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“That’s not necessary.”

But Ares was already pulling out his card.

Ten minutes later, we walked out of the boutique.

One hundred thousand dollars’ worth of jewelry was neatly packed into velvet boxes, which he handed to Tommy.

And I didn’t say a word about it.

Luxury didn’t impress me.

I grew up around it.

The night air felt warmer now, and I smell food.

I stopped walking.

“Hold up.”

Ares glanced down the street.

“What?”

“Pizza.”

He followed my gaze to a small corner restaurant where a man was pulling fresh pies out of a brick oven.

He chuckled. “You want pizza?”

“Yeah, you clearly saw that I like regular food. Plus, why wouldn’t I get pizza in Lyon?”

He shook his head. “Foodie, like I said.”

He walked with me anyway.

We grabbed slices, sat on a small bench outside, and ate like two regular people on a night out.

Guard standing close, but no tension.

After that, we got back into the car.

As he drove, I realized that I didn’t mind the road at all.

CHAPTER 27

Ares

“No Running”

By the time we crossed into Paris, the city looked like a painting. Lights stretched across the river. Bridges glowed gold. The Eiffel Tower cut through the night sky like something ancient and powerful, watching over everything.

I pulled into the building's underground garage and shut off the engine.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Long road.

Too many miles.