They walked into the massive building, more of a convenience store with pumps, but with a deli and food preparation station. Families sat at tables eating panini sandwiches from the deli case, the parents drinking coffee. The air smelled of fresh bread, He stood for a long time in front of the deli case, choosing between two sandwiches—a mozzarella with prosciutto di parma, and a camogli, made with focaccia, ham and emmental cheese.

He finally chose the camogli, took it over to the table where Roy was downing something that looked like a sub, only with burrata cheese, bologna and garnished with pistachio, on focaccia.

“This is some serious fast food.”

“I love Italy,” Roy said. “You missed out working the Eastern bloc countries all those years.”

York slid into the booth and spread out his sandwich. A woman brought over a cup of espresso in a real mug. “Spoken like a man who’s never eaten a fresh pork Cheboriki dripping with grease from an old babushka selling them from a tin pot.”

Roy grinned. “Back when spies were spies.”

“And real men didn’t care if they had salad with their bread. I once lived for a week on a trip into the Siberian bush with a slab of white, smoked sala and vodka.”

“Hunting.”

“Mmmhmm.” York bit into the sandwich. “Okay, this is good.”

Roy grinned and looked out the window. “You should get RJ and go home.”

York took a sip of the coffee. “Now you’re thinking about Gregori’s words.”

He met York’s gaze. “Let me and Ziggy handle it. Whatever this is. Take RJ and go back to your life.”

“What if she doesn’t want to? I’m starting to think RJ’s definition of love and mine are vastly different.”

“I had to pry her away from your bedside, York. This is my fault.” He met York’s eyes with a grim face. “I’m sorry.”

He took another bite, half done. Wiped his mouth. “Listen, when I was back in Shelly, with no memory, I got a good look at what life looked like without regret. Right then, God set me free—I had no idea what from, until I got my memory back but by then I realized that I could still be free. If I believe that God has a plan for my life, then there are no mistakes, no regrets, just moments that God carries me. Moments when I’m forced to trust him.”

Roy had finished his sandwich. “You sound like Hamilton Jones, my old SEAL team leader.”

“I’ve met Ham. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“He’s a good man. Used to tell us that when we’re stuck, and we can’t see a way out, even while we’re trying to figure a way out, God has already gone before us. We just have to remember our training and take one step at a time.”