“I’m a bad enough influence all on my own.”
Niall snorted, and Sydney imagined him smiling on the other side, in spite of himself. It was a small comfort, at least, to hear him in this moment. “Listen carefully. We still can’t track the identity of your attacker. And although the guest list at the gala is tightly vetted, with no firearms allowed in, I can’t promise that you won’t be in danger at the venue.”
“I’ve been targeted before,” Sydney said. “I’ll be in my suit. I’ve got all my toys, too.”
“Just keep your eyes open. It’s likely that Seah has others working with him there.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said gently. “I promise.”
There was another pause, but Niall seemed satisfied enough. “Don’t let Tems lead you and Winter too astray.”
“You know he absolutely will.”
“Yeah, I know.” Niall made another annoyed sound in his throat. “Sometimes, I swear, it’s not worth the effort to save him.”
Sydney let herself smile a little at that. “We’re all lucky to have you, sir.”
Niall grunted. “Get some rest tonight. You’ll need it.”
She didn’t mention the fight between her and Winter. Far be it from her to add more stress to Niall’s mission. “You too,” she replied.
Niall hung up first. Sydney put her phone down and stared out at the nightscape, her thoughts a blur, letting the weight of the mission push against her.
Will still be at the airfield for you and Tems.
If all went according to plan, she had twelve hours left with Winter before they separated again. Most likely, it’d be a separation even more abrupt than their first mission—no proper goodbyes, no farewell embrace. And with the way their conversation had unraveled tonight, maybe not even the feeling of a dignified ending. They’d simply turn their backs on each other, hurting and full of grief, and walk away.
And wasn’t that fine? Did it even matter, if they’d never see each other again?
A movement in the shadows near her made her startle. She whirled, her body already tensing into a defensive attack posture—only to see Tems emerge from the darkness with his hands in his pockets.
“Syd,” he said in greeting, coming over to stand next to her.
She lowered her arms. “Hey,” she said.
He stared out at the cityscape with her. “That was Niall, wasn’t it?” he said.
She glanced at him. “Didn’t think anyone was close enough to hear.”
“I didn’t. I just figured, since you look stressed.”
“I think you’re mistaking your feelings about Niall for mine.”
He laughed a little. “Fair enough.” He was silent for a moment. “He knows, doesn’t he?”
“He knows,” she replied with a nod.
“Is he going to let us proceed?”
“Yes.”
Tems lowered his shoulders and seemed to relax a little at that. “Confirmation of our plane at the airfield tomorrow evening?”
“Yes. Niall confirmed. Nineteen hundred hours.”
“Good,” he said. “We won’t have time afterward to delay. It’ll need to be ready by the time we are.”
“It’ll be ready.” She turned from the scene to face him. “Does the CIA have the footage? Do I need to contact them?”
