Page 54 of Never Enough

“She’s scared. Thinks it’s going to change things or some stupid shit. I told her, of course it’s going to change things, but not the way she’s imagining. She’s worried it’s too soon. The woman already wears my collar, so she’s as tied to me as it gets. A baby’s not going to make me stop wanting her or loving her.”

“Happy for you, man.” Nemo saluted, a smart-ass grin on his face. “Consider me informed and on duty to protect, aka babysit, if needed.” He didn’t bother to tell TB there was nothing to worry about and that everything was going to be okay. In their line of work, you couldn’t make those kinds of promises. “You’re not thinking of leaving Tribe, are you?” Nemo asked.

Blowing air forcefully out of his lungs, TB shook his head. “It’s not what we want, but the concern is that it’s not like I can exactly be a visible part of the child’s life in the traditional sense since I’m ‘dead’ and do what I do. The child and Flame would be too vulnerable. I mean, I’m off the grid now, butFlame isn’t. I suppose she could be, given that she doesn’t spend a lot of time outside her house other than The Library with me. It would probably be safer to go live somewhere outside the States. She can write from anywhere, and retirement for me has a nice ring to it now that we’re together. More importantly, I’m not sure if I can keep at this if I’m suddenly going to be responsible for a little Flame.”

“Sparks.” Nemo snorted. “That’s what we’ll call her.” He became thoughtful. “What if it’s a little TB?”

“Fuck, I hope not. The world doesn’t need more of me in it.”

“Are you sure? Raising a little girl might be okay now, but how about in sixteen years when a little Nemo shows up to take her on dates?”

Horror crossed TB’s face. “Shit! I didn’t think of that.” His face and body showed resolve. “Nope. Not happening. She’s having a boy.”

Nemo laughed out loud. “Don’t think it works that way, big guy.”

“Nope. Abso-fucking-lutely works that way. If it’s a girl, I’m shoving it back in there until it cooks all the way and pops a penis.”

Nemo doubled over with laughter at the despair his teammate was now in. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he clapped TB on the arm. “Good luck with that. You try to shove a baby back inside Flame, she’s going to stab you with one of those pencils she holds her hair up with. You won’t even know what hit you.”

TB groaned. “I’m not meant to be a father. I don’t suppose this is a sick practical joke you put together with fake pregnancy tests?”

“I would never, ever joke about pregnancy. Even with you,” Nemo promised. “TB, other than Waters, who is going to bejealous as fuck, by the way, I can’t think of anyone more worthy,” Nemo assured him.

TB agreed. “He can’t even get Kubrick to entertain the ‘M’ word, much less have babies. Although, how any of us can get married is a whole other issue.” TB pleaded one more time for secrecy. “Look. Just… just don’t say anything yet, okay? I’m going to tell him and everyone eventually. We’d like a little time to let ourselves process it.”

“My lips are sealed.”

Scheherazade collapsed at Nemo’s feet, tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted hard from all the exertion. Nemo dropped to his knees, which was her cue to roll over on her back for belly rubs. Nemo made sure to fulfill his end of the bargain.

Still standing behind him, TB asked, “What are you going to do about Le Chatte Noire?”

Without looking up, Nemo contemplated his options before speaking. “Truth? No fucking idea. I can’t let her get away again, but she’s proven to be a runner, so I’ve probably got less time than I think to make this happen.”

“I could tie her up for you. She’s not getting out of my knots. Would keep her in one place.”

They stared at each other. Imperceptibly, a twitch occurred at one corner of TB’s mouth, and that was all it took before both men were laughing.

Nemo glanced at his watch. It was quarter to six.

Time to go wake her up from her cat nap.

Nemo stood. “I’m going to go collect Haskell. See you in a few.”

TB nodded. “See you in the conference room. And Nemo?”

Nemo waited expectantly.

“If she’s it, don’t let go. Even if she runs again, go after her.Bring her back. And if she keeps running, keep going after her, and keep bringing her back. It’ll be worth it. She’ll figure it out eventually.”

Nemo nodded, then walked off to the elevator with an exhausted Scheherazade in tow.

If she runs, there’s nowhere she can go that I won’t find her.

20

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

Haskell

---