Page 56 of Of Blood So Cold

Solitude – it’s a beautiful fucking thing. You may love the people you’re surrounded with 24/7, but sometimes, being alone and doing something as simple as enjoying the fresh air is necessary. The brain can only take so much; process things to a certain extent. Giving yourself time is just as important as giving it to your family. After all, they wouldn’t be the same without you, nor you without them.

The incidents of tonight have taught me something: never overexert yourself simply because you think you can. The human body is not a machine. If anything, it’s a record that plays well for a small amount, and then demands a break. It’s tough to imagine Dor and the crew doing this for years, and even though I love the taste of this lifestyle – the thrill and satisfaction of it – I think it’ll take me a while to fully get used to it.

It’s funny how I’ve only just realized all this, which circles back to what I said earlier:solitude. It makes you see and understand things in a broader perspective, because when you’re alone, you have more time to think, more time to branch out your train of thought.

But, as much as I’m loving the ‘me’ time, I need to update Dor. I haven’t seen Timothy here yet, so there’s a chance he’s left the estate.

With a click of my tongue, I pull my phone out of my clutch and text Dor.

Me:Couldn’t find Timothy. Did you or the others have any luck?

His reply comes in a few minutes later.

Dor:Nada. Although, Magner said the CCTVs in some areas of the estate seem to be glitching. He thinks Haroon must’ve fucked with them so that no one could see him trying to come at you. A few of the Lutkus security personnel told Magner thatthey found Haroon tinkering with some settings in the control room before he left abruptly, which, as we know, was when he decided to introduce himself to you.

That makes me suck in a breath.

Me:But how could he know where I’d be throughout the night?

Dor:I dunno, but he did come to the gala for you, and he confessed as much to you. My guess is he malfunctioned a bunch of cameras to make it seem like a network issue. I’m not an expert in these things, so I can’t predict much.

I frown as I type my response.

Me:That’s fucked up. I’m glad he’s dead.

Dor:Yeah, me too.

Dor:You okay, though?

I smile.

Me:The air out here is lovely. Wanna come join me?

I know I just went into the whole solitude monologue, but like, it’s Dorran.MyDorran. So, he technically doesn’t count.

Dor:In a bit, I promise. Safiya and I are still scanning the crowd in hopes of finding the little shit.

I arch a brow at the name. Safiya Gaddafi is Naila Gaddafi’s sister. What the hell isshedoing with Dor?

Me:Gaddafi?

Confirmation is always necessary.

Dor:Yeah. She’s offered to help me out a bit.

Me:So she knows about the mission, then.

Dor:Not entirely, no. But she knows who I am and what I do, so she guessed it pretty quickly.

Me:Oh…

Dor:Don’t do that.

Me:Do what?

I know exactly what.

Dor:Gimme one-word answers. You know how I hate them.