Page 55

I gripped his wrists and if Danny cared that I was getting blood on him, he didn’t mention it. His blue eyes were locked on mine, and I was hanging on for dear life.

“When I met Mila, she didn’t know who I was, who I worked for. Once she found out, she always worried for my safety, but not just physically. She didn’t want me doing anything I couldn’t come back from. She was afraid I’d lose who I was. I promised I’d never disconnect, that I’d always be me.”

Danny’s thumb rubbed over my cheekbone, and I tried to ignore how nice that felt. “And you think you broke that promise to Mila?”

“I know I did, because I haven’t been the Alex she knew and loved.”

“You don’t think she’d understand why?”

I tried to shake my head, but his grip was unrelenting. “No, she would understand, and that makes it worse.”

“Alex, she’d understand because she loved you.”

“I know!” I shouted.

“Then you know she’d never hold you to that promise.”

“I hold myself to it, Danny, I do. I never wanted to become something she’d fear, and she’d hate this version of me.”

Danny’s brows dipped. “Okay, what do you want to do about it?”

“What can I do?”

“Here’s the thing, Alex. I can’t think of anyone—me, Gideon, Penn, Toni, even Rita—that wouldn’t be getting the type of vengeance you’ve been dealing if they were in your shoes. When you made Mila that promise, her murder wasn’t something you thought would ever happen. And she was a fierce woman who would likely be on that list too, if anything happened to you.”

My shoulders slumped, and he released his grip. My head relaxed on his shoulder, and I let my body fall into him. Twice today he’d held me, and those two times I’d felt safer than I ever had before.

Danny had brought me to the car and before we left, he’d run inside to tell Gideon we were leaving and would make sure not to leave any blood or anything anywhere on our way. Now, as he drove, I leaned my head against the window and watched the trees and lights zoom past me.

As we arrived at Danny’s bungalow, snow was beginning to fall and halfway up the walk I stopped, closed my eyes, and lifted my face to the sky. The flakes tickled my skin, and a small smile played on my face as a memory slipped through the cracks of my mind.

Mila ran around the yard, arms opened wide, head up, and tongue out. She was determined to catch a snowflake on her tongue.

“Do you know how dirty snow is?” I laughed as she made a shooing motion. “Okay, but don’t come crying to me when you get sick.”

“Alex Walker, you’re a killjoy!” She frowned and stood akimbo.

“Me?” I smirked and sauntered over to her slowly.

“No. You stay there, mister.” She pointed at me.

“But it’s so cold out.” I moved closer.

“Then go in the house, and let me have my fun.”

I stopped directly in front of her and she craned her neck to meet my gaze. I cradled her face in my hands and she beamed at me, unable to stay angry.

“I’ll catch snowflakes on my tongue with you, my love.”

She lifted up and pressed her lips to mine. “Whoever catches the most has to make dinner.”

Whether it was fair or not hadn’t mattered. I’d ended up making dinner that night.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded. “Good. Don’t get snow in your mouth, though. It’s gross and dirty.”