Truth be told, he honestly didn’t know the answer to that question. His relationship with Lina was…complicated. It had been like a dream come true when he’d found her several months ago. After two decades of wondering, he’d finally found her safe and sound. But the separation had made her bitter, and he’d quickly come to realize she’d suffered a lot in his absence. If only he had been there for her.
He couldn’t change the past, but he could be here for her now. No matter how difficult she made it for him, or how much she tried to avoid him.
The deadbolt on the door clicked, and it swung open to reveal Lina on the other side. She wore her leather jacket.
“Going somewhere?”
“I was heading out for a job. What are you doing here? Unannounced?”
He ignored the obvious ire in her voice. “The lock on the front entrance is busted.”
Lina scowled, but didn’t respond. When she didn’t make any move to allow him inside, he asked, “Do you have a minute?”
She moved back with a muttered curse. “Must be national ‘Visit Lina Day.’”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.” She crossed into her tiny kitchen in measured strides then peered at him through the window that looked into the living room. “Want a drink?”
“Sure.”
Ronin walked to the pass through and watched as Lina took two glasses out of her cupboard and poured them generous portions of Johnny Walker Black.
They had the same taste in liquor. That had to count for something, didn’t it?
Lina handed him a glass. “Where’s Amara?”
He smiled at the mention of his better half. “Her mother talked her into going shopping. She claims I’m keeping Amara hidden away now that Mammon escaped, and that she needs to relieve a little bit of the stress from being constantly cooped up.”
Lina let out a snort. “Shopping with the mother from hell. I don’t envy her.”
“Me either.” He downed the contents of the glass, reveling in the smooth burn of the liquid. “I came by to see how you’re doing.”
Lina shot Ronin an amused glance and spread her arms wide, staring down at her torso. “All in one piece, as you can see.”
“Your side is feeling better?”
She gave him a “No duh” look. “Um, yeah…I’m an angel. I heal pretty quickly, in case you didn’t know.”
Never let it be said Lina didn’t enjoy a little bit of sarcasm.
She chugged her drink and set the glass down, meeting his gaze. “So why are you really here?”
Ronin stifled the urge to smile. He had to admit, one of the things he liked most about this new, grown-up Lina was her lack of hesitation in calling people out.
“I’ve been looking more into Sam’s background and trying to figure out why he might have turned against you. Whether he has some sort of connection to the dark fae, or to Mammon.”
Lina shrugged. “Wish I knew. Don’t know much about the guy, other than I met him at Eros and he’s been a damned good mercenary every time I’ve worked with him. Not a lot surprises me anymore, but yeah, I must say I was shocked he turned against me.”
Just one more person who’d let Lina down. Like him.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Whatever,” she said, appearing completely nonchalant about the fact that someone she trusted had betrayed her. “I tried calling him a couple of times, but hey, go figure, he didn’t answer.”
No surprise there. Sam must know he was going to face retribution for his actions, at Ronin’s hand if no one else.
“One of my contacts has been trying to track down information for me on Sam’s whereabouts.” He set his empty glass down on her counter. “I’m meeting him at Eros tonight, and I thought you might want to go with me.”
Lina grabbed the whiskey bottle, poured each of them one more drink, and recapped the bottle. “No thanks.”
Ronin paused in the act of taking hold of his glass. “What?”
“I’m pissed he fucked me over. Of course I am. But I’m not really interested in getting revenge.”
He shot her a disbelieving glance. “Are you serious? Don’t you want to know why Sam betrayed you?”
Lina rested her hands on the counter and shifted her weight. “I figure I pretty much know why. The dark fae made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
“Well then, don’t you at least care what this dark fae is up to?”
She let out a low, easy laugh. “Ronin, you should know by now that I’m not into all this political bullshit. I only care when I’m paid to care.”
Ronin stared at her, aghast at her callous words. How could she be so fucking shallow? He opened his mouth to spit out a blazing retort, but the challenge in her eyes stopped him cold.