32. Lift the finger
THIRTY-TWO
LIFT THE FINGER
Alessio
Lake and Leo go to lunch at the square without me because I couldn’t step away from work. But just because I couldn’t eat with them doesn’t mean I left them alone. I see them from my position near the statue in the square. I wave at Lake when she spots me, listening in on the weapon’s security briefing on my phone.
I’m not a very good stalker.
Miro is much better. As competitive as I am, I freely admit that. He’s the world’s best assassin who works exclusively for me. It’s not as if I need him right away, but it would be helpful to have him around when the world’s most dangerous cargo is at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
But alas, he’s obsessed with a woman and his new family. And as I watch Lake with Leo, I find it difficult to judge Miro since I can’t seem to stop myself from doing the very same thing.
That would be hypocritical of me, now wouldn’t it?
Either way, I’m dealing with a situation and he’s not.
Last night at the meeting in the vault, the PM used the code name only the transport team and I know about. Margaret. This means there’s a mole inside the transportation unit, and I can’t trust any of them, not even the weapon’s handler. Which means I need an outsider, someone, or more than one someone, to join the unit and report on them.
Some of the men I use for extractions and security from time to time volunteered last night. They have no idea what they volunteered for, and they don’t need to know. It’s cargo. The cargo’s name is Susan now, and only three people know about the name change. They need to find the mole.
A phone call interrupts the briefing, and since the handover has been made, I tap my earpiece and pick up the call. “Hello?”
“It’s me,” Miro says.
Oh, well, there he is. “What do you want?”
“Nothing. Just catching up.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I have no idea, really. I’m giving small talk a try.”
I shake my head. “You have the wrong number.”
Miro chuckles. “How are you?”
“Fine.”
“How is Val?”
“I don’t know. She took off again.”
He mumbles something, then, “And Leo?”
He’s writing something down while Lake speaks. I bet it’s dictation. “He’s fine.”
“Aren’t you going to ask how I’m doing?”
“I never approved your leave of absence.”
“I never asked for one. I’m taking one.” He crunches on something. “How is business?”
“Busy. After the mess you made, busier.”
“As soon as I settle things with Troy and the baby, I’ll make it up to you.”
I smile like the Cheshire cat. “How?”
Lots of crunching. I pull the phone away from my ear. “What are you eating?”
“Celery stick dipped in ranch. Some buffalo wings.”
I check my watch. “For breakfast?”
“Yeah. It was either that or a burger from three days ago.”
“What? No carrots sprouting in your garden?”
“Not yet.”
“Hope you choke on the celery stick, then.”
“Aw, I wondered how long it would take for the small talk to end. Two minutes. A record for you, my friend. Now, I’m on the secure line, and the reason I’m calling is that Val asked me to check on you. How is the situation with Margaret?”
“Not good.” I tell him about my meeting from last night.
“You have a security breach,” he says. “Did you tell Niksha?”
I roll my eyes. “No, I kept the knowledge to myself.”
“Alessio, please don’t be difficult. I left you with a mess, and I want to make it right. I just can’t be there with you. I can be here for you while I work out my family life.”
I sigh. “The prime minister’s network is wider and stronger than initially assessed. I believe this is because he’s handing over his daughter to an arms dealer who owns the underground in these matters. I’ve never dealt in weapons, whereas they have.”
A pause as Miro reflects. “You fear defeat?”
“If I play by their rules on their turf as I have been, I think they’ll end up in control of the weapon.”
“A disaster to be sure. What are you going to do about it?”
“Since you’re not available, not much.”
“I need another month, maybe two.”
“Miro, I’m not on my own timetable. I’m dealing with world leaders and their generals, who do not like each other, so the discussions are intense. I need to get rid of this damn warhead and never think of it again.”
“You think you’re in a losing position?”
“I’m playing defense, and they’re changing the game at the last minute. Leo’s with me, and they’re dragging my family into this.”
“How so?”
“Last night, the PM brought a plus one, so I matched him and brought my governess.”
“What governess?”
I clear my throat. “Leo’s governess.”
A pause. “Leo has a governess?”
“Val hired one before she took off. Planned it all so I’m stuck with this woman.”
“Okay, but you implied she’s family.”
“I misspoke.”
“You don’t misspeak.”
I fix my cuff link. “You’re right. I’m dating her.” When Miro doesn’t answer, I check the phone line. “Hello?”
“You don’t date,” he says.
“I didn’t. Now I do. And I like her.” I watch Lake share a dessert with Leo.
I hear shuffling on the line. “What’s her name?” Miro asks.
“Lake Wilder.” I hear fingers over the keyboard. “Val vetted her.”
“Date of birth?”
I recite the information he needs because if I don’t, he’ll waste time looking for it himself.
“She’s a journalist,” he points out.
“A travel blogger, mainly.”
“Her family lives a state over. Oh wait. Did you know she has a boyfriend?”
“They broke up.”
I watch Lake point up at a flock of birds. It’ll probably rain. The birds sense the rain while we’re under cloudy skies.
“You think she told him she’s with you?”
“Forget him.”
“I need a minute to grab Val’s software and hack his phone. Hold tight.”
Lake waves, and I wave back, then turn away from them. “Don’t hack his phone,” I hiss into the speaker. When Miro doesn’t answer, I curse.
A minute later, Miro laughs. “There’s a dick pic on his phone. Sent yesterday from Paris. Wait, you sent this?”
I don’t answer.
“You sent it. This is your dick inside her mouth. And you sent it to her ex-boyfriend.”
“And?”
“And this isn’t like you, Alessio. You do not measure dicks with anyone. Your dick is always bigger, and you know it.”
“Well, he kept calling her, and I couldn’t have you off him, could I?”
“No, but I could look into him.”
“Look into the arms dealer. Leave the governess alone. It’s just someone I’m fucking. A phase that will pass.” I turn to head toward the restaurant, but almost run into Lake and Leo, who are standing right behind me.
Lake tucks her hair behind her ear. “They’re putting away the outside tables. There’s a storm coming. Here.” She hands me a paper bag but won’t meet my eyes. “Your lunch.”
Leo tugs on her hand. “Come on, Lake. He can eat alone.”
The pair of them march across the square. Lake’s arm rises, and she lifts her middle finger.
What did I do?