Mina shot Gordon a hard look, but he ignored it.
“Monsieur Anand will catch up with you.” He closed the door with a heavyclick.
I kept my eyes on the gap on the wall, waiting. Wondering. Meanwhile, Gordon walked over to the windows and paced. Not good.
“I have a special request,” he finally said.
I braced myself.
“I ask you because you’re a man of your word, and I know I can trust your discretion and dedication — unlike the others,” Gordon growled.
Oh, this definitely did not sound good.
“Keep Geneviève safe,” he announced.
I exhaled. Whew. I would have done that anyway.
I was about to say as much, but he went on.
“She tends to be impulsive and does not yet have Mina’s…appreciation for the dangers of the supernatural world.”
Such a smooth talker. So much wrong with that sentence. Minaappreciatedthe dangers because Gordon had exposed her to them again and again. And the entire supernatural world wasn’t dangerous — only the criminal subsection Gordon operated in.
“I will reward you handsomely, with an additional €25,000, to keep my goddaughter safe.”
My lips parted in surprise. Did he consider the others so lax or this task so onerous?
“I also don’t want her fraternizing with any of the men,” he added.
I nearly snorted. Gen would never consider a fling with Henrik. Bene, maybe.
Apparently, he didn’t consider me a danger.
Well, you are the dependable one,my tiger grumbled.
Probably true. But I was also the one with an all-consuming desire for her.
“And I don’t want her wheedling her way into the operational stage of this mission. Just the research,” Gordon barked. “God knows, the girl will try. But you have to stop her, even if you have to throw her over your shoulder and carry her away.”
My throat went dry as I pictured how well that would go over with Gen.
“No bonus necessary, sir. I’ll keep her safe.”
Gordon studied me from head to toe, and the air around me tingled. He was probing my mind for ulterior motives — and boy, did I harbor a few.
I stood perfectly still, trying to think clean thoughts.
“On the contrary — it is necessary,” Gordon insisted. “Soon, you will have completed your contract. How long left? Eleven days?”
Twelve days, eight hours, and roughly forty minutes, I knew. But all I uttered was, “Thereabouts.”
“It’s time to consider your next steps, and a man with your particular skill set… Well…” He trailed off grimly.
My skill set wasmilitary, but I’d been pushed out of that world by officers who didn’t appreciate the lower ranks expressing “opinions” on issues like where interrogation ended and torture began. That left me with narrow options. I could hire out as a mercenary for causes even more vile than Gordon’s, or I could work in private security.
The latter wasn’t all that inspiring, but at least it didn’t make me feel sick.
“You’ll want to start your new career with strong references, of course,” he said.
