Page 109 of Twist of Fate

It wasn’t the best reassurance, but Connal seemed to understand the promise behind it.

Connal looked from the backpack to Luke then closed his hand around the strap, briefly covering Luke’s fingers with his own. “I will guard it with my life.”

Luke didn’t release it yet. “And Gomez. Tell him where I went and why. I promised I wouldn’t disappear without leaving him answers again. Look after him for me.”

“He is your family,” Connal said. “He will remain under my protection until you return.”

“Thank you.”

Only then did Luke release the backpack into Connal’s care.

Knowing Gomez would be protected eased some of Luke’s worry. It did nothing to make leaving Connal easier. Luke covered Connal’s wrist with his hand.

“I’ll be careful.”

“You will return.”

“That’s the plan.”

“It is a command.”

Despite everything, Luke almost smiled. “There he is.”

Connal drew him closer until their foreheads touched. For one moment, the tracking system, Hale, and the waiting buyer disappeared behind the solid warmth of the man in front of him.

Then Tyson spoke.

“I’ll begin making the arrangements.”

Tyson moved to the far side of the room and made several calls, speaking quietly as he gave instructions without using Hale’s name or explaining why the building required surveillance. When he finished, he returned.

“A car will arrive in twelve minutes. I moved your return flight to the earliest available departure without notifying Hale’s travel office. Another driver will meet you at the airport and take you to Hale’s building. You will arrive before eleven.”

“And the observers?”

“They will be in position before you arrive.”

“They don’t approach me unless I signal for help. If Hale spots them, we lose the advantage.”

“They understand.”

“If I don’t leave the building?”

“They will report any change immediately.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

Tyson met his gaze. “If you fail to emerge or the situation becomes visibly hostile, they will notify me. No one will enter unless doing so offers a reasonable chance of getting you out.”

Luke nodded. It wasn’t a guarantee. Anyone offering one would have been lying.

Asterius folded his arms. “And you intend to bring the drive into that building.”

“Hale ordered me to bring the package. Arriving without it would tell him I know too much before I get through the door.”

“We already possess the information,” Koios said. “The copy will remain here.”

Luke rested one hand over the watch pocket holding the drive. The original was no longer their only evidence. Now it was his access to Hale.