“But…this goes against everything you stand for. Why would you…” I shake my head, “Oh, no, hell no, you don’t get to use me as an excuse to do this.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“But this is…Tobias. This is conformity!” I shriek. “No.” I snap at Tobias before turning to Tyler with another emphatic, “No.”
“Told you she would hate it,” Tobias says, a barely perceptible smile on his lips.
“Monroe is only going to be in office for seven more years at most” I remind him, “and then what?”
Tobias shrugs. “Then we’ll have a lot to accomplish during that time. This can’t last forever.”
“And what about the others, what about—”
“They’ll come around, or they can kick fucking rocks,” Tyler speaks up. “This isn’t selling out, Cecelia. This is next level. It wouldn’t be a new CIA or anything. Don’t jump to conclusions. But if there’s a way for us to evolve without further risk, then it’s worth exploring. We want to change and work with a government we can trust. That’s the whole point of all of this. And if it’s temporary, which history guarantees it will be, we’ll do what we can, while we can. If I didn’t think it was a good idea, I wouldn’t have put it on the table. Right now, we’re in the position to write our own rules.”
“I don’t understand. Why now?” But I know the answer. I look to Tyler, widening my eyes at him and mouth, ‘what the fuck?’ His features remain impassive as he stares back at me.
“It will work out. Trust me.”
I shake my head and turn my attention to Tobias. “Don’t do this. You don’t have to.”
“We do have to, Trésor.”
“I’m not a fucking treasure, or a delicate rose, or a shrinking violet or a damsel in distress, or a fucking mouse! I’m just as capable as either of you and as soon as I’m able, I’m going to kick both your asses!”
They burst into laughter as I cross my arms, fury rolling through me.
“Spoken like a true queen,” Tobias muses.
“Please don’t do this for me,” I beg. Angry tears threaten. “Neither of you will be my fucking hero for this.”
“Again,” Tobias points to his chest, “Villain.”
“Yeah, such a horrible man. How much will you lose for me?”
“Everything,” he says without hesitation. “But this isn’t about losing.”
“Please don’t put this on me.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
Hope springs inside of me.
“I’ll do it for Sean. He’s got another baby on the way.” All my objections cease. He didn’t deliver the news with the intent to hurt me, but the long look we share tells me he’s afraid it might.
“Cecelia,” Tyler says, taking my attention away. “I promise you. This is a good thing.”
I swallow and stare at the two of them, knowing it’s happening with or without my support.
“You’ve worked your whole lives—”
“To change the rules,” Tobias states. “And we are.”
I chew over his words as we ride in amicable silence before Tyler speaks up.
“You’re all grown up, Cee.”
I look over to him and see him staring at me with warm eyes.