Page 74 of Code Name: Michelangelo

“Agreed. Aspen?”

Her nose scrunched.

“Very well. That leaves Prague, Tromsø, Salzburg, and maybe the Maldives, where there are endless white-sand beaches, private villas where?—”

“We could spend New Year’s there and Christmas in Salzburg. I mean, if you can be away that long.”

When Doc and I discussed the possibility of the coalition mission a week ago, he alluded to a conversation he’d had with Nemesis a few days earlier. It had been similar to the one I’d had. “You learn, in our line of work, to take time off when you can, Brand. Missions can last hours, days, weeks, or months. Sometimes, we just don’t know. You may feel anxious, but let me tell you, when you do have to deploy, you’re going to wish it wasn’t time to leave yet.”

At some point, I needed to tell Pen about that conversation as well as my most recent chat with Nemesis.

“Have you heard anything about the mission?”

My eyes opened wide. Had I said any of that out loud? I didn’t think I had. “Mind reading now? I was just thinking about that very subject.”

“I keep waiting for you to say you have to return to London.” She stood, walked over to the sofa, and I joined her.

“When I spoke to Doc about it last week, he said to enjoy my time off while I can.”

She rested her head on my shoulder. “I’ve been doing some research on human trafficking. I’ll admit I saw signs in ladies’ rooms, mainly in airports, and ignored them. But, Brand, it’s horrifying, and I keep thinking about DeDe. What if that’s who she’s running from? God, and she has a baby.” She looked up at me. “What are you thinking?”

“I hate the idea of leaving you.”

“Is that the only reason?”

I sighed. “It’s the primary one.”

Penelope shook her head. “I can’t be the reason, Brand. I can’t. Kade arranged for you to get out of prison early because he believes you can make a difference. Maybe going undercover to take down the mafia wasn’t quite what he had in mind.” She smiled and winked. “But if you’re called to do this, how could you say no?”

“You’re right.” I felt like a wanker for even hesitating when she put it that way.

She sighed and dropped her head back on my shoulder. “It’s easy for me to say when I’m not the one to face danger. So, um, I’ve heard London is nice at Christmas.”

“I can’t tell if you’re being serious.”

“Would I be allowed to meet any of the people you’ll work with?” she asked.

“I would think so, but I’ll confirm.”

“Shere looks really beautiful.”

“Does it?”

She nodded.

We agreed to spend Thanksgiving in Cambria, where the rest of her tribe would be gathering, then go to London. The Maldives and Salzburg would have to wait for another year.

Penelope and I arranged to stay in a house right on the ocean, just the two of us. It was close enough to the compound where Ava and Razor lived, and where we’d have Thanksgiving dinner, that we could walk. It was also far enough away for us to have time on our own. Something told me that soon, we wouldn’t have as much of it.

“So, um, I just got a message from Tara,” said Penelope, walking up to where I stood, looking out at the sea otters playing in the ocean.

“Yeah?”

“Your dad is here.”

“Bloody hell,” I said under my breath. “She didn’t think to mention that before we arrived?”

“Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

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