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“You’re where?”
“Just outside London.”
“Does she have a handler?” Hammer asked.
“I’d have to check with Rile on that.”
“Can she be moved?”
I shook my head. Not in response to Hammer, just unsure where he was going with that question. “What are you thinking?”
“Look, I know that you and Siren have had your share of issues, but she’s a brother-in-arms, man. Just like anyone else, we have each other’s backs.”
“I agree, but what are you suggesting?”
“Get her the fuck out of the UK as fast as you can.”
“And take her where?”
“You’ve got that spread in North Carolina.”
“Tennessee.”
“Yeah. Wherever. Take her there.”
“And do what with her?”
“Give her time to recover.”
“What am I? A doctor?”
“Smoke, you’ve got more money than Midas. Hire someone. You know, a therapist or somethin’.”
“I don’t do this kind of shit, Hammer.”
“I’ve known you for a lot of years, my friend, and there’s only one thing I can think of to say in response.”
I waited, knowing he wouldn’t pull any punches.
“Maybe it’s time you thought about someone—something—outside the next mission.”
“Siren and I…we…”
“Exactly.”
“Exactly, what? I didn’t say anything.”
He let out a deep breath that sounded more like a huff. “She was shot on an Invincibles’ op. Let me make some calls to the partners and see who can step up to help her, since it sounds like you won’t.”
Hammer ended the call.
* * *
Rather than sleeping, I walked. I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going. That wasn’t the point. What I needed to do was blow off steam.
Hammer was full of shit. I worked. That’s what I did. I didn’t have time for, or interest in, relationships. Not even friendships. I could count the friends I had on one hand. There were probably lots more who considered themselves my friends, but to me, they were just acquaintances. I sure as hell didn’t have time to play nursemaid to Siren.
I looked up and realized I was back where I started, standing in front of my hotel that was next to the hospital. I went inside and was about to take the elevator up to the surgical floor when I saw the doctor who had performed Siren’s surgery. He looked like he was leaving.
