I never thought I’d be entering the Athens Industries building again. Maybe I expected to be dragged in by my hair kicking and screaming? That was a possibility in the not-so-distant past. But as the doors sweep aside, and the cool, conditioned air flows over me in a wave, I’m sure this is where I’m supposed to be.
“Ready?” Jinzo asks, turning to me before we approach security. I reach for his hand to steady my nerves, and he smiles as he takes my fingers in his. “I think we’re actually on time.”
“We can still say no,” Ken reminds me. He reaches over and takes my other hand, sure to make eye contact with me. I flash back to the first time Ken boarded the Amagi. We sat in the auxiliary cargo bay and talked about whether it was smart to do anything against Athens. He warned me then that Athens was unforgiving, a killer. He still feels this way.
My heart squeezes, though, not at the memory of Ken, but at the image of the Amagi in my head. Stolen right out from underneath me.
Stolen.
I’m tired of people stealing from me.
“We can leave now and not be indebted to them.” Ken’s eyes are bright with warning. “We’ll use the Flyght lawyers and hire more of our own to get the Amagi out and…”
I place my hand on his chest. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
His mouth drops open as Jinzo chuckles.
“Vivi, I’ve had enough adventure in the last few weeks to last a lifetime.”
I glance between the two men and shrug off the feeling like I’m missing something. I am. Gus is resting at the hotel, and I miss having his quiet counsel with me. I asked him to come, and his returning message said to go without him.
I take a deep breath and release their hands to grasp the upper arms of both guys. “This is all a means to an end. Sure, we could gather up the last of the money we need in the next few days, and maybe we’d make it to the auction and be the only bidder.” Jinzo’s lips pull to the side. “But we all know that’s not going to happen. We’re just not powerful enough on our own. We need the big guns to make this plan work.”
Jinzo and Ken slowly nod as their eyes meet, and I drop my hands. They’ve taken on so much responsibility these past few weeks. I often wonder if they’d be happier sitting on a beach with someone else. But they would be the first to say that’s not true. Something tells me they enjoy the challenge of this life I’m giving them. They’re gluttons for punishment, just like me.
They’ve said they’re on my side, and it’s taken a few weeks, but I believe them. They want to be by my side. They believe in my mission, just as much as I do. I’m not sure how that happened, but I’m glad that’s where we are.
“We need to be careful, but I agree with Vivian,” Jinzo says, inclining his head to move us along to the security desk. “Let’s remember that our network is our top priority. We should never put our relationship at risk because of something Renata Dellis wants.”
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