Page 30 of Saxon

Emily and Tom lock eyes. Communicate silently. "I've always wanted to just sort of bum around Europe and the Mediterranean," Emily says. "No plan, just go wherever."

Graham speaks up. "Might I make a suggestion, in that case, sir?" Saxon flips a hand, and Graham continues. "My niece lives in Rome and runs a private tour company. She can provide a full-service exploratory tour of anywhere, complete with transportation, translation, room booking, the works."

"Perfect," Saxon says. "Do it. Pay her from my account and make it worth her while."

"Um, small problem," Tom says. "We don't have passports."

Saxon shrugs. "No worries. The guy I’m seeing today can handle that. Better if you're on fakes anyway, just to be absolutely sure this shit doesn't find you."

"I'll arrange it," Graham says. "I can have the jet ready in about an hour."

"The jet?" Emily says, eyes wide as saucers.

Saxon smirks again. "Private jet. Private airfield. Private pilot."

Emily looks at me. "Are we in the fuckin' Twilight Zone?"

I'm speechless, and can only shrug and shake my head.

"Meantime, Graham, get these two whatever they want to eat and drink. Set 'em up in the library. Terra, unfortunately, you and I got business to tend to. Unless you'd rather kick it with Tom and Emily? Safer for you, if I'm honest."

I swallow hard and eventually find my words. "No." I have to clear my throat. "No. I’m with you."

"Tare," Emily says, eyes watering. "Come with us."

I shake my head. "It's your honeymoon, for one thing. But really, I…" I look at Saxon. "I gotta see this through. I can't explain why, but I do."

She hugs me and whispers in my ear. "You can tell yourself it's all about the dick, but you and I both know better. He's the real deal, honey. If you can hold on to him and you can both come out of this alive…?" she kisses me on the cheek. "Tell me all about it, okay?"

An attractive older woman with salt-and-pepper hair in a neat chignon appears, wearing a gray power suit. "Madam, sir. If you’ll come with me, I have refreshments in the library."

Emily jumps. "Who are you? Where'd you come from? How'd you get here?"

Saxon laughs. "Best to not ask questions, Emily. It's proprietary house staff magic. I can't explain it either."

Em and I hug, and then I hug Tom. "Take good care of my girl, yeah? Put a baby in her. It's what she wants more than anything."

"I know,” he says. "I've got it covered." He snickers. "Or, uncovered, actually."

I shove him. "Gross. TMI."

He laughs. "TMI? You've told me intimate details of your boy toys’ dicks, Terra. That’s TMI."

"Shut up. Go eat fancy food. Take my girl on honeymoon. Fuck her senseless. Have fun."

"Be safe, okay?" He looks at Saxon. "Keep her safe, man. She's like a sister to me."

Saxon just nods. "I've got her."

He's got me.

Tom and Emily seem to think that's answer enough. And, I suppose, it is.

They follow the magically appearing woman inside, and I hear Emily oohing and ahhing before the door closes.

Alone with Saxon and Graham, I let out a breath. "Thank you, Saxon."

"For what?"