Page 122 of The Boss
She shrugs, “He’s your blood. If I haven’t made it clear, we need you, Luna.”
A thrill runs through me at that, but I school my face and say, “I…I have questions.”
She steps back into the living area, a knowing smile on her face. “About one million of them, yes?”
“Uh, yeah, you could say that,” I say, probably a little too heavy on the sarcasm.
“Go ahead, but you do need to rest. We have a few days for orientation.”
“First, why cave? I gesture around, “This is literally the opposite of a cave.”
She nods and sits on the sofa armrest, “The cave was the first iteration of our headquarters. It still exists. Robbie lives there. That’s where we raised the boys, grew our infrastructureand made connections. But the training grounds, the academy we had, the bunkhouses and everything Van grew up with sits empty now. Used for storage.”
“Why?”
“Our needs changed, times changed. And Owen—though he’ll never admit it, and you didn’t hear it from me—does actually age. He grew tired, couldn’t keep training the young recruits.”
“Huh. Andcave,that’s the name of…us?”
She shakes her head, “No. More like, a creed.”
“Okay?” I drag the word out but she doesn’t explain.
“Goodnight, Lu,” she pushes up to stand. “I think Lu suits you. L-o-u. You’ll need a new name, of course. But Lou can be short for Louise, Louellen. Owen suggested Lucius, could go by Lucy for short.”
I recoil, “That’s a man’s name.”
“That’s what I told him you’d say. Think about it and let me know in the morning, yes? You can’t be Luna anymore,” with that, she says goodnight and leaves.
“Shit,” I whisper, “Should’ve read the fine print, I guess, huh?” I ask Marlon. But he’s already asleep. “Really, a few treats and new digs is all it takes? Weak, Marlon.”
I can’t stay mad at him though. His bed looks warm and fluffy and is just his size. I walk around the sunken living room to the bedroom at the back. The bed is giant and looks as lovely as my dog’s. I yawn and stretch and then curse.
As if summoned by my pain, a little old man hobbles into the apartment. I walk back to the kitchen area where Allie and I entered and see a stooped pale old man in a suit with a tray.
“Your medicine, miss, and your dinner,” he says.
“Gordon?”
“Indeed,” his British accent is thick and I swear he could be Michael Cane from the same Batman movie that had Morgan Freeman in it.
“I’m Luna, nice to meet you.”
He smiles politely, “Not anymore, I’m afraid. You’ll be needing a new name, now.”
“Oh. Right. I guess this isn’t your first rodeo with a newbie?”
“Hardly,” he says as he starts to empty everything from his rolling cart out onto the dining nook table. “I was there when Command chose their new names for themselves.”
“Owen and Allie?”
“That’s how you know them, yes.”
I study the man. “So do you know what the hellCavemeans?”
“I do. And you will too. In time.”
I groan. “C’mon Gordon. Throw me a bone, here.”
