Surreal

Killian

Tommaso arrived so soon after I called him that I distantly expected police sirens on his tail. Having him back here was strange. He and Paige had been over for a few dinners since the Egypt incident, but it felt like old time to meet him in the entryway and lead him back to my office. The shadows on his face reminded me just how different his home was, how much time I’d spent there with him behind the big desk. Seeing him settle down across from me in his old chair called back old habits. I watched light shine through my drink onto my desk.

“I’ve been patient,” Tom said. “Let you do your whole scary set-up. Now, you have to tell me who your successor is.”

What an odd thing to have. I never really expected to leave this desk behind. But with Sera, I wanted more for the first time. A life where she didn’t have to look over her shoulder. Time.

“I thought for a long time,” I said.

“And it’s me, right?” He grinned. “You figured I could probably run two whole syndicates without mis