Page 60 of Diamonds in the Mud

I nodded, understanding, as tears stung my heart. He was right. I wanted to set my sights on the Reapers and take them down. Even before I’d known it was Lizzy who was behind all the destruction.

He sighed, a heavy exhale that seemed to carry the weight of the world.

“But suddenly I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m willing to take that risk if it means being with you.”

“I feel the same way. But we have to be careful.” Tears rolled out of the corners of my eyes, a mix of longing and apprehension swirling within me.

“I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect us, to protect you.” He squeezed my hand, his touch a silent vow in the darkness.

As we lay together in the darkness of his safe room, after whispering promises of devotion, we both knew that this would always be our greatest secret.

“Do you have to get back?” he asked after a moment.

I nodded and closed my eyes, silently wishing my life was different, normal.

“How did you get here?” he asked, leaning up on his elbows to look down at me.

“My mother’s car.”

He nodded slowly as he ran his eyes over my face. “I wanted to strangle Izzy for this.” He brushed a finger gently over my cheek.

“I will for this.” I smiled up at him as I gently touched his head.

“Declan is out of jail,” he said, and I nodded.

“Yeah, he only spent a few hours behind bars. Long enough for Evelyn to wake up and clear him of charges. She claims someone else broke into the bar while she was opening up and hurt her. She claimed that Declan was trying to perform medical help when we arrived.”

“She was with him tonight at the bar, laughing and joking while she sat on his lap. With a broken arm. They acted as if nothing had happened.” He shook his head. “She looked twice as bad as we do right now.”

I nodded. “It’s not the first time he’s done this to her. I was hoping it was the last. She was unconscious forever. I can’t believe she didn’t stay in the hospital longer,” I said. “What makes a person go back to the one that has done something like that to them?”

He shook his head. “Not knowing there is more out there? Fear?” He shrugged. “This.” He motioned between us. “I meant what I said. I don’t want anything getting in the way. As long as you’re willing, I’d like to ride it out. See where it goes.”

I smiled. “I’d like that.”

He frowned a little more. “Even if that means putting things on hold until I have everything wrapped up.”

“Your job is important. What you do, what I do, it matters. This can wait,” I assured him.

He sighed and rested his forehead against mine. “I wish it didn’t have to. I wish we could spend the night wrapped in each other’s arms.”

“Same,” I agreed.

He kissed me and my heart ached. It caused me more pain than all of the cuts had.

“I wish I had the energy to go another round,”

I shook my head. “I’m too tired. If we did, I wouldn’t be able to make it back.”

He nodded and then his weight and warmth were gone as he sat up.

We dressed in silence, but he stopped me from leaving the room once I was fully dressed. Then he pulled me back into his arms and kissed me.

“Can you tell me where you were last night?” I asked, my voice laced with a hint of concern as he pulled away.

He shrugged a casual gesture that belied the gravity of our conversation. “Another run,” he replied, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “There might be something…” He paused, his gaze drifting to the distance. “I’ll let you know if it goes anywhere. For now, I think it would be best to follow this new lead on my own. However, I will tell you that we dropped a ton of money off at the Taylor’s place.”

“How much money?” I asked, my mind reeling at the implications.