章 129: Not trying to be cruel

Ivo leaned into the flame Davi held out for him, shielded from the wind by his cupped hand. He pulled on the filter until it caught. Davi's eyes met his as he took in a first deep drag, not letting go until Ivo exhaled the smoke in a stuttering cloud.

"I get the impression you're not too happy about going to the meeting with us."

Ivo's shoulders tensed up. He looked away from Davi. "It's not that. Like I said, I worry that I'm not going to be any use."

"You've proven yourself useful plenty of times. Why would this be different?"

'There's something you don't know'. If Ivo could just make himself say that, he wouldn't have to come up with any more flimsy excuses. "Maybe I'm nervous."

Davi chuckled. "That, I get." He leaned his back against the railing, looking straight at Ivo who was leaning over it. "We made such a mystery of the whole thing, but I promise we don't bite."