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“I assume so he can see you while he’s speaking to you,” Alon replied flatly.
“Fine.” Speed hung up and tossed the phone on the bed so he could dry his hands on the duvet. “Fuck. What does he know?” There was only one way to find out so Speed carefully took his laptop off the bedside table and opened it. He hit the icon to send the call and Blink was smiling at Speed from his study a few seconds later.
“Good afternoon, Speed. How are you feeling?” He was leaning toward the camera and his eyes narrowed as he inspected Speed.
“A little sore but fine. I’m sick of being stuck in bed but Blake and Hawk won’t let me out. Can’t complain otherwise,” Speed replied warily, and Blink smiled as he relaxed and straightened.
“Good. I asked Dr. Hawkesworth to keep us posted and make sure you were resting but I wanted to see for myself,” he said, surprising Speed.
“That’s why you wanted to talk to me?”
“Yes… You were on death’s door the last time I saw you,” Blink replied as if it wasn’t odd for Blink to worry over a simple through-and-through gunshot wound. People got shot damn near every day in Blink’s world. “Is there something else that I should be concerned with?”
“No!” Speed shook his head. “You know about…” He waved it off, not wanting to bring it up if Blink wasn’t furious with him. But Blink laughed and nodded.
“I do know that you had Frank Leary’s father killed and that a certain friend of ours wishes he’d killed you when he had the chance. Those aren’t my problems at the moment, thank goodness, but I’ve done my best to sway Lavender and I’ve told Alon to keep his ear to the ground and listen for any sign of trouble from Leary.”
“No one would see Francis coming but I’ve got that under control. We just talked and he’s buying it. He thinks I got double-crossed by the FBI. I can keep him running in circles for a few more weeks until this Agent Beesley is ready to take him out.”
“Far be it from me to question a master, but why wait? Why not take Leary in now? He’ll be hard to track until he’s right on top of you,” Blink said, giving himself away. A wide, knowing grin spread across Speed’s face.
“You didn’t call just to see if I was following your doctor’s orders. You don’t approve of me leaving Francis out there,” he accused. Blink’s brow furrowed.
“I am genuinely concerned for your health and well-being. That’s why I don’t like that Leary’s still free and able to travel anywhere he pleases now that he’s no longer caring for an elderly man in a wheelchair.”
“Do you know what he’d think if he wound up in custody right after Mickey was taken out in a hit that I survived? Especially if it’s my phone doing the heavy lifting for the FBI’s case,” he asked and Blink winced.
“He’d think he was the true target and you cut a deal to avoid doing time.”
“He’d think they got to me and I rolled over on him and he’d think I sold Mickey out to sweeten the deal.”
“That’s two birds with one stone,” Blink agreed. “Winterstone can’t make any more trouble and Leary’s in jail for the rest of his life.”
“Then I have no control. I won’t be able to talk to Francis if he’s on the inside but he’ll have access to a whole new network of criminals. He’s a legend so they’ll line up to kiss his ass,” Speed predicted.
“We could still get to him and have him taken care of,” Blink said and Speed shook his head.
“Then I should have let Lavender do it when we were in Miami, if that was what I wanted. He’s a piece of shit, and sometimes I hate him almost as much as I hated Mickey, but he’s all I had until I came to work for you.”
“Alright,” Blink conceded with a bow of his head. “What did you need to talk to me about?”
“I…” Speed had been caught off guard again and his stomach dropped. He’d been ready before Blink got in his head about Francis. He didn’t want second thoughts when he was on top of the world.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Speed gave his head a shake, then laughed at how nervous he was. No matter what Blink said, Speed was getting married and he wouldn’t takeanyof it for granted. Even the tedious parts and the occasional disappointment. “I know the timing’s not great but I went ahead and asked Blake to marry me. He said yes and we want to have the wedding in Sparks at his parents’ place.”
“I’ve heard. Congratulations,” Blink said, his tone sincere as he smiled at Speed through the screen.
“Thank you,” Speed said and mustered his courage. “This might be…weird and it’s probably the last thing you’d want to do butallof Blake’s family will be there, including his grandmother and all of his aunts and uncles and cousins. But I won’t have anyone so I was wondering if you would be able to…come. You’re the closest thing I have to a family aside from Blake, now,” he asked, his voice breaking.
“Oh.” Blink quickly flicked something from the corner of his eye before he nodded. “Of course,” he said and Speed heard a throat clear loudly off-screen. “Alon would like to attend as well and I’m sure Professor Elliot would be overjoyed to accompany me.”
“Wow. Really?” Speed’s finger stretched toward the mouse. He wanted to turn off the camera and mute the call so Blink wouldn’t see him break down.
“We wouldn’t miss it, Speed,” Blink said gently. Speed had to clench his jaw and could only nod while a tear rolled down his cheek. Blink cleared his throat and became distracted with his ring. “I’m not sure what your plans are but I would be honored to stand in as your father, if you’d like,” he added.
“Thank you,” Speed choked out as he nodded jerkily. “I’d like that.”
