“Yes, this is what I said. He looks terrible but alive. Is compliment.”
Luka settled into one of the chairs with Ash beside him, both of them looking more relaxed than I'd seen them since this whole mess started. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got waterboarded and then thrown down some stairs.”
“Accurate assessment.” Luka's mouth twitched. “Declan's been keeping you under house arrest?”
“He's been hovering like I'm going to spontaneously combust if he looks away.”
“You did almost die,” Declan said from where he was helping Mara in the kitchen. “Multiple times. I'm allowed to be cautious.”
“Cautious is one thing. This is bordering on paranoid.”
“Also allowed.”
Ash smiled at that. “He's got a point. You do have a talent for finding trouble.”
“I don't find it. It finds me.”
“That's not better,” Luka said.
“I'm aware.”
Dmitri grabbed one of the beers Declan had set out and cracked it open. “So when do you leave for London?”
The question hung in the air for a second, heavier than it should have been. I looked at Declan and saw him pause in the kitchen, waiting for my answer.
“Couple weeks probably. Need to get medical clearance first and make sure I'm not going to collapse on the plane.”
“Responsible,” Dmitri said. “Unlike you.”
“I'm very responsible.”
“You got kidnapped and tortured because you walked into obvious trap.”
“It wasn't obvious.”
“Was very obvious. Everyone saw it except you.”
Mara came back into the living room with plates and started distributing food like she was running a mess hall. “He's right. It was pretty obvious.”
“I thought we were friends,” I said.
“We are friends. That's why I'm allowed to tell you when you're being an idiot.”
“Harsh but fair,” Ash said.
Luka took the plate Mara handed him and studied me with that assessing look he did when he was deciding whether or not to say something. “You planning to come back?”
“To Chicago? Probably not for a while.”
“That's not what I asked.”
I knew what he was asking. Whether this was a temporary move or if I was burning bridges and starting over somewhere that didn't smell like blood and old ghosts.
“I don't know yet,” I said honestly. “London feels like the right move right now. After that, we'll see.”
“We,” Dmitri repeated. “You and Declan. You are doing this together.”
