“For?”
“Not realizing you would need more.” Her gaze was on the bottle of pills in my hand.
“I don’t want to need more, Pia.”
She stepped closer and put her arms around me. “Tell me what I can do, Mylos.”
I led her over to the sofa and sat beside her. “I’m going to contact Carson and see if he can arrange for me to get into a treatment program.” With wide eyes, she hung on my every word. “It will need to be at an in-patient facility.”
“Okay.”
“I know you need to get back to Valentini, but if there is any way you could stay until I’ve spoken with Carson…”
“I will stay, Mylos. As long as you need me to.”
The next morning, Pia and I hired a car from the hotel. We drove together to the Wellington Rehabilitation Centre, where Carson stood outside, waiting.
“Thank you, Pia,” I said before kissing her, long and hard. “You gave me my life back.”
“Mylos, I—”
I kissed away her words. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Sì. Soon.”
12
Grinder
Two Years Later
London, England
“You’re better suited staying with MI5,” said Z Alexander. As disappointed as I was not to be promoted to a position in Military Intelligence Section 6, I wouldn’t complain. Not to Z, not to anyone. I was lucky to work here at all. SIS had taken a big chance on me eighteen months ago when I finished rehab, and I appreciated the opportunity.
“Thank you, sir,” I said when Z picked up a file on his desk and began thumbing through it. When he nodded, I stood and walked out.
“Well?” asked Edge, waiting for me.
“Remaining with MI5.”
“I’m staying put too.”
I raised a brow and studied him. “Why?”
“Z’s decision, mate.”
“That’s bloody bullshit.” I slammed past him. Instead of waiting for the lift, I took the stairs. When I got to street level, Edge was waiting for me. “I don’t need a fucking nursemaid,” I seethed.
“Did it occur to you that this wasn’t my choice?”
“Sod off.” What I wanted more than anything was a pint, but since Edge would just follow me, I stalked in the direction of my flat. As I expected, he remained by my side the entire way.
When we arrived at my building, he followed me upstairs. Had I really expected him to do differently? I handed him a beer and sat down.
“I know you’re brassed off, but look at it this way, our careers have always followed the same path. How is this any different than both of us being accepted to Monckton, or getting the same intel assignment?”
“You could do better,” I muttered, watching as he took a long drink.