“Go ahead.”
“I have been told by my superiors that I need to ask this without influencing you in any way. What you have lived through is unspeakable. You have your own life to live now, and I imagine you feel like you have a lot of catching up to do. My question is whether you would still consider being an official part of our team—”
Despite my tiredness, I sit up at that remark. “Yes! Of course. I alreadyama part of the team.”
“This would be your choice, not an order. And you know there will be dangerous situations—?”
“Dr Romano, why are youasking? You know my answer. I consider you and the team family. And I am never more alive than when we’re working together.”
Romano’s smile seems to combine happiness with relief. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone again, and swipes his thumb across the display. Somebody else has been listening in.
“Good. In which case, we need to get you back on your feet. Lorenzo has convinced me that you should have at least a month to recuperate. And I believe he already has plans to help you do this. I will wait until I have all members of my team in place before I set your next assignment.”
Lorenzo is serious, nodding repeatedly, but I know him well enough to recognise the joy in his eyes.
“Lorenzo is a tough negotiator,” says Romano. “I would never normally agree to a whole month. You should remember that in case—”
“Can you never stay out of trouble?” comes a familiar voice. A grinning Josh strides into my bedroom, trailed by Nishan, indifferent to our private conversation. Mrs Bellacci stands behind them in the doorway. She must have escorted them to my room. “And tell me. Is it my lot in life to constantly bail you out? If so, we need to seriously review this friendship contract.”
“How are you, Josh?” I ask, matching his grin.
“Darn sight better than you, by the looks of things.”
He is about to launch himself onto the bed and throw his arms around me when Lorenzo lunges from his seat and restrains him.
“Whoa, calm down, buddy,” says Josh. “I’m not the enemy. What’s with this guy, Gabe?”
“He can be a little overprotective,” I say, and can’t help smiling. “Lorenzo, it’s okay. This is Josh, my old friend.”
“You must be careful with him,” says Lorenzo, gently pushing Josh away. “He is still recovering.”
“That is correct,” says Romano.
Josh steps back, hands held aloft in surrender. Nishan chuckles and approaches him, placing an arm around his shoulder.
“Sorry, everyone,” says Nishan. “We haven’t seen or heard from Gabe in a while. My boyfriend can be a little over-exuberant sometimes.”
I point a finger at Lorenzo, then at Josh, largely for Nishan’s benefit.
“Pot, meet kettle.”
Nishan laughs, and Josh thumps him on the arm. Lorenzo moves out of the way and allows them to sit at my bedside. Mrs Bellacci comes over, fusses with my pillow, and smooths creases from the bedsheet before checking my temperature with a palm to my forehead like a worried mother.
“You eat the soup? Better than medicine.”
“I’ve missed your cooking, Mrs B.”
“Yes, well. You get better now. Okay? We have much work to do.”
After a brief final inspection, she steps away from the bed. She smooths her hands down her apron, seeming almost embarrassed at her display of affection, but I notice Lorenzo grinning in the background.
Josh quickly fills the silence, telling me about him and Nishan. His voice is calming when he tells me about their regular lives and everyday problems. When he breaks the news that Callico House has been sold to a property developer, I look at Romano, who nods his endorsement. On cue, Coleman strolls into the room to join the crowd and the conversation. He confirms what Josh said and explains how Romano got him involved.
“I felt way out of my depth, but if you think Sylvie and Romano are persuasive individually, together they are impossible to refuse. You know I truly have never have—”
“Fired a gun before. I know. Maybe Mrs Bellacci could give you a few lessons while you’re here.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I’ll stick to my little honey. That baby managed to immobilise the guard without doing any permanent damage. I’d already had that idea, by the way, before you called me honey.”