Page 97 of The Payback

“God, why are you both assholes today?” she mutters.

In a rare show of synchronicity, Nik and I turn to each other, grins on our faces.

Mine says:We’re always assholes. Not just today.

His says:Just assholes? Surely we can do better.

“Anyway, it’s um...” Eleanor tries again and then murmurs something unintelligible under her breath.

“What was that?” I ask, leaning down to catch her eyes as she stares at the coffee table between us all.

“She said the child is mine,” Nik says.

My head whips towards him. “Yours?”

Nik nods, still looking a little pale from his fainting spell downstairs. Eleanor confirms with a nod.

“Are you sure?” I ask, the shock at it all rocketing through me. It’s the wrong question to ask. She scowls, and the anger boils over within her.

“Are you calling me a liar, Dimitri? Or a whore? One that doesn’t know who she fucked and created a child with? Which of those questions would you like to go with?”

Abort mission. Fucking abort mission!

“No, I just—” I backtrack, trying to get things back in hand.

“Because let me tell you something, you jerk—”

“Woah, woah. Eleanor. I wasn’t implying any of that! I just—It’s a lot to take in.”

“Hence the passing out downstairs,” Nik comments from beside us. “Imagine hearing you have a child like that.”

Why does that not scare me the way it would have six months ago?

“So you two have fucked.” My succinct summary is not met with appreciation.

“No, it was an immaculate conception,” Nik deadpans.Religious idiot.

“There’s more,” Eleanor says quietly, pulling my attention from Nik. “We reconnected since I’ve been here—which I think you already know.”

I nod. “I do.”

Nik glances sharply from Eleanor to me. “You do?”

“You’re not as subtle as you should be as a former agent. Or maybe I still know you well enough to notice the little things.” I shrug. “You’re better when she’s here.”

He agrees with my assessment. “I am.”

“And Eleanor, your feelings for Nik?” I ask, staring at my wife sitting on the floor opposite us and rounding out this little triangle of confusion.

“They exist.”

“And for me?” I ask, hoping I’m not about to be left out in the cold when this family unites.

“They exist.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “So, where does all of that leave us?”

“Us?” Nik asks.

---