“Dig.” Morrith's voice hardened. “Look into his history, his friends, his family. I promise you, at some point in that mortal's life, something happened that shouldn't have.” He paused. “Find the flaw before Oversight decides to investigate themselves.”
Greg swallowed. “And when I find it,” he asked, “I restore the natural order?”
“Of course.”
“Of course,” Greg echoed, thinking about Dustin's reckless grin and his sad eyes and the way he'd sat with a dying stranger just to keep him company.
And maybe Morrith caught something in his gaze because he said, “The natural order exists for a reason. You know this. Death gives life meaning. Without endings, nothing matters.” He picked up his mug again. “Look, it's tragic that your first assignment went sideways, but I know you can do this. You did excellent work with Marco Reyes-Ybarra. You were made to be a reaper, Grigoreth. You'll be fine.”
Greg didn't know what to do with the encouragement. It didn't warm him the way it should have.
“Just don't let your target interfere in any more reapings,” Morrith added.
Greg nodded because there was nothing else he could do. Realistically he didn't think he could influence Dustin's behavior any more than he could change the course of a hurricane.
“I'll be careful,” Greg made himself say.
“Beverycareful,” Morrith responded and something in his gaze sharpened. “Attachments in this line of work... they don't end well. For anyone.”
Greg forced himself to nod again, feeling his cheeks grow warm.
Morrith studied him for a moment longer. “Don't ignore my messages again.”
“No, sir.”
Morrith set down his mug and turned back to his files. “Dismissed.”
Greg rose and walked away, mind buzzing.
He'd been ordered to research Dustin's family and his past.
He had to find out what was protecting Dustin.
Why did he have such a bad feeling about what he would find?
CHAPTER 19
Greg stood outside Dustin's motel room for eleven minutes before he knocked.
It wasn't that he was anxious or anything.
He just needed to go in with a plan.
That was all.
He needed to bepreparedbefore he faced Dustin again.
After everything Morrith had told him… After his last encounter with Dustin… their ice cream parlor 'date.'
Come find me after, Dustin had said.
The memory sent a shiver down Greg's spine. He couldn't help it.
But that wasn't why he was here. He needed to remember that. He was here because this was his assignment and he needed to investigate Dustin's history.
There was no reason for his heart to be doing strange acrobatic maneuvers in his chest.
At the very least he wasn't vibrating.
