Page 58 of Wired Courage

“I like that idea.” Sophie turned to look fully at Alika. “I can’t promise a whole year, though. I will need to go to Oahu, and possibly return to Phi Ni, too. But as a start, for the next few months, your cottage sounds perfect.”

Alika grinned in relief. “You’ve made my day.”

She chuckled. “I won’t be coming alone, though. Armita will be living with me, and providing the bulk of child care as I need it if you’re not available. After Momi’s weaned, and we work out how much you have her, Armita could still be available. Consistency is important with young children, and I trust her totally.”

“Listen to you—‘consistency is important with young children.’ You’ve been studying up, I can tell. We have plenty of time to work out the details.” Alika propped his prosthetic hand on the steering wheel to steady it, then patted her leg. “I’m psyched. I’ll call home and kick my worker out tomorrow.”

Sophie laughed. “Both hands on the steering wheel, please. Only one of those is actually doing anything.”

“You mocking Captain Hook here?” Alika held up the plastic prosthetic and waggled it.

“Maybe you should get an actual hook. The men at the gym would love it.”

“I’m holding out for a fancy electronic prosthetic, actually.” He glanced at Sophie and their eyes met. “If you and Jake get back together, there’s room in the cottage for all of you to have your own space.”

Sophie looked out the window, blinking. “That won’t be happening.”

He patted her leg again. “I’m sorry, Sophie.”

“Yes. I’m sorry as well.” Sophie bit her lip. Her life was plenty full—but it still felt empty without Jake.

Chapter Forty-Two

Day Thirty-Six

Morning cast sharp shadows over the practice field as Connor engaged with Nine in hand-to-hand using staffs. He’d always worked out a lot as a part of his daily routine, but with all of the hours of daily combat practice using every kind of weapon, he could see and feel his body reshaping into something harder, faster, and deadlier.

Nine froze suddenly, lowering his weapon and dropping into the Yam Khûmk?n resting attentive pose, protocol when someone of a higher rank had entered the area. Connor almost struck him, pulling back at the last minute. He spun away and dropped into the same upright position beside Nine, arms at his sides, head up.

Their division leader addressed Connor. “Your presence is required. Come with me.”

Connor dropped his staff and followed the man, pulling the loose hood of his robe up to cover his shaved head, as was protocol when off the field. They made their way through the complex and up the stone stairs to the Master’s apartments. The leader left Connor at the Master’s closed door.

“Enter,” the Master’s voice said in Thai. Connor had not yet knocked.

Connor stepped inside the sumptuous room. “You sent for me, Master?”A line out of a B grade movie, but he was living it.

The Master entered the seating area from the bedroom. He held up a satellite phone. “It is time for you to call Sophie. She has fulfilled her part of the bargain and successfully completed the bone marrow transfer.”

“Is she all right?” Connor wiped an arm over his sweaty forehead. His former life had begun to feel like a dream. It wasn’t that he didn’t think of his dog, his island, his company, his violin—and Sophie. He did—but his days were too full for dwelling on his past. Night, and his dreams, were when those former things haunted him.

“Sophie is perfectly fine. The procedure is painless for the donor. There are residual aches and weakness after, but the body soon rebuilds the lost fluids. The transfer was seamless, and the prince is doing well also.” The Master tapped a computer tablet he held. “I have been monitoring Sophie. As soon as she left the hospital, she took a day of rest at a hotel, and then traveled to the coast.”

Connor kept his face expressionless. He had not given up the location of his island, and the Master had not asked.That didn’t mean the Master didn’t know about it.

Every night, after dinner, they played chess and engaged in long discussions about politics, economics, science, and justice. Connor learned something new every day, and he couldn’t regret the bargain he’d made—a return to tutelage, in exchange for Sophie’s happiness with Jake.“May I have privacy for this call?”

The Master’s inscrutable purple irises bored into him. “Yes. As long as you acknowledge that, by leaving you alone, I am trusting you.”

There were many ways to conceal surveillance, and Connor knew them all. The Master could even have the phone set to record the conversation. But he nodded his head, compliant. “Thank you for your trust, Master.”

The Master walked out of the room, and shut the door.

Connor took a moment to gather his emotional resistance to Sophie, to ground himself in resolve. He looked around the Master’s luxurious chamber, with its wall hangings, carpeting, and ornate carved furniture. He approved of the aesthetic; the beautiful trappings balanced the harsh, ancient stone the rooms were built of. He took a seat in his favorite spot in front of the chessboard near the fireplace.

Sophie’s number was saved under the Master’s “Favorites,” which made him smile.

The phone had a data feature, and Connor took a moment to download the encrypted software he could use to communicate confidentially with Sophie via video feed. Once he had that set up, he scrolled to her number, and hit Contact.

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