Page 152 of The Lazarus Protocol

He made a choking sound, but when she looked over, he seemed to be laughing. “Sorry?”

“What do you expect me to say?”

“Not sorry.”

Steph blew out a breath, trying not to be irritated when she should be happy she had her father back now.

He clasped her hand, his veins visible through pale skin, his nails yellowed and broken. She studied his face, and the lines embedded beside his mouth. The flat expression in his eyes and the dark shadow of beard on the lower half of his face. His hair was threaded with gray between the almost-black strands.

His fingers tightened around hers. “There is nothing to apologize for. Not when you’ve been protecting me your whole life.”

Steph didn’t know what to say, so she just sat there on the bench beside his wheelchair and held on to his hand.

“I know the deal you made with the CIA to keep them from questioning me.”

But he didn’t explain whether it had worked, or if they kept up their end of the bargain.

He continued, “I know you only became a spy to protect me. And that’s exactly what you have done. I’m free now, because of you.”

“I think you might not be the only one who is free.” Steph closed her eyes for a second, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face in a way she hadn’t for a long time. Then she opened her eyes again. “But that doesn’t mean it’s over.”

“Thomas Kraus is dead.”

“It was him, the whole time?” She might already know the answer, but it had to be asked.

“For years, yes. He had me in a secret facility. I don’t know where it was, but I have enough ideas to piece together a general area, if someone that is not me wants to try and find it.”

Steph shook her head. “I don’t think I do, but the team might be interested. Were there other prisoners?”

“If there were, I never saw them.” He closed his eyes to the sky. “It’s been a long time since I saw the sun.”

Her fingers flexed around his.

“But now I can see it whenever I want.”

“I’ll get you some sunscreen.”

He chuckled. “I would like it if you could deliver it personally. I don’t trust the world now, and all these package deliveries I’m hearing about.”

“I can do that.”

“I don’t expect you to be here much, though. You’ll be busy with your work.”

“Maybe. Once I figure out what I’m going to do.” She had come here intent on being truthful, figuring he hadn’t had much of that for a long time. “The CIA offered me my job back. Full reinstatement, and a bonus. I’m keeping the money either way, but I’m not sure that I want to work for them. Not anymore.”

“Thinking about joining a certain team?” He shifted in the chair but didn’t quite turn his head far enough to see behind them. “And a certain gentleman?”

Adam wasn’t close enough to be able to hear them.

“Perhaps.” She smiled. “I like that word. It has a lot of hope, and possibilities.”

“Both of which have been in short supply for us.”

She had to agree with that.

He squeezed her hand.

“Do you want to talk about Vesper?” Steph shifted on the bench so she could turn to him. “Past explaining how she died, we haven’t said much about her.”