Page 16 of Shadowfox

He sighed, dramatic. “Once.”

“Twice.”

“That second time doesn’t count.”

“Because?”

“Because I lived.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I pulled away and grabbed my suitcase.

“Come on,” I said, nudging him. “We’ve got a train to catch.”

Thomas smirked, grabbing his bag.

“After you, Mr. Calloway.”

6

Thomas

Therainhadstoppedby the time we reached the platform. The sky above Gare de l’Est was still heavy and low, painted in the dull gray of a city that had already started to forget us . . . for the moment.

That was how it always was. You leave, and the world moves on without you.

Manakin stood apart, his hands in his coat pockets, the glow of a cigarette flickering against the sharp planes of his face. Raines was next to him, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, and Arty leaned against a luggage cart, adjusting his glasses as though he hadn’t just sent us off to walk straight into the lion’s den.

Will turned first, offering Raines his hand. There were no words, just a firm shake. It was the kind of thing that carried all the meaning it needed.

“Try not to get killed,” Raines muttered.

Will grinned. “I was going to say the same to you.”

Raines exhaled through his nose, unamused. “One of these days,Calloway, you’re going to realize your luck isn’t infinite.”

“But today isnotthat day,” Will said.

Manakin watched, quiet and steady, before flicking his cigarette onto the tracks and stepping close to our group. His voice was low when he spoke.

“You have three days before the KGB starts really paying attention. Don’t waste them.”

Sparrow nodded. She’d been silent most of the morning. Tension hung in her shoulders, her hands tucked deep into her coat pockets. It wasn’t fear. She just didn’t like goodbyes.

Egret, on the other hand, was grinning like a man heading off to a weekend in the countryside. “Three days? Why, that’s practically a holiday!” he declared, clapping his hands together. “I can fit in some sightseeing between being professionally suspicious and pretending to care about Hungarian manufacturing techniques.”

Manakin did not laugh.

Egret sighed. “No one here appreciates my enthusiasm.”

“No one herebelievesyour enthusiasm,” I muttered.

Egret smirked.

Arty pushed off the luggage cart, adjusting his tie. “I know I don’t need to tell you all to be careful, but I’m going to say it anyway.” He looked over at me. “Especially you,Dr.Beckett.”

“Oh, I see,” Egret cut in, grinning. “And the rest of us? Chopped liver?”

Arty ignored him completely.

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