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“Goodnight, Dad.” I whispered, turning my back to him, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
I heard movement on his cot, as if he was turning around to look at me. Then he settled down, and I heard his deep, quiet snoring. It made me smile, until I found myself falling asleep to his rhythm, happy to know that he was there, even in my sleep.
I had barely blinked when the lights popped on.
“Juju-bear,” Brett’s voice sang. “Time to get up.”
“Too early.” I whined, pulling the blanket over my head.
With one yank, he pulled the blanket off of me with an amused chortle. “I’ll get coffee started. Then we need to pack.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to Scotland, of course.”
“Why?” I flopped onto my back and stared up at the ceiling.
His shadow fell over me as he hovered, his hands on his hips, that shit-eating grin on his face.
“I have to see your cousins. There’s some trouble with refugees and a bad pharmaceutical company. If you think the mob is bad, big pharma is worse. They’re hiding with the Caledonia boys until things blow over.” He crossed his arms. “Plus, I have to have a word with Caledonia Security guys.”
He walked away, out the door. Before he crossed that threshold, he called over his shoulder, “Get up. We have some work to get done before we leave.”
I groaned, rolling to my side until my legs hit the ground. I was so stiff and stunned that I fell to my hands and knees.
I got to my feet and changed my clothes before heading out to the hangar, where he kept the coffee handy.
He handed me a cloudy coffee mug, freshly stirred. I knew he had already put my scoop of creatine in there. It was a habit I had gotten from LeBlanc, who told me that I had to pack on muscle and had worked out my supplements to support my growing frame. I didn’t down powdery protein anymore. Eating pure protein on the road was just not a pleasant or effective thing to do. But the creatine helped prevent muscle loss.
Jericho let me take a sip before he started on his task list.
“We have to hack into the Caledonia Security platforms,” He said, ticking tasks off on his fingers. “They re-did their security, but I’m sure we’ll get in.” He raised another finger. “You need to figure out if you want to know your cousins. I think you should. But I’m not going to force you.” Then another finger. “I need you to get through the dossiers on the Caledonia guys so that you’re aware of who they are.”
In the small kitchen nook, there was a black laptop. The black one that, apparently, contained my fortune. I plugged it in and powered it up, but the Lock Screen asked for a password again.
“You also need to get into that laptop,” Brett said with an amused grin.
“I’ve been ignoring it.” I said stubbornly.
“I’ve noticed.” He said with a yawn. “I’ll give you a hint. The password is the thing your father valued most.”
“You’re my father.” I told him.
“My hint still stands.”
Chapter 22
Alastair - Scotland
Leavingthestateswashard. Not because I particularly liked New York, but because I’d be further away from her. There’d be no more coincidental run-ins as she hunted down her friend in my cousin’s compound. I wouldn’t accidentally stumble upon her in the street.
But duty called, and I had put off work for too long. My partners were getting anxious about my absence, and my piloting skills were needed for an upcoming mission.
Other than a momentary look, I had no indication that she’d want to continue our games. I remembered the tears she shed in the woods. Her ambivalence. Was she regretting what we had done? What we had given in to? Did the darkness frighten her the same way it thrilled me?
I wanted to push her from my mind, but I couldn’t help but think of her. Her taste. Her scent.
She had worn her hair loose, and I was unprepared for the effect it had on me. Her fighting braids had been deceptive, hiding her hair’s length. I wanted to grab it in my fist and pull her to me. I wanted to use it to tilt her head up to face me.
