“You’re unbelievable.”
“Can you do it?”
She exhales slowly. “You realize the normal response after a moment like that is not… administrative scheduling.”
“I don’t believe in normal responses.”
“That much is clear.”
Despite everything, the corner of my mouth lifts. “So,” I say, “can you do it?”
Another pause.
Then she sighs. “Yes.”
“Good.”
“But if this woman turns out to be awful,” she says, “that’s on you.”
“I’ll take that risk.”
She’s quiet for a moment. Then, softer now, she asks, “Why the rush?”
Because someone just tried to kill me.
Because the longer I let myself think about you, the harder this entire plan becomes.
But I don’t say any of that.
“I don’t have time,” I tell her.
Another long pause stretches between us.
“…Fine,” she says at last. “I’ll set it up.”
“Twenty-four hours.”
“You’re very bossy for someone calling me in the middle of the night.”
“Goodnight, Zatanna.”
She lets out a quiet breath.
“…Goodnight, Mr. Vasiliev.”
The line goes dead.
I lower the phone slowly, staring at the dark road ahead.
Then I start the engine.
Because the longer I sit here thinking about her voice, the more dangerous tonight becomes—for both of us.
16
ZATANNA
The call ends.Or at least I think it does.
