Page 9

"Copy."

"One more thing."

Leo waited.

Dominique's eyes were still, and the rest of her face was so still around them that Leo understood, without needing the sentence yet, that what was coming was the real reason she had been called in at nine at night instead of tomorrow.

"The Circle has asked me to send someone," Dominique said. "Not Strauss. The Circle."

Avery's head turned.

"The request came through the usual channel. It is a request that the person we assign be someone I trust completely. It is also a request that the person we assign be someone who would recognize, at the right moment, what she was looking at, and act accordingly."

Leo's jaw set. "Act accordingly meaning?”

"Meaning I want your judgment on the ground. Not your obedience."

"That is not how Blackthorn works."

"It is how Blackthorn works when the Circle asks. You will not often hear me say this sentence in this room. I am saying it once. You will do what needs to be done. Hear it."

Leo heard it. She did not like it. She liked that Dominique had said it out loud, which was the first thing she had liked about the evening.

Leo usually worked within the rules. But, Dominique knew her well. And Dominique knew Leo had no issue with working outside the rules if that was what was required.

"Understood."

"Good." Dominique's hands closed over each other again. "Go. Read. Sleep. Tomorrow is going to be long."

Leo stood. Avery stood. They were at the door when Dominique said, without looking up, "And Leandra."

"Yes."

“Vivienne Strauss is very charismatic. Very attractive. Do not fall for her."

Leo let the silence sit a beat. "That is not a problem I will have."

"I know. I am saying it out loud so we both know I said it."

"Understood." Leo contemplated the photo of Vivienne in her mind. The intensity of her eyes and the curl of her lips. Yes, Vivienne was attractive. In an expensive, older, beautiful way. No, Leo would have no problem controlling herself around an attractive woman.

She followed Avery out. The elevator doors closed on the office and carried them down through the quiet building. Avery, staring at the panel, said, "Well."

"Yes."

"That was a lot of off the book stuff.” Avery said what they were both thinking.

“Unusual,” Leo responded.

“Very.”

The doors opened. They walked out into the wet Paris air.

At the car, Avery paused with her hand on the door. "You are okay with all of that?”

"With what?”

"With being told, in no particular order, that your principal might get shot, that your boss expects your independent judgment for a third party, and that you are not to fuck the client."