Page 167 of Secret Weapon

“Good.Because I don’t do those jobs either.”

Some hockey player once said that you missed one hundred percent of the shots you didn’t take, and that applied equally to assassination.If I didn’t at least try this new life on for size, I’d forever regret it.What was the worst that could happen?That I’d crawl back to Baldwin’s Shore with my tail between my legs?Yes, death was also possible, but I wouldn’t be around in the aftermath, so…

I shook hands with Emmy.

“You got one thing wrong.”

“What thing?”

“I didn’t much like you to start with, but now I’m more ambivalent.”

“Well, I suppose that’s progress.”Emmy’s smartwatch pinged, and she checked the screen.“Black and Alex are running past the patisserie.Do we want anything?”

“I wouldn’t mind an apple Danish.”

I’d gone several rounds in the gym with Alex this morning, practising moves again, again, again, and then I’d taken a swim with Ana.After an hour in the sea, I figured I’d earned a pastry.

Emmy dictated the message.“Pain au chocolate for me, apple Danish for Darya.”

“You should probably start calling me Dasha now.”

The corner of her lip twitched as she revised the message.

“Progress indeed.”

“Peace offering.”Alex held up a bakery bag and raked a hand through sweaty hair.“How was your swim?”

“Fine.But why a peace offering?”

Wasn’t it me who might need one of those?Because only after I’d accepted Emmy’s offer had it occurred to me that perhaps I should have discussed it with Alex first.What if he thought it was too soon for me to rearrange my life?He’d mentioned coming to Baldwin’s Shore, and I’d assumed that would involve staying at my place, but we hadn’t actually discussed the details.Where would I live in Virginia?Should I rent an apartment?Or buy one?What were property prices like in Richmond?

“Because I pushed you hard this morning.”

“Hard?You think that was hard?I had harder rest days on Base 13.Is that my Danish?”

“I brought you two.”He wrapped an arm around me and pressed his lips to mine.“What’s wrong?”

“Why would something be wrong?”

“Your frame is full of tension.”

I’d intended to let him take a shower before we had the awkward discussion, but my mouth had other ideas.

“I’m going to rent an apartment in Richmond,” I blurted.

His turn to stiffen.“That’s a big commitment.”

“Yes, but you like your job more than I like mine, so it makes sense for me to spend more time in Virginia.And when I say ‘mine,’ I mean my current job in Baldwin’s Shore, not the one I just took with Emmy, although in—”

“Slow down, Dashenka.”Alex rubbed small circles on my back.“What are you talking about?You took a job with Emmy?”

I gave him a brief summary.“And, yes, I realise I should have run it by you, but…but…”

“You were excited.”

Hmm.Did that explain the weird bubbly feeling in my stomach?I’d just assumed I’d drunk too much coffee after swimming.

“Maybe.”

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