Page 30 of Centurion

“Too close to the tree to see the forest, man. I talked to Dad yesterday.” Brando chuckled. “You’ll never guess what he’s working on?”

“I’m not even going to try. I’d never be able to guess.” Con laughed, too.

“A software-defined radio for his new bug. The catch is he’s using cell phone towers as his repeater. Now, he can listen to the bug he left in San Francisco under that table at the restaurant while sitting in his office across the entire country.”

“He’s getting damn good.” Con chuckled. Guardian’s system was what his father was playing with but on mega doses of steroids.

“Yeah, and he’s just having fun. He’s had offers on the tech for his little bug, but he said he’s not going to sell it. Little does he know what’s really out here in the big, bad world.”

“And you know what, Brando, I think that’s a good thing. He’s keeping himself amused while Mom is grinding that stone. Sooner or later, she’s going to retire and hand the reins over to Rob and Matt, and then they can travel like he’s always wanted to.”

“Do you really think Mom will ever retire?” Brando snorted. “She’ll work until the day she dies. That’s her passion, not Dad.”

“Ow. Harsh, dude.” Con winced at the truth, but he couldn’t argue that fact. “He still goes hunting and fishing with the guys. He’s not a hermit, you know.”

“He’s not, and he seems happy, but, man, if falling in love ends up with what they have, I’m not sure I’m game for the prospect, you know?”

Con was silent for a moment. “I can’t talk about Mom and Dad’s feelings, but let me tell you something … The way I feel now about Ronnie, I’d take a shot at following that feeling everysingle time. I don’t know if it’ll hold in the long run, but right now, I don’t care. I’ll deal with what happens in the future in the future. And I have you to thank for that.”

“Aw … shucks, you really need to stop pumping me up. I might get a big head or something.” Brando laughed.

“Nah, I’d never let it go that far. Get some Z’s. I’ll have my comms on silent, but I’ll be here if you need me.”

“Got it. Leave the princess connected, so I can use her if need be.”

“Done. Talk later.”

“Yep. Bye.” Brando cleared the channel, and Con immediately tapped into Ronnie’s comm device. When she activated it, he said, “Congratulations.”

She laughed. “That was quick.”

“I’m finished here until Mr. Asshat finds something else for me to do. What about you?”

“Same. I’m on my way back.”

“Wait. Why don’t we meet? I haven’t ever played a tourist in London. Let’s do that.”

She laughed again. “What are you talking about?”

“Girl, I want to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, stroll down the Mall, take some selfies at Trafalgar Square, and go through the National Gallery. Then we could have dinner.”

“Dinner, too?”

“Sure, a real date. What do you think?”

“I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt.”

Con gasped. “What a surprise, so am I!”

Ronnie’s laughter flowed through the connection. “All right. All right. I’ve walked that path so many times, but I can do it again. Where do you want to meet?”

“Royal Albert Hall. You should be able to find parking on Kensington High Street.”

“How are you going to get there?”

“Uber, baby!” He was calling up the app on his phone as they talked.

“All right. I’ll meet you there, and we’ll play American tourists.”

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