A flash of impatience in amber eyes. “You think I give a damn about his power? You think I can’t push back just as hard? Jesus Christ, Carlos, how the hell do you think I stayed alive until you showed up? I took care of myself, my mother too, okay? So don’t give me any shit about how Dominic Knight can take me down. He can’t.”
“Just be sensible. That’s all I’m saying. This lady won’t be around long.”
“We’re engaged.”
“Jesus. Are you high?”
Rafe grimaced. “I wish I had that excuse.” He blew out a breath. “Let’s just say I’m not ready to let her go.” He slid down on his spine, sighed, looked up from under his lashes, held a finger up. “I’m going to try to explain something, so just listen.” He kept his voice even, as though the undercurrent of emotion was so strong he had to fight against it. “You know those video game images or fantasy stories where a band of men, hunters, warriors, are traveling across a barren landscape—some gray, endless dystopia? Anyway, I have this picture in my head where I come up on a single flower blooming in this vast wasteland of dark skies and gathering clouds. The flower is blue, delicate, and fragile, and I just want to stand there for a few minutes and take in the rare beauty. So I’m going to just stop and look, drink in the goddamn perfection for a few minutes. Okay? I’ll start walking again when I have to, when staying longer will risk having the flower trampled by my enemies. But till then we have enough men to protect Nicole.” He looked up. “I know what we’re up against. She’ll have to leave soon.”
Carlos nodded. “A week, ten days at the most—maybe two weeks if Zou has to protect his flank before he attacks. After Ganz’s defection, he’s got other enemies besides us. So this time he’s not going to stop until someone above his pay grade decides it’s not worth losing another man or we manage to cut off the head and the monster dies.”
“Or we do.”
“Yeah.”
Having survived years of punitive emotional and physical trials, Rafe viewed the world with a certain fatalism. You did all you could until that option was gone. “Mother and Anton are competent,” he said, shrugging off extermination. “The business will be fine. And Anton can protect Mother.” Both men knew Anton’s background; neither were naïve about his capabilities. Rafe shoved himself upright in his chair. “So first things first—total security for Nicole. No half measures.” He smiled faintly. “You taught me well.”
“You were in charge of your life long before I showed up. I’d never seen such an accomplished and aware twelve-year-old.”
“Survival.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Rafe glanced at his watch. “So everything clear then?”
“One last thing. Shanghai’s going to be the mother of all mothers. You know that, right?”
“They have been for a while. We could have lost a fortune in R and D a dozen times in the last few years. Except for Ganz. It’s time to pay him back.”
“You’ve been paying him.”
“This is different. They killed Ganz’s father. Ganz loved him.” Rafe’s head came up a fraction and he held Carlos’s gaze full on. “I envy the feeling.”
A couple seconds stare back, then a nod. “Okay. But if you get Nicole back from Knight, you can’t stay here. It’s too hard to defend.”
“We’ll go to Split.”
“ASAP.”
“Yes.” Rafe reached for the phone. “If Gina can get me in, I’ll explain to Knight that he’s still the lead wolf, I mean him no disrespect, and when he’s smiling again, Nicole and I will leave. See that a plane’s ready.”
Both eyebrows up, a lighter tone. “You’re a spoiled shit,” Carlos said. “He’s going to see right through that.”
“Yeah, I know.” Rafe grinned. “That’s when I tell him he’s right and we start talking. And admit it—without me to manage you’d be bored out of your mind. Chasing women and gambling gets old and you know it.”
“Did I ever say I was tired of either?”
“You’re an adrenaline junkie. Too much tail and cards gets monotonous. You fucking need me to feed your high.”
Carlos came to his feet and cracked a smile. “Sometimes—maybe. Keep in touch. I’m going to send enough troops to Split to secure the place.”
After Carlos left, Rafe shot a glance at Simon, who was lounging on the sofa, a drink resting on his chest. “No friendly advice?”