Willow: In which I explain WHAT ON EARTH THEO IS THINKING, FALLING FOR MORIARTY! And why she's so attached so very quickly.
"Eva, what do I do?"
She smirked at me. "In regards to what?"
"James."
"Oh, well, that!" Eva joked, like she didn't know exactly who I was going to ask about the minute it occurred to me to ask about him. "It depends. Do you love him?"
"I don't know!" I whined.
"You snogged him."
That doesn't help! "People snog people they don't care about a lot."
"Sure, people do. But you don't. You barely ever kissed Atticus, you never kissed Toran, and I know for a fact you never slept with either."
"Eva!"
"What is so different about him? It took you two years to get a move on with Atticus, four with Toran. Not even a week, and you're already all over this guy like he's the last guy on earth, and trust me I wouldn't marry him if he was.
"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were working for the Holmes guy." She added thoughtfully.
I shuddered. "I'd rather stick with James than hang around Mycroft, trust me."
"What did he do?"
"He threatened the wellbeing of my siblings if I didn't do as he asked. I told James the minute we agreed to this, and my family is now under the protection of assassins. I'm trying not to think about it."
"Aha!" Eva sat up so fast she almost fell off the bed.
I rolled my eyes at her. "What now?"
"You prefer him because he threatened you, not your siblings. It's good business to threaten someone you need something from; it's sadistic to threaten their family. You can outplay him any time because he doesn't understand love, which is the logical appeal I've been looking for. You're always so damned logical, and this defied explanation until you said that."
"Maybe," I said in a harsh, low voice, "Maybe for once in my life, I want to be illogical."
She grinned at me, unafraid of the tone I'd taken on, the one that had sent mafia members running away from the seedier bars I'd hung around when trying to sell some stolen meth one time. "About damn time, girl! I mean, what college kid from a conservative family is so f#&*ing responsible the first year they're away from home? All you did was rob places, pay your tuition, babysit, do your school work, and call your family. I couldn't even get you to drink until you were twenty one!"
"One might argue the little point that I robbed places."
"Practically a saint. Look, all I'm saying is that something big changed here. You killed a guy. Actually, why did you kill him? That's not your style."
"Speaking of style…"
"No changing the subject, Theo!"
"You have a job to do. Don't make me call James."
"Theodora Miller, I demand you answer me right now, why did you kill that guy?"
I smiled and dialled James's number. She squeaked and grabbed her purse, fleeing and tossing insults over her shoulder.
"Theodora." James's voice was tired, ragged. "I presume you have a very good reason for calling when I'm in a business meeting."
"Thank you for the horses, James." I told him, before hanging up.
I didn't have to wait long before James's favourite lackey texted me.
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
Do you make a habit of hanging up on dangerous people? –SM
New Message To: Sebastian Moran
Yep. –TM
New Message To: Sebastian Moran
Don't worry. I won't hang up on you. –TM
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
Your friend left? –SM
New Message To: Sebastian Moran
Yup. I take it yours did too? (James, I mean) –TM
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
He's been talking to a few Israeli government agencies. You interrupted a meeting. –SM
New Message From: James Moriarty
Most boring meeting ever, actually. –JM
New Message To: Sebastian Moran
Tell him he's welcome. –TM
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
Do you understand the gravity of these deals? –SM
New Message From: James Moriarty
I mean, really, how is it they make murder and mayhem sound so DULL? –JM
New Message To: Sebastian Moran
If they're so important, why is James texting me? –TM
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
He's what? –SM
New Message From: James Moriarty
Really, you just had to tell him? –JM
New Message To: James Moriarty
At least tell me he made an amusing expression and interrupted your meeting with loud swearing. (That was the goal) –TM
New Message From: Eva Cormac
WHY DID YOU KILL HIM? -_- *not giving this up*
New Message To: Eva Cormac
He paraphrased Atticus at me. –TM
New Message From: Eva Cormac
…Oh.….remind me not to break up with you, kay?
New Message From: Eva Cormac
Or quote one of your exes.
New Message From: James Moriarty
Ah, so that's why you killed him!
New Message From: Sebastian Moran
Why is James sending me to France to kill a psychiatrist? Atticus Walker or some shit like that. –SM
New Message To: (3 Recipients)
STAY OUT OF MY PERSONAL LIFE! Jim, just…no. Seb, ignore those orders. Eva, you know better. –TM
New Message From: James Moriarty
Why not? –JM
New Message To: James Moriarty
It's a waste of resources. I don't trust anyone but Sebastian to bring you home. –TM
When had this huge, empty house become home? I shook my head and sighed. I was in way too deep, and there was no going back now—but that really didn't bother me, because I felt alive for, well, the first time in my life.