Page 41 of Dawn Caravan
“I don’t—”
“It can be both, by the way. You can hate someone you love.”
Ben stared at the lights over the city, enjoying the drip of cold water that fell down his neck. “She said that she needed to be here. That the job is dangerous and something about it feels off.”
“Okay.” Brigid hummed a little. “Are you wanting my advice?”
Ben took a long breath and let it out. “Yes.” He trusted Brigid. On a personal and a professional level.
“My advice is that if she thinks something is sideways about the job, you work with her. It’s not personal, to quote a gangster movie, it’s business. As far as your security goes, is there anyone you trust more?”
That was a loaded question. “Now that I have fangs, I guess not.”
“Then you have your answer. You don’t go into a fight with one hand tied—don’t go into this job without all your assets. And she’s an asset. As for what’s between you two personally?”
“Yeah?”
“Set a boundary. This job and then you’re quit. Make her agree to it, and don’t budge. This is the last job that was a holdover from before. She’s got until the end of it to sort things out between you or say goodbye.”
“And that’s it?”
“I mean, you’re going to live for who knows how many years, Ben. Might be worth it to keep a little bit of the bridge unburned if you know what I mean.”
He shook his head. “How do you deal with it?”
“Which part?”
“The living-forever thing.” Ben felt his throat closing up. “I never—”
“Aye, that was a sticking point for me too.” Her voice got soft. “All I can say is… there’s one or two things about your life that remind me of mine. And avoiding my problems never did me much good in the end.”
“You think I’m avoiding something?”
“Yes, and before you ask, it’s not my job to tell you. You probably need a therapist.”
“Thanks for the advice I won’t take.”
“You’re welcome.” Someone called her name in the background. “Need to go. Call me in a week, lad, or you’ll have me following you too. By the way, the fella and I may be heading to New York in the fall. Right! Laters.”
Brigid hung up before he could get another word in. Ben stuffed his phone in his pocket and stared across the city.
Trying to have a conversation with Brigid was usually like jumping into a minor tornado for a moment, then jumping out naked and trying to figure out where all your clothes had blown off to.
Work with Tenzin for this job. Check. Fine. He could compartmentalize as well as the next guy.
Set boundaries, but don’t burn bridges.Fine. That was all fine. Good advice.
Brigid thought he was avoiding something?
Tenzin. He was avoiding Tenzin.
Because you love her or you hate her?
Both?
How about because she’d betrayed him? She’d broken a promise.
Were we supposed to be disappointed that she saved your life?
