Viktor had given him the address of the retreat earlier. The drive there would take forty minutes if he pushed it.
Simon pushed it.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Simon's phone buzzed again when he reached the retreat. He didn't even look at it. He just turned it off and shoved it deep in his pocket.
He'd deal with the Organization later. Right now, the pull in his chest had become almost painful, a fishhook yanking him toward the overpriced building where Charlie was probably tripping over nothing and apologizing to furniture.
The front door opened before he could knock. A woman in aggressively neutral linen smiled at him with the intensity of someone whose life consisted of customer service.
"Welcome to Reconnect! I'm Sage. You must be here for our midnight session."
"I'm here for Charlie."
Her smile flickered but recovered admirably. "Are you expected?"
"Probably not."
"I see." She maintained eye contact while somehow conveying deep disapproval. "We have a very strict policy about maintaining our guests' journey space. Perhaps you could return during visiting hours?"
"When are those?"
"Not for another lunar cycle."
Simon was considering just walking past her when Viktor appeared in the doorway behind her.
"It's fine, Sage. He's with me." Viktor's expression was carefully neutral. "Part of the integration process."
Sage looked between them, clearly recognizing bullshit but apparently not paid enough to call it out. "He'll still need to surrender any devices."
"Already turned off my phone."
"Excellent." She gave him a once-over. "What about weapons?"
Simon blinked. "Weapons?"
"We maintain a violence-free environment." Her smile could have cut glass. "That includes any items that could disrupt our community's harmony."
Viktor coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like suppressed laughter.
Simon pulled out his primary stake. Sage held out a small wicker basket to accept it. He added the backup stake. The silver knife from his boot. The garrote wire from his belt. Another knife from his jacket. The throwing stars he'd honestly forgotten were in his inside pocket.
Sage's basket started to sag.
"Is that everything?" she asked with the tone of someone reminding herself to be polite to guests.
"Yes."
Viktor coughed again.
Simon sighed and pulled the ankle holster with its small gun. "That's everything."
"Wonderful." Sage set the basket on an antique side table where it looked absurdly out of place. "Viktor can show you to the integration space."
She glided away, leaving Simon feeling oddly naked without his weapons. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been entirely without weapons while not being naked at the same time.
