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“No, I mean, after all this ends. However it ends, if it ever ends. If we don’t die, that is,” Harry said, his voice low. “Where do we go? Wherecanwe go? Or where are you going, I should probably ask. I don’t mean to assume we’re going anywhere together. I just hate not knowing...” He felt so foolish. “I’m used to having a clear-cut plan. Sorry.”
Asher studied him again, an unreadable look on his face. “Are you saying you want us to stick together? When all this is over?” He smiled. “If we don’t die, that is.”
Harry wanted to tell him to shut the fuck up, but he’d already said enough.
The silence dragged on, and it was Asher who broke it. “I don’t know, Harry, where we’ll end up. I don’t even know if we’ll see tomorrow. I’ve already told you I want a shot at a normal life. I don’t even know what that is, let alone where I could have one. I don’t have a home, Harry. I don’t have ties to anywhere. I was moved around from the age of five or six, never settling in any one place. Deliberately, so I wouldn’t have loyalty to any flag or soil.” He shook his head. “WherecanI go?”
Harry met his gaze, unable to look away. “Sorry.” He felt like shit for bringing it up. “Would you maybe go live with your darling number Four?”
He’d meant it as a joke, to lighten the mood, and at least Asher wasn’t frowning anymore. “Oh my god, you’re so jealous.”
Harry didn’t reply, just rolled his eyes and tried not to smile.
* * *
They did go shopping later,though it was easier to find new clothes to fit Asher than it was Harry. They left their stolen car in the parking lot, keys in the ignition, so some car thief could get rid of it for them.
They even grabbed themselves some lunch. Harry wasn’t stupid or naïve enough to think he was safe there. He was still wary of his surroundings, the people, the eyes that followed them, watching the shadows, knowing where the exits were at all times.
But Harry liked Muscat.
Okay, so maybe not the city itself, he realised. But being with Asher, free to shop and eat. They were outside the shopping mall, surrounded by civilians enjoying lunch in the shade. The sky was blue, birds flew overhead.
A normal life.
Asher finished hisshuwawrap, casually wiped his hands with a serviette while he chewed and swallowed. “I think we’ve been made,” he said quietly. “On your seven o’clock. Don’t turn around.”
Reality hit Harry like a sledgehammer, though he was outwardly calm. He took a sip of water. “How many?”
“Just one that I can see. He’s in the alley. I don’t think he knows I’ve spotted him. Did you bring your gun?”
“Nope. You?”
Asher shook his head. “No.”
“I’ll take care of him,” Harry said. “Stay here.”
Asher grabbed his arm. “Wait. A car pulled up.”
Harry turned then, to see a man getting into a black sedan. He was hurried, his gaze locking with Harry’s before he climbed in, and the car sped away.
“Yep,” Harry said. “We’ve been made.”
“We need to leave,” Asher said. They slipped into a crowd of people getting on a bus, climbed aboard, and took their seats. People filed on after them, and the waiting made Harry nervous.
“Why did he leave?” Harry wondered out loud. “He could have followed us.”
“Would you approach us? If you knew who we are. You and me, together?” Asher shook his head. “I certainly wouldn’t.”
Harry grunted, because Asher was probably right.
Harry might be able to walk into an alley to face an unknown number of enemies, not knowing if they were armed or not—and he would have done exactly that two minutes ago—but not many people had the skills to back themselves.
“If he’s in the game,” Asher added quietly. “Then we can assume our location is no longer a secret.”
Harry nodded. Fuck.
So much for a normal life.
Asher nudged him with his elbow. “Stop scowling. You’re scaring the baby.”
Harry hadn’t even noticed the toddler peering at them from over his mother’s shoulder in front of them. And while Harry was pissed enough to see the whole world burn, there was Asher, pulling funny faces in attempts to elicit a gummy smile from a baby in return.
