The table goes quiet. Zoe is oblivious, feeding Loki a piece of pancake under the table. But every adult in the room heard what he just said. He wants me to stay.
“Well,” Ellie says brightly, breaking the tension. “We need to get going or we’ll be late. Zoe’s bus will be here soon. Let’s hit it Mr. Irontree, our students await.” She kisses Garlen, scoops up Zoe’s backpack, and herds her daughter toward the door. Garlen follows after giving Jonus a look I can’t quite decode.
The house empties. Aldar disappears to his room. And then it’s just me, Jonus and Loki again.
I stare into my coffee. “I can’t believe you’re all filthy rich and yet Aldar buys me underwear at Walmart.”
Jonus chokes on his coffee. “You needed clothes quickly. Walmart was practical.”
“Jonus, I assumed you were an upper middle-class orc trying to make his way in the world and now I find out you’re…you’re…I don’t know, it makes me feel like we don’t have as much in common as I thought. Why do you want me to stay if you’re rich and I’m not and never will be?”
“Sloane, do I act rich?”
“No,” I laugh. “Not at all.”
He shrugs. “Again, the currency doesn’t mean as much to me as it does to humans. Mainly I have a lot of gold and jewels I can use if I need anything special, like a house or a vehicle. But mainly all I need is your beautiful presence, and of course my family.”
I shake my head, but I’m smiling despite everything. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” I respond.
He laughs and then lifts me from my spot at the kitchen table. “Let’s get to work,” he orders.
We settle into our usual spots on the couch. Laptops open, Loki between us. I try to focus on the article, but my brain won’tcooperate. I keep rereading the same paragraph about Aldridge’s shell company structure in Panama and none of it sticks.
My phone rings. I glance at the screen and see that it’s Melissa Duncan, my editor at the Times. I’m surprised she’s calling because usually we text. I put it on speaker phone so Jonus can hear what we’re saying too.
“Sloane.” Melissa’s voice is warm with relief and sharp with purpose. That’s Melissa—she can make you feel loved and terrified in the same sentence. “It’s good to talk to you. I want you to know how grateful I am that you were rescued and made it out okay.”
“Hey, Melissa. Thanks, I’m happy I made it out okay too.”
“Good. Good. Now listen. Legal has reviewed your draft and the documentation. We’re almost ready to go.”
My heart rate picks up. “How soon?”
“Days. Maybe sooner if you can get me confirmation on the last Cayman banking records. Sloane, this piece is extraordinary. The international angle, the cartel connection, the firsthand account of being kidnapped because of your investigation—” She pauses. “This is Pulitzer territory. You know that, right?”
“Well,” I admit. “I was getting the good kind of goosebumps when I was putting it all together. But you can never be sure…”
“Oh I’m sure. And after this publishes,” Melissa continues, “every outlet in the country is going to want you. Interviews, panels, follow-ups. The Times wants to featureyou, not just the story. We’re talking cover profile, Sloane. The story of how you were rescued will be huge in itself. This could define your career.”
“That’s wonderful. Exciting. But I did all of this to take down Aldridge. I want him behind bars.”
“Yes, of course. And the more your story gets out, the harder it will be for that asshole to stay out of prison. But I need you back in DC,” she finishes. “Press tour, debrief, follow-up pieces.This story needs you back here at the Washington Bureau. How soon can you return?”
I look over at Jonus on the other end of the couch. He’s pretending to work on his laptop, but I can tell he’s listening. His jaw is tight.
“Um…I need some time to figure out logistics,” I tell Melissa. “I’m still recovering and there are security concerns.”
“I understand. But don’t wait too long. This window won’t stay open forever. The news cycle moves fast and we need to strike while the iron is hot.”
“I know. I’ll call you back soon.”
I hang up and the phone feels heavy in my hands.
Jonus doesn’t push. He just watches me from across the couch with those dark eyes.
I state the obvious. “She wants me back in DC after the story publishes.”
“What do you want to do?”
