Page 121 of Lash

"Do you know where Lorenzo took them?"

"No. On purpose. I have to assume my calls are being monitored. Or his."

"The encryption app should take care of that."

"He's using a cheap flip phone burner. It won't support it. I use it but I'm still not trusting any details to a phone call, no matter how well encrypted."

“So, where are you going?"

"Texas. He'll have left me some kind of note or clue. I know where he was. I'll find him."

"And Rafael?"

I let out a snarling sigh. "Working on that. First order of business is hooking up with Lorenzo."

"I'd have thought you'd done that part already, Inez." The voice goes light, teasing.

"Not going there with you, sir."

"No sense of humor."

I suppress a snarky reply. "Not at the moment, no."

"How are the men?"

"Settling in. Happy to be home and not happy to be left out."

"You should have brought one or two of them with you.”

"I can't. I have to deal with this myself."

"No, Inez, you don't."

"Yes, sir, I do."

"Did you discuss the next phase of Club Sin and the Broken Arrows with the men?"

"No. I told them changes were coming. I have to finish this, sir. That's the only thing that matters to me right now.”

A heavy sigh. "I understand that."

"I suppose you would, sir."

"Just…come home alive and in one piece. That's an order, Sophia de Silva." He has never used my full, real name.

It's a little disconcerting.

"What willyoudo, sir? After this."

A moment of silence. "I'm not certain. Perhaps…well, best I keep my conjectures to myself for now, I think. We’ll discuss the future of Club Sin and the Broken Arrows when you return. The only thing I know for certain is that whatever happens, you will be at the fore. You are important to me, Sophia."

"And you to me…sir." The one hard and fast rule is to never, ever speak his name over any phone line, even encrypted.

The dead aren't supposed to make phone calls, after all.

"Very well. I am satisfied that you are lucid and coherent. But you must be smart. If you push your body beyond its limits, you'll be no good to anyone."

"I understand, sir. I'll be careful."