Page 154 of The Best of Us

My son’s use of “we” and his video game references about a life-and-death operation would kill me before I even went into battle.

I refrained from reminding him I only had one life. We couldn’t restart like a game if I died. I needed him to stay hopeful and optimistic, so I forced myself to smile and nod. “You’re right. We do make one hell of a team.”

Chapter52

Constantine

We walkeddown the hall and into the living room, where we were all pulled into different conversations.

Sean and Emilia were the first to get my attention. “You shouldn’t be here. You have a newborn back home.” I couldn’t help but lecture Emilia like I had Alessandro in New York.

Emilia quickly dismissed my words. “Of course, I have to be here. Aurora’s my responsibility,si´?”

“No sense in trying to get her to change her mind about feeling guilty.” Sean shook his head. “Once my wife has her mind made up, there’s no bloody turnin’ back.”

“Like someone else I know.” I may have been peering at my son from across the crowded room as he spoke to Carter—fuck my life—but I was actually referring to myself.

“Aurora accidentally opened Pandora’s box with this plan. Some League leader she’d have made,” Sean remarked. “My brother and cousin are watching Carmello and Aurora in Dublin now, so they’re not here with us. They won’t let either of them out of their sight.”

Good.Someone needed to babysit the reason why we were in this mess in the first place.

“Sebastian and Wyatt are working on the infil plans in the next room over.” Sean patted my shoulder twice. “Join us when you’re ready. Grab Carter on your way in so we can start, will ya?”

“Sure,” I muttered, focusing solely on the man he’d asked me to grab.

Carter slowly shifted my way as if sensing he had eyes on him, and the moment we made eye contact, two decades' worth of guilt hit me. It had been over twenty years since I’d dated Rebecca to help my father close a deal, yet the regret still felt as fresh as yesterday.

Carter gave me a tight nod before resetting his focus on Juliette approaching him. Hehuggedher—fuck my life again—as a greeting, and I assumed they hadn’t had a chance to say their hellos when I’d been outside with Enzo.

“Are you okay?” Hudson joined me, and I remained hovering near the doorway like a statue. “Enzo mentioned that you have some concerns.”

“No idea what he’s talking about.” I was in even less of a mood to have him lay into me next. “Just tell me this daylight op will work.”

“Aside from it being a daylight op,” Hudson said as Izzy strode over, “I think Sebastian and the others have drawn up a solid infil plan. They hit the ground running with the mission prep before their plane took off from Dublin.”

“We’re lucky Emilia was so convincing in hertalkwith Aurora that she got her to reveal the Rizzos have Lennon in the first place,” my sister reiterated. “We have the element of surprise on our side since they have no clue we’re onto them.”

Something told me Izzy stating the obvious was meant to reassure me, and Enzo had clued her in on his concerns about me, too. She leaned against Hudson, shooting me some serious puppy-dog-worry eyes. “And thanks to Gwen’s help hacking AISE’s satellites, at least we know exactly where to hit.Andthat Lennon’s actually there.”

I know all of this, but that doesn’t change the fact I also have a gut feeling I’m going to die today.

I wouldn’t be sharing that with her, though. Instead, I searched out Juliette again since she had the uncanny ability to calm me down.

She, Colin, and Easton were talking to a younger-looking blonde. I hadn’t met Gwen, but I assumed that was Wyatt’s daughter they were chatting with.

“Everything will be fine.” At the feel of Izzy’s hand on my forearm, I trained my eyes on her. “It has to be. From what I’ve heard,” she said while looking at her husband, “you’ve got a baby to make. Colin wants a brother, huh?”

Hudson shrugged and went to open his mouth, but I beat him to it. “I know, I know. You can’t keep anything from her.” At least the smile parked on my lips was now genuine. “Colin did give us his OK in that department.”

“Good. See.” She stood tall, without Hudson as support, as if that was that. All good now. I’d be fine. If only it were that easy.

“I’m supposed to be grabbing Carter and joining everyone in the other room.” I couldn’t believe I was using Carter as a way to deflect.

“We’ll meet you with the others, then.” Izzy pinched my arm, and I sent her a teasing scowl in response. It made her smile, andhersmiling made me happy, so . . .

I waited for the room to clear out, realizing Carter was hanging back, more than likely to talk to me.This feels highly coordinated, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised. I cracked my neck as if that’d kill the tension, then walked over to him while he scrolled his phone as if he hadn’t noticed it was just us.

As shitty of an actor as I am.

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