AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the corner was a couple, wearing Aran sweaters and playing on their phone. There was a group of teenage boys, boisterously laughing and probably talking about girls.
Outside, people with their collars turned up against the wind were walking home for the evening.
I looked at Brett, who ran his thumb under his lower lip to wipe off a drop of ale that had slipped from his mouth. He looked at me and smiled and quirked a brow.
“You…” I didn’t know what I wanted to ask quite yet. “My father and his promise… Is that the only reason you’re so invested in me?”
He didn’t answer yet. His brow lowered, as if he was thinking hard about my questions.He crossed his arms and regarded me for a long moment.
“Why do you ask?” He finally said.
“Answering a question with another question.” I called him on it.
He almost looked proud that I called him out.
“I wish you would just open that black laptop.” He lamented. “It would answer so much.”
Always a mystery, this Brett Bradley. My shoulders fell. I was sure my entire face must have fallen, because he looked sympathetic and reached out to hold my hand.
“I’ve known you were extraordinary for a long time.” He told me. “Me… LeBlanc.” Hearing that name made me want to tear my heart from my chest. “We both knew your father… and don’t fucking say it!” He closed his eyes and sighed. “We’ve known about you for a long time and it was important to Leopold that we grab you if you were ever stuck alone.”
He let go of my hand and leaned back in his seat.
“Did I expect that I’d be as attached to you as I am?” He shrugged. “No.” Then he smiled, almost to himself. “But I’m not upset about it. Are you?”
He put his elbows on the table, intertwined his fingers together as if in prayer, and leaned his chin on his fists. He watched me for a response.
“No, of course not.” I answered quickly.
“You answer too fast, kiddo.” He looked annoyed. “It makes me think you haven’t really thought about it.”
“No!” I protested. “I mean it, I’m not mad to have you as my… dad.”
I whispered the last word as if it was a secret between us. He didn’t break eye contact.
“Whenever we’re not on the run,” he intoned, “I’d like to make it official.”
I quirked a brow. “I don’t live in an orphanage. There’s no need to really adopt me.”
He threw his napkin at my head. I laughed and pulled it down, handing it back to him.
“Don’t be dumb,” he said, chuckling. “I come with a few assets. I have no one to leave them to when I die.”
“You’re not going to die anytime soon.” I protested.
“I might.” He was trying to be practical.
“Nope.” I shook my head. “You’re not allowed to.”
“Kiddo, this is a dangerous life, and I’m training you to be an operative.” Any humor was gone from his voice. “I’m training you to be unbreakable. That’s the point in all this. I’m picking up where your father–don’t fucking say it, or you’ll ruin the moment–had to stop. I’m doing that because I could catch a bullet, or get hit by a bus and I need you as armored as possible to survive.”
“My survival seems more likely if you’re around.”
“I can’t guarantee it.”
“Oh, so Brett Bradley is suddenly powerless?” I sucked in a breath through my teeth and cringed. “That’s so lame.”
He let out an exasperated sigh.
