Page 75 of Twist of Fate

Gomez relaxed into the pillows. “Good. Because following up an ambush with another mysterious meeting feels like the sort of decision people make right before the screen goes black and the documentary narrator tells us their bodies were never found.”

Luke folded his arms. “Thank you for that.”

“I’m helping.”

“You’re recovering.”

“I can multitask.”

Connal stepped closer to the bed. “The drive will not leave our protection until we understand what it contains.”

“That’s reassuring,” Gomez said, turning to Connal. “You look like you could snap someone in half.”

“He can,” Luke said.

Gomez glanced between them, his mouth hanging open for several seconds while he processed Luke’s statement. “That was disturbingly casual.”

Luke ignored him. “Cosmo said Silenus has allies who may be able to provide a secure location.”

Gomez scoffed. “You don’t need the king’s people for that. I know people.”

Luke stared at him. “What people?”

Gomez’s expression turned solemn. “People who understand discretion.”

“What kind of discretion?”

“The kind that keeps vulnerable lives safe.”

Luke waited.

Gomez waited back.

“Gomez.”

“Fine.” He lowered his voice even though the only other people in the chamber were Connal and several pixies who had already stopped pretending not to listen. “I didn’t want to tell you this because secrecy is important, but circumstances have forced my hand. I’ve been keeping a secret from you, Luke.”

As far as Luke knew, Gomez had never kept a secret for more than ten minutes. “What did you do?”

“I know I look like a mild-mannered civilian, but I’m savvy to the dark underbelly of society.”

The words took a moment to arrange themselves into anything Luke understood. “You are?”

“Luke, if I share this with you, you have to swear on the Hangry Hippo, god rest her shattered soul, that you won’t tell anyone.”

If only Gomez knew how good Luke really was at keeping secrets. “I swear on Henrietta.”

Gomez took a deep breath. “Luke, I’m a spy.”

Luke sat down on the edge of the bed. “You’re a what?”

“Okay, not exactly a spy. I help move, let’s call it restricted medication through an underground network.”

“You do what?”

Connal’s posture tightened. “You traffic in forbidden substances?”

Gomez looked offended. “What? No. I save kittens.”