Chapter 40

FORTY

The lobby of the Hotel Del Coronado was alive with understated luxury. Soft conversations floated beneath the high ceilings, where chandeliers cast a warm, golden light across the marble floors. The ocean’s distant rumble mixed with the clinking of glasses from the nearby bar. It was a place designed to soothe, to make you forget about anything beyond the serene elegance of the moment. But for Hatch, there was no forgetting what lay behind.

She moved through the space quietly. The familiar surroundings did nothing to calm her. The hotel had always been a backdrop to another life—one that seemed far removed from the weight she now carried. Tonight, it was the setting for something darker.

In a quiet corner, near the edge of the lobby, Banyan was waiting. Sitting casually in one of the oversized chairs, his posture relaxed, his eyes were sharp, tracking her every movement. His usual smirk was in place, but there was something more behind it—a knowing, a readiness.

As she reached him, there was no need for pleasantries. Their history filled in the gaps of what didn’t need to be said.

Glancing around, his tone carrying a quiet amusement. “The past sure has a way of sticking to you.”

Hatch didn’t respond right away. She lowered herself into the seat across from him. The moment stretched out as the atmosphere around them buzzed with the hotel’s quiet opulence. But the tension between them was palpable.

Banyan leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “Are you sure about this?” It wasn’t an accusation, but there was caution there—a man who knew just how deep things were about to go.

Hatch’s reply was calm, almost detached. “I always am.”

Banyan reached into his jacket. He pulled out a transdermal patch, identical to the one he’d given her before. He held it out in his open palm. His voice was softer now. “He made a mistake putting crosshairs on you,” he said. “I just want to make sure you don’t end up in them again.”

Hatch reached for the patch, her fingers brushing lightly against the vial before she slipped both into her pocket. The weight of the moment sat between them, heavy and unspoken.

“No trace?” she asked, her voice quiet, but carrying an edge of urgency. She didn’t need details, just confirmation.

Banyan leaned back slightly, the smirk returning to his face, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “None that any lab will find.” His response was quick, certain. He’d done this before.

Hatch accepted the answer without a second thought. She didn’t need more than that. There was a finality to what came next, and the fewer questions, the cleaner it would be.

For a moment, there was silence. The hum of the hotel lobby drifted back in, the faint sounds of distant conversations reminding them they were surrounded by people completely unaware of the gravity of the exchange.

“I’m indebted to you,” Hatch said, her voice softer now. It wasn’t something she said lightly, but it was true. Banyan had been there for her more times than she could count.

Banyan leaned back further in his chair. “You paid your debt in full a long time ago.” But beneath his casual tone, there was a truth they both understood. Their lives had crossed too many times for any score to need to be settled. It was a constant, shifting balance.

Hatch accepted his words. There was no need for elaboration. It was just how things were between them.

Banyan studied her for a moment longer, then spoke, his voice lowering once again. “So, what’s next?” The question was more a formality than anything else. He knew better than to expect a full answer.

Hatch shrugged slightly, her expression still unreadable. “Just cleaning up loose ends.”

Banyan chuckled, the sound more resigned than amused. “Loose ends have a way of tightening up if you let them sit too long. Be careful.”

Hatch stood up. “Always.”

Turning, she walked away from the quiet corner of the lobby, her path set. Banyan watched her go, his easy smirk slipping as she disappeared into the crowd. He knew better than anyone that Hatch didn’t leave things unfinished.

Outside, the cool night air greeted her, and the faint rumble of the ocean broke the silence.