Sylvan: Sorry.
Sylvan: Are you mad?
Sylvan: Because I’ve already upgraded your hotel room.
Me: I’m not mad! I’ve only just looked at my phone…
I tap the side of my phone in thought, staring at my half-written reply. If he paid for this, he at least deserves to see the outcome.
I sink deeper into the large, comfortable chair, stretching out my arm with a smile. I take a quick selfie, then send it into the chat, finishing the message with:
Me: Thank you, alpha.
The seatbelt sign dings just as he responds:
Sylvan: Please send more pictures.
Sylvan
It’s been four days since I last saw Revea, and I don’t like that.
When Valentin went overseas for a month, I didn’t like that either.
A year ago, we made a collective decision to step back from in-person roles. We’d hired enough specialist staff that we no longer needed to be on the ground ourselves. These days, we handle the hiring, training, scheduling, and meetings.
But incidents still happen.
When the man scheduled for a job overseas suddenly couldn’t go, the client requested Valentin. He’d worked with him before. Kaiden and I both suggested sending someone else. Valentin packed his bags anyway.
Luciano was still in France on another job when Val called him from the plane. He was furious, and he stayed that way for weeks. It was the longest the twins had ever been apart.
Valentin doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve already told that client he won’t be available for the foreseeable future.
Which means never.
But I can’t control Revea’s schedule.
I’ve seen it, everything planned out for the next five years. The document was on her PC, and I made a copy,because knowing where she is and what she’s planning is essential for her safety, which is our job as her security.
It’s meticulously organised, dotted with conventions every few months: LA, New York, London, Paris…
Which means this will be happening again.
And again.
And I have no way to stop it.
The countdown on my screen ticks down. I stare, tapping my fingers to the seconds. When Val and Luc enter the house, five minutes have counted down.
Thirty seconds pass by the time they reach the living room and the interconnected kitchen.
“Hey, Syl,” Luciano says. “Good day?”
I glance at him, nod, then focus back on the screen.
“Okay, then...” he murmurs.
Val makes a huffing sound.
