“Good.” I sneered. “And burn them alive too. Where’s Totoro?”
“She’s being brought to me.”
“Perfect. And don’t forget that Reo will guide you. Hiro will have your back. The Claws and Fangs are loyal and strong.” A tear left my eye. “Tell them I love them and that I want them to be safe. Okay?”
“I’ll tell all of them.”
“Good.”
He went silent again.
We both knew he needed to get off this phone, but neither one of us wanted this conversation to end.
He spoke, “This morning. . .”
I swallowed.
“I haven’t. . .had one like that before. . .holding you. . .talking. . .laughing. . .kissing. . .”
I wiped my tears.
“We should have made love. I thought I had more time.”
“It’s okay. We’ll make love later.”
“We will.” But his words didn’t have the same confidence as always. These were laced with fearful doubt.
I frowned. “Iwillsee you again.”
“You will because. . .I’m not afraid of dying. I’ve never been. Death seems. . .almost comforting in some way.”
I widened my eyes.
“But I am afraid of not seeing you again and because ofthat. . .I will fucking survive.”
I had to hold in a sob.
"One more thing, Tora.”
I wiped away more tears. “Yes, baby.”
“In the nightstand on the right side of the bed and in the bottom drawer. . .there's a letter in a sealed envelope.”
I tensed.
“If I don't. . .make it by morning. . .read it.”
More tears spilled from my eyes.
“If I survive, Tora, then we'll burn the letter together in the morning."
My bottom lip quivered. “Then, I plan to burn it.”
“Tora. . .”
“Yes, baby.”
“Say my name one more time before we hang up. Not Dragon. Not baby. My name."
