Page 151 of Depths of Destruction
Why didn't I think about it?
Naomi scrunches her face. She says in panic, "What do you mean? I don't want to be handed over to him!"
Blaise puts his hand over hers. "That's not what I mean. Not you."
"I... I don't understand." She tilts her head toward me.
"He wants Nicolas Gómez. We either deliver him to the President or kill him."
Silence fills the air.
Her eyes widen. "How would you do that? He's in the custody of the Belizean government."
Blaise and I lock gazes. He asks, "Where did you say Kalim is?"
"In Belize, tracking Malin."
Blaise raises his eyebrows.
"Andre?" Naomi quietly asks with panic in her voice.
I slowly look at her. "I think it's time we created a covert mission."
27
Naomi
"Areyou sure you don't want Blaise to go?" Andre nervously asks.
"Get out!" Blaise yells from the other room, and I jump.
"Blaise," Andre growls.
"Oh, sorry, Naomi."
"You're fine," I call out and then put my hand on Andre's cheek. "I'm okay. It'll be good for you to get a break from me."
"I don't need to be away from you."
"While I love our time together, I think it'll be healthy for you to get a quick time-out from me."
"Naomi—"
I put my finger over his lips. "I'll be fine."
"What if you have an episode?"
"Then I'll help her, right, Naomi?" Blaise steps next to me and crosses his arms. He arches his eyebrows at Andre.
I'm not sure why I feel safe with Blaise, but I do. I don't know if it's the fact I see Andre in him or some other reason, but I trust him. So I'm not going to question it. He's the only person since everything happened that I don't feel anxious or scared around besides Andre. "Yes. But nothing is going to happen. I feel really good today. I think the sleep I got was helpful."
Andre hesitantly glances between Blaise and me.
"If you don't go soon, we're going to miss out on our beach day," Blaise says.
Andre takes a deep breath. "All right. I won't be gone long." He kisses me again and finally leaves.
"Coffee outside?" Blaise asks.
