Page 64 of Code Name: Typhon
I buried my face in his neck when all he said settled on my heart. I’d felt alone for so long, even with Niven in my life, and I yearned to have someone care about me the way Levi was saying he did. As hard as it was to trust he spoke the truth, deep inside, I believed he did. I wanted to believe.
He stood with me in his arms and walked to the lift. The farther we went, the harder I cried. Even when he rested me on the bed, he didn’t let go. He somehow eased his body next to mine and wrapped himself around me.
“I will carry your sorrow, Eliza. I will bear your pain and suffering. I will celebrate your successes, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy, starting now and until the day I die.”
“I so want to believe you.”
“Every day we spend together, even those we don’t, you’ll see proof of what I just said. Those words are my vow to you. Whether it was by fate or some higher power, we were meant to meet. Me to protect you. You to give my life meaning. You soothe my pain just by being with me. Your touch heals wounds I didn’t realize I had.”
I leaned back and unfastened the buttons of his shirt I wore, then got on my knees. “Let me,” I said when Levi put his hands on the waist of his shorts. I removed them from his body and made love to him.
20
TYPHON
We had a full week together when our only interruptions from the outside world were when we needed to check in. El called Saint a couple of times, and I checked in with my team via email, relieved to hear everyone was present and accounted for.
Oleander was her usual unpleasant self, but rather than get angry about it, I shrugged my shoulders and let it go. The day would come when she’d be forced to confide her vendetta, even if only after AMPS had been taken down. No amount of prodding or threatening her had worked thus far, so why continue putting energy into something I had no power over? She knew as well as I did that it would take more than this investigation for me to burn her.
The only call I’d made was to Z, and after I had, I regretted it.
“Nemesis has requested I pass on a message to you.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Typhon—”
“Are you aware that she demanded I check in with her? I didn’t bother reminding her I didn’t answer to her. If the time comes when Coffey suggests I do, I will leave SIS.”
“A bit extreme, wouldn’t you say?”
“Tell me, would you have jumped if she told you to? You, who is her boss’ boss?”
Z sighed. “I was. I’m not any longer. Nemesis works for the UN.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I pressed.
“It would depend on the situation. At times, I would accept her as my commander, particularly if I’m working on an investigation she owns.”
“I am not. I have three Unit-23ers who I have graciously allowed to assist the coalition. That is the extent of my involvement. She has pushed the boundaries of even that by insisting my team report any and all findings to her.”
“Typhon, you are my friend and colleague. While I can understand, even empathize with your plight, I ask you to consider the bigger picture. The work of the coalition will not end when they take down AMPS. Human trafficking will not end. The cause is noble and necessary.”
“I hear you, Z, and only out of respect for you will I play nicer.”
He chuckled. “Glad to hear it. By the way, you sound different. I’m assuming you’re in Portugal. If being there brings about this more relaxed version of you, I highly recommend you spend more time there.”
Unsure of Eliza’s whereabouts, I stepped outside to continue the call. “I’m not here alone, Z.”
“I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear it.”
“You may not be when you find out who I’m with.”
“Go on.”
“Does the name Eliza Fox mean anything to you?”
Z didn’t speak, but I could hear noise in the background.