Page 21 of The Mission

“Thank you,” Conrad answered.

Arlotsked. “You arenotto talk about work.”

“I want Conrad to feel comfortable,” Rurik said.

“Don’t gang up on him then. You’re a lot to deal with.” Under the water, Arlo slid his hand into Conrad’s.

“Did you go down the Hahnenkammbahn?” Dieter asked.

“Yep,” Benedikt said.

Dieter rolled his eyes. “I know you did. I was with you.”

“How’s it running?” Rurik asked.

“How do you think?” Dieter shrugged. “Fast and furious.”

“Fancy a race tomorrow?” Benedikt was looking at Conrad.

“Racing down one of the most dangerous ski runs in the world?” Conrad raised his eyebrows. “Couldn’t you just pummel me in a snowball fight instead?”

They all laughed and Conrad’s chest eased. Arlo cuddled up against him and wormed his way under Conrad’s arm.

“We’re very protective of Arlo,” Rurik said.

“All my life.” Arlo gave a heavy sigh. “I was never bullied at school. One look from any of these four and no one came near me. Why do you think I became a pilot? I had to get a long way away from you lot.”

“He tried to fly off the roof when he was a little boy,” Benedikt said. “Broke both his legs.”

“We got into trouble for not stopping him.” Dieter splashed water across at Arlo and Conrad.

“No more stories about me,” Arlo said.

“Remember the time he took all his clothes off in the Ladies’ while Mum was in the cubicle? Even his nappy,” Dieter said.

“Please,” Arlo pleaded.

“He gave her a running commentary on what he was doing,” Julian said. “Even when he—”

“I’m going in the plunge pool,” Conrad said and brought all the attention back to him. “And so is Arlo.”

“No,” Arlo shrieked.

“You’ll never get him in there,” Rurik said.

Conrad climbed out of the hot tub, his skin and wet hair prickling in the cold air. He held out his hand to Arlo.

Arlo muttered under his breath, but took it. Though when they reached the pool, Conrad was pretty sure there was a layer of ice over the top. He touched it with his toe.Fuck!No ice but…

“You don’t have to, Arlo,” Rurik shouted.

Arlo turned to Conrad. “In on three?”

“How deep is it?”

“Fifteen feet.”

“What?”

---