Page 126 of Diego

No.

I do not think so.

But the certainty I would normally have is not there.

“Diego.”

I look toward Montes.

He has finished pouring the wine.

Everyone gathers and takes a glass.

Montes lifts his own and looks around the room with the expression of a man taking one last look at something that belonged to him for a long time.

“Well,” he says, “I think we’ve all earned this.”

That gets a few smiles.

He looks at me. “I hope you enjoy the place more than I did the final month of owning it.”

I laugh. “If I ever hear the words perimeter sealant again, I may sell it immediately.”

Martin groans. “Please don’t.”

“Noted.”

Montes smiles and raises his glass higher. “To a transaction that took longer than anyone wanted, a set of windows that nearly defeated all of us, and to the new owner. I hope you have many good years here.”

Glasses lift around the room.

“To Diego,” Nadia says.

“To Diego,” the others echo.

I incline my head toward Montes. “Thank you. Since this has already taken so long, I'll keep it short.”

That earns me a laugh.

I look around the penthouse.

“I wanted this place from the moment I saw it. Then it fought me.”

Montes shakes his head, smiling.

“But it was worth waiting for.” My gaze drifts briefly toward Blair before I pull it back to the group. “So thank you to everyone who got it across the finish line.”

We drink.

I take a long swallow, and my eyes find Blair immediately, unintentionally.

She lifts the glass, takes the smallest sip imaginable, and sets it down on the nearest table almost as soon as it leaves her mouth.

That is strange.

She looked sick downstairs.

Maybe she is sick. Maybe that's the real problem.