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“Hey.” His forehead creases in worry when he kisses me.
“Sir, we locked up and going to do a perimeter check. There are a few paparazzi across the street. You might want to get inside.”
My head rests on his chest, listening to the sexy rumble, letting someone else take care of us.
“Thanks, please make sure there are no breaches.”
Small hands start to pry us from each other, trying to get in between.
“Hi, you two want a cuddle too?” Mark’s velvety voice sounds hopeful as he asks them. Both kids jump into his arms, giggling when he spins them around.
I watch them play together, afraid this moment is too fleeting, the sense of happiness too deceitful. A threat is too real. This time I can sense the danger, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.
“Let’s go inside. I made pasta and have something special for dessert.”
“Yeah.” Their voices boom in unison, making me chuckle as I watch their eyes sparkle with eager excitement. “Will you play with us afterward?”
Mark winks at me, and he skips to the house with them both screeching in delight. “Only if you tidy up your toys. Is that a deal?”
Before I enter the house, I cast my gaze over the street and see somebody sitting in the car, watching us. Cold apprehension treks down my spine as I notice the cameras, flashing at me.
The security guys zooming around the house make me feel a bit safer. I nod at one of them passing by and close the door behind me. The safety blanket wraps around me as soon as I smell the delicious scent of cooked food coming from the kitchen. Mark and the kids chatter as if the world isn’t trying to break us apart and shatter the idyllic peace. They’re oblivious to the enemies surrounding us.
The smile stretches on my lips and my eyes well up with tears as I drink them in. Mark and my children are my islands of happiness. How am I going to keep us safe, away from dangers? I have no idea. But I’m going to fight for them with everything I have. The family’s falling apart, and I have to fix us somehow before it’s too late, before our enemies use it against us.
Instead of joining them, I go to change my torn clothes. I strip and walk into the shower, letting the hot stream wash away all the tension and emotions sticking like grime to my skin. After I’m done with my shower routine, I wrap the towel around myself and go to find something to wear.
The ringing smartphone in my bag stops me from reaching the wardrobe. “Hello?” Taking a few calming breaths, I press it to my ear. Shit, I completely forgot about Leif.
“Where are you?”
“At home with Mark, why?”
“I’m coming to talk.” He hangs up.
So I change before going downstairs to join my kids and the man I love.
26
Secret Pact
~Cassandra~
As I come around the corner, I hear them talking. “Are you going to be our dad now?” Liane’s inquiring question startles me, so I press my back to the wall.
“I don’t know, kitten. Why, would you want me to be your dad? You don’t know me.”
Leon declares. “You can’t be our dad . . . unless you love o-our mom.” His voice is so determined and protective as he speaks with Mark, almost running out of air. “And you have to know how to make her smile. I do.”
“Your mommy’s very precious to me. It hurts my heart when she’s unhappy.”
Mark points to his chest as he speaks. “I promise to make her laugh every day at least once, all right?”
They both nod and beam at him like he brought the sunshine.
They launch in his embrace, wrapping around him like giggling, restless monkeys. And whatever they’re saying is too muffled for me to hear. It’s heartwarming to see them this way, forming a bond, a secret pact. They look like pieces of one puzzle ready to be assembled to make a perfect picture of happiness. Mark has never belonged, but he doesn’t need to be perfect to fit in with us.
Someone leans and silently whispers, “Spying!”
