Page 29 of Wild Return
“Look, I’m coming up your way this weekend,” Paulie says. “I’ll stop in and we can talk in person.”
“All right,” I agree. “I’ll see you then.”
14
SYDNEY
The clubroom buzzes with conversation as I twirl the pasta salad with my fork.
“You going to eat that or play with it?” Nate nudges me with his elbow, and my fork skitters across my plate. It lands on the edge of my plate, and a piece of pasta rolls off it and onto the table.
“Play with it.”
My neck prickles, and I glance up to find Viking staring at me from across the room. He has a pitcher of ale in one hand and looks as miserable as I feel.
But I’m not going to let him see that.
I sit up straight and scoop a forkful of pasta into my mouth. I turn to my brother and force a smile as I chew the pasta and swallow it down with a large gulp of wine.
Nate says something about a new kind of coffee bean he’s trying and I laugh loudly, earning a confused look from my bother. But damned if I’ll let Viking see he’s hurt me again.
I worked from home all week, feigning a lingering cold. But I couldn’t miss the club dinner.
It must only be a few days until Viking leaves, and then I can get back to my life. My lonely life.
I push the thought from my head and try for another mouthful of pasta.
The front door to the restaurant bursts open, and a man I don’t recognize strides in. He’s wearing tan chinos and heavy boots, and his hair’s cut in a buzz-cut.
Obviously military, but by the murmurs that ripple around the room, I’d say he’s not an expected guest.
The man strides straight over to Viking followed by a woman in camo pants and a headscarf.
“You’re a hard man to track down.” The stranger’s voice booms over the stilled conversation.
Viking frowns and shakes his head. “You’re wasting your time, Paulie.”
But he’s not looking at the man. He’s looking at me. “I told you; I’m staying.”
The man chuckles. “They all say that at first.” The woman steps forward, and she holds out a brown envelope and some paperwork that I take to be the contract.
“Here’s a sign-on bonus. And I’ll triple the danger pay.”
The room goes silent, and all eyes are on Viking. Barrels sets his fork down, and Nate stiffens next to me.
“Six months, Chris. It’s the easiest money you’ll even make.” Viking stares at the envelope and swallows.
He takes the contract, and my body sags. I put my elbows on the table, and my head sinks into my hands. Viking’s really leaving, and my heart breaks all over again.
The sound of paper tearing has my head jerking upwards.
Viking stares straight at me as he rips the contract into pieces. “I left once, and I’m not leaving again.”
Paulie’s eyes go wide. “This is life-changing money. You’d be a fool not to take it.”
Without breaking eye contact, he flings the scraps of paper into the air. “And I’d be a fool to leave.”
The paper flutters down around him to the floor.
