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Aside from Pen, Rune was the only other person that knew of Strider’s past in Belize. That knew what he’d had and what he’d lost there.
Rune fell back into the chair and took a full swallow of his drink. His green eyes blinked again and again as his head shook. Green eyes much like Pen’s—that was why Strider had first talked to Rune when they were ten—because of his green eyes.
Strider stared at him, silent.
Rune flipped his hand upward from the arm of the chair. “Well, are you going to tell me or just sit there staring at me?”
“Staring seems the better choice.”
Rune tilted his head toward Strider, staring back at him for a long moment. “It’s her, isn’t it?”
Strider nodded.
Rune’s hand ran over his face. “Hell. She’s back in your life? How—where did she come from?”
“She was still with the family I left her with years ago—she’s basically been an indentured servant to them. The family came to London and she found me.” His jaw tightened. “And no, she’s not in my life. But she did bring me something—something she’s had for years.”
“Proof?”
Strider nodded. “A letter from my father—his seal included.”
“Bloody hell.”
“Exactly.”
“Tell me of this side trip.”
Strider leaned forward in his chair, his forearms balanced on his knees. “I want there to be no question this time when I bring it forth. That’s why it has to be you. Unimpeachable sources verifying the truth.”
A determined smile hardened Rune’s face. “I’ll do it. And I’ll see if we can even move up the sail date. I want this for you, my friend.”
Relief set into Strider’s chest. He wasn’t sure how Rune would take being summoned to the Willows for this. How he would take Strider’s request. He shouldn’t have questioned it. The bonds—bonds that bind in childhood—were the strongest of them all.
Strider lifted his glass to his friend. “Thank you.”
Rune swallowed the rest of his cognac, set his glass onto a side table, and stood.
Strider followed suit, walking with Rune to the door. “How’s that bride of yours?”
Rune’s steps paused and he looked at Strider. “Something we never would have even dreamed about back in the Port of Veracruz.” His hand clamped onto Strider’s shoulder. “You might think to try it, eventually.”
Strider stared at him, silent.
Rune chuckled. “Just a thought.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll send word as soon as I have it.”
Strider nodded. “Thank you.”
As Rune opened the door, he looked over his shoulder to Strider. “Oh, and one more thing—have you thought about the after?”
“The after?”
“What you’re going to do after this business is done. What your life is going to be?”
Strider stilled.There was an after?
A burst of a chuckle shook Rune’s chest. “You might want to dwell on that for a moment or two, Strider.”
With a quick incline of his head, Rune started out of the study. “Luck for you.”
