “My team is my team. But we take such care with our hires because they become family. You’re family Knox. Your name might not be Nightingale. Or Mason. Stark. Crowe. Chavez. Tucker. Or Jackson. But you are us. And we are you. This is a forever thing, brother. You’re in and you’re never gonna get out. That isn’t a threat. You’re gonna live your life how you see fit. But like Luna, we have your back and we’ll take your side in everything. You’ll always be a part of us no matter where you are. And that’s it.”
I was holding my breath through this speech.
I kept holding it when it was done, and that was that.
Because, with no hugs or handshakes or other common rituals that would normally bookend a statement like that, they marched out.
Cap was last, and it was only him who sent Knox a lingering look.
Then the door shut behind him.
And I knew why it was the OGs.
Because that statement had to be made by the Hot Bunch so Knox wouldn’t miss it.
And when I looked up at him, I saw he didn’t miss it.
So I turned into him, pressed close and rounded him with my arms.
“Closure,” I whispered.
He was still staring at the door, but he looked down at me.
“Closure,” he whispered back.
Jacques barked.
Knox smiled.
And that was that.
