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“Are you there?”
“I know who she is, Ty, and by God, if your involvement with her has anything to do with your vendetta against Saint…” The volume of his voice increased with each word he spoke.
“Finish your sentence.”
“I will never forgive you.”
“Your assumption would make me angry except for the fact that I will do anything and everything to protect Eliza from harm. Which means I would never hurt her. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Saint. I’m with her despite him, not because of him.”
“My apologies,” he said.
“Accepted. Although you should’ve known my motives simply due to the change in my demeanor.”
He chuckled. “You’re absolutely right, and if you truly care for her in the way you’ve said, I repeat how happy I am for you.”
“Appreciated.”
“By the way, the reason Nem wants to meet with you relates to Oleander.”
“Interesting, given it was O who issued Nemesis’ summons on her behalf.”
“Then I suggest you consider the source. Perhaps the demand you thought you heard was more of a request.”
I shook my head, not that he could see me. “You’re getting soft, old man.”
He sighed. “I will own up to it. I’ll also admit retirement is looking more attractive with every passing day.”
“Could you leave? Truly?” I asked.
“The bureaucracy? Yes. Absolutely. It’s the action I’ve not seen for some time that would be harder to walk away from.”
“You could always join the unit.”
He laughed. “Be careful, Ty. I might just take you up on it.”
After ending the call, I sent a message to Nemesis, saying Z had requested I get in touch with her. She responded almost immediately, asking if I could please come to Shere.
Can’t this be handled via video conference? I asked.
It cannot.
I’ll get back to you with my schedule.
“I thought I might find you here,” I said, walking into the library where El was sitting in the chair closest to the fire, reading.
She held up the book. “Thank you for ordering this for me. I had no idea someone published anything on Michael Beaumont’s work, not that it wasn’t deserving.”
“When we were speaking with him, I remembered my father having a copy and was happy to find it still in print.”
“He’s had an impressive career.”
“El…I’m sorry to say I need to return to Shere, at least for a day or two.”
She closed the book and set it on the coffee table. “No need to be sorry. I was thinking earlier that I’d like to go back to Brighton. The studio is officially mine now, but I’m hoping Michael will agree to tutor me on the use of his equipment.”
“Then, the timing is good.”
She stood, walked over, and put her arms around my waist. “I’ve loved every minute we’ve been here.”