Carter relaxes. “Ah. Sure, no problem. Just give his info to Dray and he’ll arrange it for you.” He hugs me again. “Thanks for coming, Jace. It means a lot to me for us to have our family here today.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I see Owen pick up Petey and hold him like a proud father while Owen’s also giving a comment to a reporter holding a phone in front of him and recording his comments. “Looking forward to taking it easy for a while? How are you going to handle being ‘retired’ and not in the office every day?”
Yes, he glances toward Owen, too, and the smile lighting his face settles my heart that at least my baby brother has love and peace in his life now. “I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Looking forward to being a kept man.”
I bet he is.
So’s Owen, I’m sure.
Carter’s called away to speak to another reporter, so I go have a quick chat with Dray, who also happens to be the brother of the third man Carter saved that day in the desert.
Dray takes down the information. “If there’s any problems tonight, have them get me, and I’ll walk you both in personally,” he says.
“Thanks, it’s appreciated. How’s your brother doing?”
“Samuel? He’s good. You know, good pain days and bad ones, like Carter. Mostly good, though.”
“He coming today?”
“Nah, he and his wife just had twins and they’ve had about five hours’ sleep total in the past month.” He smiles. “Traveling with newborns isn’t easy. He’ll be Skyping in with Carter’s parents.”
“That’s cool.”
“Yeah.”
“How about Trent? Is he coming today?” He was the second of the three men Carter threw his body over to save that day.
“No, he couldn’t get off work. Skype. No response from Eddie, either. I tried calling and mailed an invite to him, but no response.”
Obviously. “Ah. Too bad.”
I have Eddie’s mail directed to a remailer service I’ve used before, not that there’s much he receives anyway. Mostly, I’m using it as a honeypot to learn if anyone else comes sniffing around looking for him. If so, I’ll be notified and can take action.
Especially if they’re someone from my old organization.
After a final round of breakfast pictures, we all load up in SUVs to be ferried over to the historic Old Capitol building where the ceremony will take place. More pictures there, a tedious, obligatory program, and then, a little after noon, Susa’s the new governor of the great state of Florida.
It’s good to see our other brothers and their significant others again, but I’d be lying if I said my mind wasn’t on Eddie and the regret I feel over his absence in this moment of admitted joy.
I want him here with me. Unfortunately, right now, I can’t parade him around in front of my family. This small sacrifice must be made for the greater good, for the mission’s success.
To eliminate Cunningham.
As soon as the event ends, I bid my leave and catch an Uber back to the hotel, where I find Eddie sitting at the table and going over something on his laptop.
Like this, dressed in slacks and a button-down, he looks like a respectable businessman working on a mundane project.
I had fun shopping for clothes for him in Paris. He doesn’t just look like a respectable businessman, he looks like a rich one.
He turns and smiles at me as I walk in and hold up a hand, stopping him from getting up to drop into a bow for me.
“You ready for tonight, Pet?” I ask as I walk over and kiss him hello.
His smile fades. “I will be, Sir. I don’t have a choice.”
I grin. “No, you don’t.” I sit across from him. “How’d it go this morning?”
He nods. “Several properties to look at. I have a lot of ideas for disposal options.” His gaze meets mine and a playful smile appears, the one I’m coming to love so much. “We’rereallygoing to do this, aren’t we?”
