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This time, we both laughed.
“It has been years since I’ve seen you look so happy, Tryst, and there is no question as to the person responsible for your renewed spirit. Jaicon is a lovely, intelligent person. As long as Sorcha doesn’t get wind of it, I will add she is extraordinarily beautiful.”
“I agree with everything you’ve said.”
Laird leaned forward. “It’s okay to love again, Tryst. You know in your heart it’s what Rosa would want for you.”
“You are right.”
“I am so happy to hear you agree.”
I shook my head. “However, it isn’t up to me, Laird. I made my feelings known. Now, the ball is in Jaicon’s court, as they say.” It struck me that tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. Like every other year, I had no plans. Today, I wished so much I did.
“Come on, old man,” Laird said to me. “You can stay in Angus House.”
I raised a brow. “You’ve named the cottages, eh?”
“Sorcha and I have grown weary of saying, ‘Maddox’s old place’ or ‘Naught’s.’”
“I would’ve thought you’d go with Burns’ Place or Rua’s Run.”
“Now, there’s an idea!” he said, lighting his pipe on the way to the cottage.
10
JAICON
“Esencia, long time,” said Oleander when I placed the video call to her the following day.
“How are you, O?”
“While currently flying to Egypt on a quest to find Pharaoh, I feel a bit like my wings have been clipped.”
I chuckled. Even if I hadn’t accepted the appointment to Unit 23, I was well aware one of the benefits of being part of the elite team was the absence of many of the rules those of us with more visible assignments had to deal with.
“This feels like a major screwup on the part of whoever sent the message to Ms. Reeve,” I suggested.
“I wholeheartedly agree, particularly given the NRO has already triangulated the location. We’re headed to it as we speak.”
“Excellent news. Godspeed, O.”
“Once this mission is complete, we need to chat, my friend.”
I cut the feed without responding. Oleander had lobbied hard for me to join the unit. However, with the challenges I faced with my memory, joining a team whose missions often involved assassination wasn’t wise.
I went into the other room, where Zeppelin, Magnet, and Tank were waiting.
“Any news on the Pharaoh search?” Zep asked. Pharaoh, who both O and Zeppelin had referenced, was believed to be a key player in one of the largest human trafficking rings, one that was hosting a sex-slave auction on the dark web.
“O is on her way to the triangulation area now.”
“I hope to fucking hell they find Pharaoh,” muttered Zep.
“I do too.”
“Has there been an update as to when the bidding is scheduled to go live?” Tank asked.
“Affirmative. It’s been delayed,” I responded.
