Naomi sipped her chilled wine. “How ‘bout you? Do you love your job?”
“It’s all I’ve ever known, or done, so yeah, I guess I love it. I love chasing them down, closing in on the hunt.”
“Spoken like a true assassin,” Naomi murmured. “You know what I think?”
Sydney tossed back a mouthful of wine. “What?”
“I think you love your weapons.”
Sydney smiled. “I do have a lot of them.” After a beat, she asked about Naomi’s boyfriend.
“We broke up a while ago. I thought I’d miss him, but I don’t. When is someone gonna snag your heart?”
Tank popped into her head. “Actually, I’m meeting someone tonight. I met him a while ago and gave him the wrong number. He’d been texting me, but thought I wasn’t interested.”
Naomi hitched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “I would like to meet the man who snags my girl’s heart.”
Sydney chuckled. “I don’t think we can do what we do and have a heart, do you?”
“All the more reasontohave a heart. Gotta balance out all the darkness and hate.”
Sydney clasped Naomi’s hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. “You always know exactly what to say.”
“Maybe I’ll quit the insanity, move to a quiet town, and write down all my missions as fiction.” Naomi smiled. “That would be something I’d love.”
The time with Naomi flew by. At 8:50, she spotted Rebel and Brit heading toward the lounge.
“That’s my ride.” Sydney rose. “Do you want to meet the hotel owner?”
“Sure, I’m actually having dinner here with an old friend from college. Remind me, what’s your cover?”
“I keep it vague, say I’m an analyst,” Sydney replied. “I’m on the road so much, I don’t meet new people anymore.”
“What do you say when you’re traveling?” Naomi asked.
Sydney shrugged a shoulder “My convos are with CIs. I don’t talk to strangers. What’s your cover?”
“I’m a travel advisor, which is kinda true. I travel the world, so I know where to stay, where to eat. I can speak broadly, then change the subject.”
“How do you handle someone asking for your card?” Sydney asked.
“I tell them I book trips for billionaires. That’s only come back to bite me once.”
They returned to the Bohemian lounge where Sydney introduced Naomi to Brit and Rebel.
“I’m so happy we got to see each other,” Sydney said before hugging her friend goodbye. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too,” Naomi said. “Love you, Syd.”
“Love you, Nao.”
One more hug before Sydney exited the hotel with Brit and Rebel.
En route to Lost Souls, Brit said, “Caroline said you travel a lot for work. Are you back for a while?”
“I hope so,” Sydney replied. “I’ve missed her and my parents.” Needing to change the subjectawayfrom her, she said, “Tell me about you guys. Have you been married long? Do you have children?”
They’d been married for two years, and they did have children—fraternal twins—a little boy and a little girl, so the conversation easily shifted from her career. Sydney liked Brit, Rebel too. She wanted to ask about their jobs, but she keptquiet. They wouldn’t be able to tell her the truth any more than she could tell them.
