Not even thirty seconds later, my phone rings. Ethan’s new number lights the screen, and cold dread takes up residence in my stomach.
“You may answer it,” Harold says, thinking I’m hesitating because I’m waiting for instruction.
“Hey,” I say into the phone, feeling awkward in front of the room full of NIHA agents.
“Is everything all right?” Ethan asks, concerned. “You’ve never contacted me before.”
I’ve had a few hours to plan what I’m going to say, but I still feel like I’m about to step on stage and didn’t study my script.
“Did you make it back to your friends all right?” I ask, very aware everyone in the room is listening to the conversation.
“I did.” He pauses. “Is that why you called? To see if I’m okay?”
He sounds pleased.
“That and…I think we need to talk. Even though you visited my stand every week, and we went on that brief date, I really don’t know you—and you don’t really know me.”
“I would like nothing more than to get to know you better, Piper,” he says earnestly. “Ask me anything.”
I look at Noah, widening my eyes. He shrugs, silently telling me to make something up. Harold’s men stare at their computers, doing…I don’t know. Techy things. Harold lifts his hand, gesturing for me to keep the conversation rolling.
“Why…why did you ask Sam to infect me?”
Ethan chuckles, and from the sound of it, I think he’s settling in somewhere, preparing for a nice long chat. “You’re a smart girl, Piper. You already know the answer to your question.”
“All right. Then why me? You’re rich. You’re handsome—” Thanks to my nerves, I almost laugh when revulsion passes over Noah’s face, but I manage to hold it back. “You could have any girl you like. Certainly, one who’s a lot less trouble.”
“You’re no trouble, my love. I had time to do a lot of thinking in prison. I know the only reason we’re not together is because I handled the first transmission badly. I scared you—and for that, I am deeply sorry. If I could go back in time and do it again, please know I would handle it differently. My hope is that you can eventually forgive me—that you’ll learn to trust me.” He sighs like it’s something that’s been weighing on his mind. “But I believe we’re already on the right path. I’m so glad you called me, Piper.”
One of the men seated at the computers gives Harold a thumbs up, and Harold rolls his hand, giving me permission to wrap up the conversation.
Unsure how to go about that, I lower my voice. “Montgomery is coming—I have to go.”
“I’ll talk to you soon,” he promises. “Don’t be a stranger, all right?”
I make a noncommittal noise, saying goodbye, and then end the call.
“He’s at a cafe in Little Havana,” the man who gave Harold the thumbs-up says.
“We’ll get hunters over there and then follow him back to Alfred.” Harold turns to Noah. “We’ll let you know as soon as we have a location.”
“I’ll go with them,” Cassian says. He then turns to Noah. “You best stay with Piper.”
“Call as soon as you know something,” Noah says. “And don’t do anything stupid by yourself.”
Looking mildly amused, Cassian says, “So it’s all right if I do something stupid as long as you’re with me?”
I catch Noah’s eye, giving him a stern look.
Grinning, he chooses not to answer Cassian. Instead, he says to me, “Let’s get something to eat. It’s probably going to be a long night.”
One of the men steps forward as we’re leaving, extending his hand to Noah. “It was good to meet you, Mr. York.”
“You as well. Thank you for your assistance.”
“Let us know if you need anything else,” Harold says.
“Will do.”
