Nearly an hour later, Jony returned to Dahlia’s cottage. She was dressed in a silk robe, sitting in front of the fireplace and drinking a glass of red wine. Jony sat in the chair next to her.
“Is it done?” she asked.
“Yes,” Jony said.
“How do you feel?”
“A little sick to my stomach, and—”
“And what?” Dahlia asked.
“Ashamed,” Jony said.
“That feeling will pass. Have a drink with me. There is much to discuss.”
“Yes, Mum.”
“Why do you call me that?” Dahlia gave Jony a critical look. “‘Mum,’ that is. We’re less than twenty years apart.”
Jony gave Dahlia a coy look. She crept closer, put her hand on his shoulder. Her robe shifted, and Jony could see more cleavage than ever before. His hormones were racing, but he kept them under control. He did his best to slow his breathing.
“Respect. You take care of us better than our own mothers,” Jony said.
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Dahlia smiled as she unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a muscular chest.
Jony has better definition than I realized, she thought.
Jony jumped as Dahlia touched his chest.
“What’s the matter, Jony?”
Jony got up and paced around the room.
“It doesn’t feel right, Mum.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Me killing . . . you touching me like . . . the way you did,” Jony said.
Dahlia could see that he was shaken.
“Come, let’s just sit together,” Dahlia said.
Jony put his head on her shoulder. She felt the warmth of his contact, the wetness of his tears, and fed on it as he let it all out.
She gave him some time to compose himself before she spoke.
Jony is loyal but weak! she thought bitterly.
“Our recent breach in security has caused several problems for me . . . for us!” she said. “I don’t know whom to trust. By taking care of our friend in the barn, you have more than proved your loyalty.”
“Thanks for saying that. It means the world to me,” Jony said.
Dahlia sensed that he was sincere, and she wanted to reward his sincerity.
“I’m promoting you to first lieutenant. You will be my right hand in the organization.”
“Thank you, Mum. I don’t know what to say.”
“Your first assignment is delicate. I need you to assess the commitment of the remaining Black Iris chiefs. Someone is working with Gregor. We have a mole that must be found.”
Jony nodded.
“You will only report to me, now. I will inform the chiefs. I will post small classified ads in the Sun and the London C-List classified site.”
Dahlia got up and retrieved something from an end table. She tossed Jony a flip phone that looked new. “This is your direct line to me. We will use it only in emergencies.”
“Understood. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave.”
Dahlia dismissed him. She watched him go, and she was glad that he’d passed all of tonight’s tests. I’m glad he cannot be swayed by the charms of a woman, Dahlia thought.