Page 193 of Cross & Crown

all right? I don’t remember any of my fucking training.”

“Let’s do a recon of the bridge,” Kelly suggested. “If he

carved a message in it, it’s got to be somewhere accessible, but hidden enough to escape notice all these years. Can’t be too

many places like that on a bridge in the middle of all these

tourists.”

193

“We’ll split up along the scenic paths,” Nick agreed.

“Approach it from each side. Kels, you and Cross circle around

the north end, JD and I will take the south. We’ll meet you at

the bridge’s head.”

“Right.” Kelly patted Julian on the shoulder and they

headed off together as Nick and JD went the other way.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Julian asked almost

as soon as they were out of earshot of the others.

“I guess, sure.”

“Does it bother you that he orders you around like he

does?”

Kelly’s head jerked up. “No,” he answered. “If we were

making breakfast or going to a movie, he’d be asking for

opinions left and right. This is a tactical situation, though,

and he’s reverting to his training. If he hadn’t, I’d be worried about him.”

Julian arched an eyebrow as they walked along the paved

path.Kelly just shrugged. “People see Nick in all kinds of ways.”

He smiled fondly. “He’s so much more than you see on the

surface, though.”

“If you say so.” Julian returned his attention to the crowd

as they meandered along the path, trying to blend with the

tourists.

Kelly briefly let his mind wander to Nick before he did

the same. He didn’t care if he was the only one who saw

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