Page 102 of Damián

“Hey, Leif!” I say as we start crawling down the vent again.

“Dami! How are you? How is the mission? Are you eating okay?”

“Yes, Mom, he is eating okay. But that’s not why we call… tell him, Dami.” Björn grins, excited, waiting for his brother’s reaction.

“Do you… remember Oliver?”

“Your assignment?” he asks, sounding confused.

Which, of course, he is. What kind of stupid question is that? Asking if he remembers the guy who’s been helping us run this operation for almost two months… but whatever.

We reach the supply room and climb out of the vent. I check outside the door while Björn hooks the vent cover back into place.

“He’s not my assignment… He’s more like the super capable man who is helping us bring down the worst trafficker in the world, while having absolutely nothing to do with Harknett as a client or a contractor… but sure, that Oliver,” I say.

Björn covers his face, desperately trying to hold in a laugh. I smack the back of his head, which only makes his shoulders shake harder.

“Yes, I remember Oliver… What about him?”

“I like him.”

“Aww! That’s great, you’re getting along with your teammate.”

Björn completely loses it and bursts out laughing. “He’s in denial.”

“No, Leif. ‘Like’ as in… I have a crush on him.”

The line goes completely silent… and then the call ends. Björn and I stare at the phone, unsure of what just happened.

“Did we just break my bror’s brain?”

“Looks like it…”

Björn looks left, then right, scanning the long, white corridor. “Was it left or right after the storage room?”

“Two lefts, up one flight of stairs, and a right,” I say.

Björn glares at me, and I grin.

“Soooomeone is clearly more intelligent.” I tease him.

“I am more intelligent. I’m just obviously still in shock from your confession.”

We hurry down the hall, take the stairs two at a time, and finally reach the server room.

“Come on, it’s in here.” I rattle the handle, but it’s locked.

BZZT! BZZT!

Björn’s phone buzzes; only this time, it’s a video call. He answers it, revealing Leif, his ashy blond hair and beard still wet from a shower, staring blankly into the camera. Björn passes me the phone so he can focus on picking the lock.

“Okay, so it really is you, and not just someone who sounds like you,” Leif says, with a serious face that switches immediately after seeing our surroundings. “Oh, you’re on a B&E! That’s so cool. Are you in the server room yet?”

“Björn is currently trying to get the door open.”

CLICK!

“Björn the Intelligent has opened the door,” he announces, pushing it wide.