“Yeah,” Dante said. “I noticed.”
He climbed into the sedan.
THIRTY-SIX
CHASE MEDICAL RECOVERY SUITE – 2047 HOURS
Shannon was sitting on the edge of her bed, hair still damp from her shower, when her phone buzzed across the nightstand.
Dante Olivetti – Incoming call.
Her breath caught. She snatched the phone up. “Hey.”
There was airport noise at first—announcements, rolling luggage, the dull hum of tired travelers. A door closed, and the noise ended. Then Dante’s voice settled through the line, low and warm. “I made it. Just arrived at the airport. I’m at the charter lounge.”
“In DC?”
“Yeah. Had a briefing. We leave again soon. Figured I’d call before things get… complicated.”
Her fingers tightened around the phone. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “Tired. Wired. You know the cocktail.”
She closed her eyes. “I hate this part.”
“Me too.” He paused. “I didn’t want to just disappear on you, Shannon. Not after this morning.”
Her throat tightened. “So, this is… the last call before you go dark?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Listen, when the comms cut… that’s not me gone. That’s just the op. I’m still coming back. I’m coming back to you.”
Her stomach dipped. “How long is ‘a while’?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Could be a few days. Could be longer. Depends on the deal, depends on access, depends on how deep we have to go.”
Her eyes stung. She lay back on the bed slowly. “I know,” she whispered.
“No, you don’t,” Dante said. “Not enough. So I’m going to say it again: I’m coming back.”
She swallowed the ache in her chest. “And if you don’t call?”
“Then I’m busy breathing. Busy doing my job. Not gone. Not out. Just off the grid.”
She pressed her palm against her eyes. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not, but the only way I get through is knowing you’re here. Flying again. Fighting again. Being you.”
A shaky breath left her. “Dante?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you.”
There was a small, sharp inhale on his end. “I love you too.” No hesitation. No rush. No shame. “More than is good for either of us, probably.”
She laughed. “Sounds about right.”
There was another pause. He let it stretch as the moment settled. “I’m going dark soon, but you’re with me. Every step. Every stupid risk. Every decision.”
