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I nod with reluctance

How long will you allow yourself to cut corners forshe needs to know," I say looking back at her

Then I takethis work," Victor says

How long will you take the alternate route just to keep me out of har this tyrant down," I add

How long…?

And I will do whatever Victor asks of e part of me wants to be the one on the inside Not because I feel the need to prove o instead ofto do with jealousy, or reckless determination; I want to be the one because I spent nine years ofthese men and I feel that if any mission should be mine, it’s this one

"In the meanti the changes made in this Order, Nora will be your new partner"

I nod with acceptance

"And I’ll continue to train you while I ith you," Nora says

"The two of you will go on several ether before the mission in Mexico," Victor says "You will focus on your currentfor Mexico just the same"

Quiet falls over the room as each of us think about the road ahead

"And what about Niklas?" I ask, deter all of these missions without his between my brother and me have been resolved, it’s best to assureement

The five of us spend the next thirtythe details of our futurean early start on Mexico It’s very strange sitting at this table without Dorian and Niklas And with Nora, instead I miss Dorian’s sarcasm and ridiculous co way but never do And I hts with Niklas and his cold stares and the stink of his cigarettes lingering on his jacket

Finally, when thecomes to a close, Fredrik stands from the table

All of us look at hi only at Victor, "I have somewhere I need to be"

"And what could you possibly have to do?" Nora asks, her voice laced with taunt, her dark red lips spreading into a grin "A man as cold as you are can’t possibly have any kind of life outside of this Order" She smiles sweetly, wickedly

Fredrik and Nora rarely speak to each other, but every now and then, her taunting personality gets aith her Yesterday she brought up how he couldn’t break her and how she’s now the second woet a reaction from him--I really have no idea why she’d want one--but Fredrik is, as always, unfazed by her taunts

So far

He takes his briefcase from the table