Page 211 of Ignite

“Do you ever knock?”

“No. We got shit to do. Which means you need to get your ass out of bed and come with me.”

I groan, and Bertie rests his head on my chest.

“I can’t. Bertie needs me.”

Finn pins me with a glare.

“What if I told you it involves murder?” he says with a sadistic grin.

“I’d say you have my attention.”

I carefully move Bertie off me and tuck him into bed like a human.

He’s so cute. I’m going to miss him when he goes back to Hallie tomorrow.

“I’d love our enemies to see you tucking a dog into your bed. It’s really a look, Con,” Finn teases.

“I am not ashamed of my soft side, Finn.”

“Are the twins coming?” I ask, shoving on a T-shirt.

“Of course.”

It’s always more fun when they join our adventures.

“When are we going to London?” I ask, giving Bertie one last head scratch.

“I’m working on it, Con. We just gotta keep focusing on making it safe here while we wait.”

“Be a good boy. All your water and food is downstairs. I won’t be long,” I tell Bertie.

“Are you fucking talking to a dog like he’s a person?” Finn asks.

I glare at him. Doesn’t everyone do that?

“I did. And he basically is. He’s Hallie’s world, so now he’s mine too.”

Finn shoves his hands in his pockets.

“Keep this up, I’m sending you for psychiatric testing.”

I chuckle and clasp his shoulder.

“I’ll go if you go. And we both know you’ll be the one ending up in a padded room and a straightjacket, you fucking psycho.”

His jaw twitches and I wait for his reaction.

Nothing.

“A true psychopath can bullshit their way out of diagnosis, Conan. No one would lock me up anywhere. And if they tried, I’d slit their throats first.”

Jesus Christ. I step back.

“What happened to you?” I ask.

He chuckles.

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