“Jag—”
“I don’t want to do this here.”His eyes flick past me, clocking every lens tucked into corners and ceilings.“Not in front of cameras.”He drags a hand down his face.Then he stands taller and squares his shoulders as if trying to compose himself.“I’m working very hard not to come apart.”
“Why?What’s wrong?”
“You undo me.”His whisper breaks like a confession he hates needing.“You always have, and—” He paces a half-step and turns back.“I need to take a shower and wash the flight off me.Come with me.Please.I can’t stand the idea of you leaving my sight right now.After I clean up, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
If that will help him find his footing, I’m all for it.
“Follow me.”I turn toward the doors Wolf disappeared through and start walking.
“I’ll be honest.”He strolls along beside me, eyes darting everywhere.“I expected to find you confined in a soundproof room.You’ve had free run of this place the entire time?”
“Of course.It’s not like I’m sitting in on their meetings.”
“This is worrisome.”He trails me down a long marble hallway.“If you know too much—”
“I don’t know their secrets, but I’ve gotten to know the inner circle.Some more than others.”A smile tugs at my mouth.“I have my favorites.”
“Who?”
“Luke and I bonded—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
I narrow my eyes.“We bonded over his hypercar collection.”
“He’s a deadly…” He glances at a camera.“Man.”
“He’s married.”
“I know.”
“I adore his wife Vera.”
“Also deadly.She’s an underground MMA fighter.I’m talkingfight to the death.”
“Yeah, she’s been teaching me self-defense.”
“Oh.”He blinks.
“Do you know what they call you around here?”
“El Vigilante.”
“The Watchman.”I nod.“I’ve heard them whisper other names, too.The Shadow With A Million Cameras.The Hunter Who Never Blinks.My personal favorite isEl Que Ya Sabe.”
“The One Who Already Knows.”
“You’ve heard these.”
“Most of them.”
“You’ve made quite an impression on these people.”
“Attention has a price.This one comes with a lifetime contract and no exit clause.”
I have so many questions, but I’ll hold them until we’re alone.
