“Oh, Boy,” Dresden says, breaking the silence.
Agent Morris jumps, the color draining from his face. “Yes, sir?”
Morris is a good-looking kid. No wonder Sorina follows him around. He’s tall, a little shorter than Blake, muscular but still slim. All short blonde hair and baby blue eyes with a natural tan. The kid could be a model instead of an Interpol agent.
“You know our codenames?”
“Yes, sir. You’re known as Python. Agent Williams is the infamous Viper.” Awe and admiration are evident in his tone.
“Do you know anything about pythons and vipers?” The glint in Dresden’s eyes is murderous.
“Uh, no, sir.”
“Look it up sometime. Then you’ll know how we got those names.”
“Uncle Dresden, he hasn’t done anything wrong,” Sorina whispers.
“Good. Let’s make sure we keep it that way.”
Sorina huffs, resting her elbow on the doorframe and her chin on her knuckles. I shake my head in sad amusement. She’s taken on a lot of Blake’s mannerisms in my absence, including his strength and smart mouth. They’re supposed to be my family, but my chest constricts because to them, I’m nothing but an outsider now. My choices changed me, and my disappearance changed them.
†††
I’m not sure what kind of house they had in Australia, but the new one is more extravagant than people in witness protection need. It’s a brick rancher with sixteen bedrooms. It’s meant for surveillance though. Bulletproof windows and doors, every two bedrooms adjoin. Witness and agent can be only a few feet from each other with privacy.
The whole interior is dark wood and earth tones. Open floor plan with foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen, sunroom with piano, and a game room. It’s twice the size of Blake’s old apartment.
Seriously? This is fucking ridiculous.
“Alright, everyone in the living room,” I say.
“Lily and I are giving out room assignments that way everyone is covered. There’ll be no arguments, understood,” Dresden says, letting go of Shannon’s hand to join me.
Everyone nods.
“I’m with Blake. Our adjoining room will remain unoccupied. Same goes for the room adjoining Shannon and Dresden’s room. Sorina will share a suite with Agent Morris. Remember what we said in the car, Agent.”
His face turns red, but he nods, holding my gaze and then Dresden’s.
“Dr. and Mrs. Mason will share a suite with Vlad. Teresa will be with Agent Johanson. Sammi you’ve got a suite to yourself, take the one closest to the tech office. Jameson and Rhett, you two will share as well.”
“Lily,” Vlad’s voice is tight as he steps forward.
“Yeah?”
“Who will cover Shannon and Blake while you and Dresden are gone on Bates’ side missions?”
I’ve anticipated this question, knowing Johanson will want to be my alternative. “You will cover Blake, Vlad. Rhett will cover Shannon.”
Vlad smiles a mischievous, Cheshire Cat-type smile, and I can’t help but return it. Agent Johanson’s eyes are stuck on Blake, her cheeks turning the color of blood. Jealousy sweeps through my body, turning my good mood into a dark abyss.
“Agent Johanson,” I say stepping toward her.
She glares at me, her hatred evident, and her jaw tight. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Put your eyes back in your head, you’re starting to piss me off again.”
She stalks from the room, slamming the front door behind her.