Page 52 of A Breath of Life
“Mm… That I can do.” I heard the smile on my best friend’s face. “His name is Benjamin. He’s twenty-four and a marathon runner. You know what that means, right?”
“Stamina for days.” I chuckled, and Memphis continued, giving me all the details I didn’t want to hear about his most recent hookup.
14
Diem
Isat in the Jeep out front of the Toronto Police Headquarters building for over an hour after dropping Tallus off, scrutinizing every person who came or went through the main doors, itching to go back inside and drag him home by the scruff of his neck where I could be sure he was safe.
Echo sat in the passenger seat, tongue lolling, enjoying the sunshine on her face like she didn’t have a care in the world. Her squinty eyes and puppy smile were about the only thing keeping my blood pressure from entering the danger zone. I wished I could be so carefree.
I stroked her fur and scratched her ear, thinking, not for the first time, how I wished I hadn’t burned bridges with all my cop friends. Driving away would have been easier if I could have recruited someone to keep an eye on Tallus.
Tallus, who had burrowed into my heart unexpectedly and seemed content to stay there.
Tallus, whose presence in my life made breathing both easier and harder.
Tallus, who glowed with life most days despite my chronic mood swings.
Tallus, whom I wasn’t sure I could live without.
I’d gotten a taste of happiness and love. He was the one addiction I didn’t want to quit.
If something happened to him…
Gritting my teeth, I pulled upAsshole’s number and hit Connect, anticipating it either wouldn’t go through or no one would answer. On the second ring, a click sounded, followed by a patronizing, “Mr. Krause. If you have a location already, I’m impressed.”
“No. I need to verify the parameters of the rules.”
The asshole sniffed in what could have been irritation or boredom. “Go on.”
The Consigliere’s random call in the middle of the night suggested the card wasn’t listening to me as I feared, but before I allowed Tallus to tail along in my search for Clarence, I wanted to be absolutely certain no one thought I was spilling secrets.
Visions of my helpless Nana in a nursing home flashed incessantly through my mind and haunted my dreams last night. Anguished at being unable to check on her, I’d woken in a toxic mood.
“Mr. Krause? Hello? You called me, remember? If you aren’t going to speak, I’m hanging up.”
“I’m here. Before you assholes kidnapped me, Tallus and I had planned to either toss the card in a dumpster or find the guy who gave it to us so we could return it.”
“So you claimed.”
“Last night, he suggested finding the guy instead of throwing it away. He saw me with the pouch. I didn’t prompt him. I haven’tagreed or disagreed because I didn’t know if it broke your fucking rules or not. He doesn’t know about you or the true purpose of finding Clarence, but Tallus could be an asset. I can work faster with his help, and he would never need to know the end results. If I try to dissuade him…” I left the sentence hanging because I couldn’t think about the consequences. Tallus was hardheaded and unswayable most days. He didn’t always take no for an answer.
One thing I’d learned in the time we’d been together is that Tallus didn’t like to be controlled. Insisting he stay put today was already boiling his blood. We’d been ten seconds from another shouting match. If I shut him down where Clarence was concerned, I might lose him for good.
Silence bled through the line.
Blood whomped in my ears.
Echo whimpered and leaned into my hand when I stopped petting her.
I feared the Consigliere would tell me no. Redirecting Tallus’s attention was a feat I wasn’t sure I could manage. He was already suspicious.
When the Consigliere spoke, it was in a low, dangerous tone. “I hope you don’t think you’re manipulating us in any way, Mr. Krause, because it won’t end well for you. This is not a joke. We are not afraid to kill.”
“I’m aware.”
Another pause.
