Page 126 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“Sir?” George had asked in confusion.

“I need to get to the airport as fast as you can get me there.”

A slow smile spread on George’s face at Graves’s instruction. He’d driven for people who wanted him to do shady shit, but never anyone who wanted him to floor it to the airport. Could he get in trouble for that? Did he care?

“Yes, sir,” he said smoothly.

He put the car into Drive and his foot to the floor. Someone was following them. Someone was shooting at them. He was pretty sure that something was blowing up in the distance. Was that the location they’d just left?

Not enough time for questions. Airport was all that had mattered. And he’d gotten there in record time. Not even a cop on their tail, miraculously. He’d followed Graves’s directions to the private runway he’d rented for his jet and George had driven out onto the tarmac.

He’d calmly turned around with a wide smile, his heart beating to the tempo of the chase. “Was there anything else you require, sir?”

Graves had tilted his head at him. He’d assessed him,seen something there, something he’d appreciated. He’d offered George a job, a bargain, a life.

George had taken the deal and never looked back. Sure, while much of his job was still shuttling around a billionaire, there were times when he’d gotten to race in Monte Carlo or fly through Thailand or surf in Tahiti, and he’d known it was all worth it. Today proved it all over again. The adrenaline still hummed in his veins from the chase.

“What would you like me to do, sir?” George asked once Graves arrived at their location.

Graves ran a rough hand through his hair. He looked for all the world as if he truly had no idea.

“Can you trade for a coin?” George asked.

“They won’t trade with me.” He said it resolutely, as if he already knew that it was impossible. “I’ll eat the goblin fruit.”

Laz choked. “Boss, that’s a death sentence.”

“It’s worse for humans,” Graves said. “Magic users can fend it off better.”

Edgar glanced at George and shook his head once. George cleared his throat. “Sir, she’s already ten minutes ahead of you.”

“I have the tracker’s signal. I’ll be able to find her.”

He was serious. He was going to go in after her. Graves knew the consequences if he ate the fruit. He’d always had a coin nearby to get in—they had another back at the brownstone—but there was no time to return home.

“You don’t know that she’s in any danger,” George said slowly.

Graves shot him a death look. “Themarketis the danger.”

“Immediate danger,” he amended. “And you trusted her to get this far. Trust her to come back out.”

“He’s right, sir,” Edgar agreed.

Laz nodded. “I’d go in there to back her up in a heartbeat, but you know she doesn’t need it. Not after what I just witnessed.”

“Then you’ve never been in the market,” he growled.

“But we know her,” George argued.

Graves looked between them as if he couldn’t quite believe that his staff was disagreeing with him. It had neverexpresslyhappened before. They had opinions, of course, but they generally let Graves do whatever was in his best interest.

This was not.

“You believe I should just stand here…and wait?” he asked gravely.

It was obvious that went against his sensibilities. He was clouded by his feelings for Kierse. It was a welcome change, but under the circumstances, George didn’t want to have to find a new boss.

Not that anyone would be able to put Graves back together if somethingdidhappen to Kierse.

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