“Contact her, Miles.”
“Is that fair, Lil?”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t give a rat’s if it was fair. If you care about her and want her in your life, fight for her, Miles.”
I rested my elbows on the table and looked into my sister’s eyes. “What do I have to offer Pia? What kind of life?” I spoke barely above a whisper, but when Lily’s eyes filled with tears, I knew she heard me.
“Everything, Miles. All you have to do is want it.”
Rather than going straight back to the hospital when our lunch ended, I walked around London, eventually making my way to the hotel where Pia showed me my life wasn’t over in the way I’d believed it was.
I walked inside, over to the bar, and ordered a pint. Lily didn’t say Pia was staying here, and if she had, I couldn’t say for certain I’d be here.
I found an empty table and sat with my head in my hands. Was Lily right? Could Pia and I be together? How? I could never ask her to leave Valentini, and even if I did, what kind of life could I promise her?
Of the four Invincible partners, only Decker was in a relationship, but then his base had always been in Texas, where he and his wife lived. How many other agents did I know who were in relationships? Not many.
The ones I’d worked with at SIS, who I knew were married, had mostly retired, but wasn’t I also retired? Wasn’t part of being independent being able to accept missions as well as decline them?
My mobile vibrated, and I pulled it out of my pocket.
“I’m at the hospital, waiting for your return,” said Rile.
“I’d no idea you were in town.”
“Lynx said you left some time ago.”
“I stopped for a pint.”
“Where?”
I gave Rile the name of the hotel, which wasn’t more than a ten-minute walk away. “We could meet elsewhere. There’s obviously something urgent—”
“I’m on my way.”
The call ended. What in the bloody hell?
I’d never quite been able to figure Rile out; the man was an enigma. When he’d brush his bottom lip with the tip of his finger, or smile in that weird way he did, there were times I could swear he was reading my mind. I shuddered at the thought, given there were plenty of instances when the only thing on my mind was what a wanker he could be.
He walked in and sat across the table from me. Within seconds, the barmaid approached to take his order. I shook my head. I hadn’t seen her walk from behind the bar a single time since I arrived, and there were plenty of tables waiting.
“I’ll have what he’s having.”
When she walked away, Rile’s gaze remained on her arse. When she was out of sight, he turned to me and smiled.
“How are you, Grinder?”
“As well as can be expected.”
“Edge will regain full use of his arm.”
“Yeah? Can you see into the future, Rile?”
“At times,” he answered without missing a beat.
“What about me? What will I be doing say…a year from now?”
He raised a brow, rested his arms on the table, and leaned forward. “I don’t think you’re ready for me to tell you, but soon, you might be.”