Page 90 of The Big Fix

“Don’t send a team. Dante and I will go.”

“That’s not a terrifying prospect for me at all,” Darius said flatly. He loved us both, and beyond his husband, Efrem, and his oldest friend, Duncan Stiel, we were all the family he had in the world. “And really, Jared, you’re still not completely recovered, and the doctor told you that your days of being in the field are over.”

“I know, but let’s be honest—I’m not going to let anyone else go,” I assured him. “I can’t. I won’t.”

Darius glanced at Dante who shrugged. “Has arguing with him ever worked?”

After a moment, Darius gave in because he knew me just as well as Dante did.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” I told Darius. “You know that.”

“I do know that. I’ll be in touch.”

Darius was gone a moment later.

“If he gets us coordinates tomorrow, when should we go?” I asked Dante.

“Depends on where we have to fly to. It’s doubtful that whoever this is, they’re here in Thailand. If we’re right about the connection to Ronan, then we’ll probably be going to Hong Kong.”

“That’s like a six-, seven-hour flight from here, so hopefully we’ll get what we need in the morning, be there at night, and then find the person responsible.”

“And kill them? Capture them? What’s your plan, Jared?”

“I don’t think I’ll know until I face whoever it is.”

“That’s fair,” Dante said, then smiled at me. “So, what’s happening with you and Owen?”

“How did you know anything was—”

“He’s been haunting this house for three weeks, waiting for you to be well enough so he can finally profess his love. Not that this should come as a surprise to you, but knowing you, I’m sure it did.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dante just squinted at me.

“Christ,” I groaned. “You know he’s only thirty-two. He has his whole life spread out in front of him, and he wants to—”

“Spend it with you. Yes, I know.”

“And?” I snapped at him.

“And I say let him.” He shrugged. “You deserve to be happy too.”

“At his expense?”

He scoffed. “You’re an idiot.”

“Dante—”

“He’s not a child, Jared. He’s all grown up.”

“Yes, but he’ll end up being my nursemaid someday.” Just the thought of him taking care of me in my dotage was horrifying.

“No. With everything that’s happened to your body? Gimme a break. If you make it past seventy, it’ll be a miracle.”

I sat there, staring at him.

“What? I told Noah the same thing,” he informed me irritably. “When I die, he can pick someone who’s much less trouble, more normal, steady.”