If you don't come back..." Arm's voice was a rough whisper, "I don't think I'll survive it this time, Mild."
"Then trust that I won't let that happen," Mild replied. "Let me go, Arm. Prove to me that you love me more than you love your fear."
A long, shuddering breath escaped Arm's chest, as if he were finally purging the poison of the last few days. He reached out and cupped Mild's face, his thumb stroking his cheek with a tenderness that was almost painful.
"Okay," Arm said, the word barely audible. "Okay. Go to work, Mild."
The relief that washed over Mild was so intense he felt dizzy. Arm reached for his phone on the nightstand and sent a brief, stinging command to his head of security: Stand down. Director Mild is to have full, unescorted access to the estate. No one follows him. No one monitors him.
"I'm letting you go," Arm said, looking at the phone as if he had just signed away his kingdom. "But 7:00 PM, Mild. Not a minute later."
