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I was glad of it. I wanted her to be able to be herself around someone. She didn’t see her mum that often, and I wasn’t around as much as I would’ve liked. That she could relax and let her hair down, so to speak, when she was with me made me happy.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Eliza.”
“When did you meet her?”
I cringed, knowing the shit Kima was about to give me. “Ten days ago or so. I’ve forgotten exactly how long it’s been. I’ll tell you this, though. I feel like I’ve known her all my life. She’s…” How did I put into words everything El was to me?
When I glanced at Kima, she was brushing away a tear.
“Why are you crying?” I hated it when she did.
“Because you’re in love.”
I studied her.
“Seriously. I’m happy for you.”
I momentarily thought about asking her if there was someone special in her life, but how could there be? She’d been living on this estate for the last six months. Where would she have met anyone?
“Who’s that?” I asked when there was a knock at the door. When Kima shrugged, I stood to answer it.
“Typhon, I didn’t know you were coming to Shere today,” said Hornet. “I mean, I saw your car…”
Why was he stammering? For a moment, I thought he’d come to see Kima, but why would he? As he said, he’d seen my car.
“Nemesis requested a meeting, but I stopped to see Delfino first.”
No one I worked with other than Hornet, Rile, and Z knew about my relationship with Kima, and I wanted it kept that way. If asked why she and I so often spoke in private, I’d tell them to fuck themselves. I was the commander of Unit 23—I didn’t answer any questions I didn’t want to.
My brow furrowed. Why was it I always fell back on my position to defend my desire for privacy? I’d always been this way, long before I took over the unit.
“Was there something you needed?” I barked when Hornet didn’t leave.
“Uh, no, sir. Sorry, sir.”
“I’ll be at the command center in a few minutes.”
“Right. Should I let Nemesis know you’re here?” Hornet asked.
I glared at him. “Did I order you to do so?”
“No, sir.”
“You’re dismissed.”
“You didn’t have to be so mean to him,” Kima said once he was gone.
Mean to him? “What are you talking about? I treated him no differently than I always do.”
“When are you leaving?” she snapped.
My eyes opened wide. “Now?”
“No, I mean after your meeting. Are you sticking around?”
I hadn’t planned on it, but on previous visits, I’d managed to sneak Kima away for dinner.