Fragments: The Defiance: Fragments Series Vol 3 by Chris Cole

Author:Chris Cole [Cole, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chris Cole Books
Published: 2024-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: Not-so-Cowardly Lion

Ifigured Hugo would know we’d left Paris, and while I initially had been torn about leaving, David pointed out Hugo was likely going to track me. So, more imminent attacks. Yay.

Breckenridge and I spoke before my fight. He informed me Benedetti had been released from the hospital and was being moved to a more secure location. Where, he wouldn’t say. As far as I was concerned, Benedetti could rot away in some hole for the rest of his life.

We flew from Paris to London, then boarded the longest flight of my life: eleven hours to Johannesburg. I thought D.C. to London was excruciating at seven hours.

I paid to upgrade us all to first class, which helped me feel point-one percent more comfortable. As we flew, Ryan and I talked.

“I’d eventually like kids, yeah, but I don’t want a surrogate for me to have them,” Ryan said. “I’ll be fine if I don’t have them for several years, especially with everything coming our way. Adoption, especially of older kids, would be super amazing.”

“Agreed,” I said. “I originally wanted kids because I wanted to do better than my parents. Do you think wanting to be a better dad than yours is something to consider?”

“Oh, that’s totally a thing,” he said with a laugh. “Yeah, I’m going to need some counseling about all this when we’re done. But, in the meantime, I’m good to help how I can and where I can. Do you...” He trailed off, then leaned in more closely. “Do you think you’ll want to get married?”

“I guess I don’t see the point of staying with someone for life and not getting the benefits of being legally married.” His smile was small, but his eyes told me he was very happy to hear this news. I continued. “I don’t need a certificate to tell me I’m devoted to someone, but if the government is going to provide tax help and stuff to married people, then why the hell not?”

“And you’ll want to stay with the White House?”

“As long as I can,” I said. “Who knows what’s going to happen? But, steady employment, government benefits, and all that? I can’t so no. What about you? What do you want to do?”

He shrugged and sighed, brows creasing. “I honestly don’t know where I fit in the world. I was raised with all these lies...” He lowered his voice. “And continue to sell them, probably forever. But, if it’s helpful to provide comfort and peace to people, why not?”

“You don’t think people deserve to know all the truth?”

“Not to be Jack Nicholson, but do you think they could actually handle it?” Ryan gave me a grim half-smile. “I’m sure people would love to know if aliens are real, and would be if they’re not like the Borg or something. But, until that day comes, I say let people do their thing.”

“Huh.” I considered him carefully. “I guess part of me thinks people can handle a lot more than we give them credit for, but I also learned about trigger stacking from Lucinda.

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