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“Of course. Dad’s my hero. If I can help even half the number of people he’s helped over the years, I’ll consider it a win. —Oh, look! They’re selling soft pretzels!”
She hurries off, leaving me there to feel…
Hollow.
I hate this. I hate everything about this.
And the worst part about it all is there’s nothing I can do.
I indulge Raquel’s shopping spree for the remainder of the evening, too lost in my own thoughts to say very much. By the time we make it back to the hotel, she’s shivering, and the tip of her nose is red from the cold. I’m grateful Raquel’s at least in better spirits.
“Thank you for getting me out of this room,” she tells me with a light giggle. “That was just what the doctor ordered—”
I cut her off with a kiss, bracing myself against the cold of her skin and the outdoor air lingering around her jacket. Raquel kisses me back with equal fervor, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.
“I’m sorry,” I rasp against her lips in my mother tongue. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I wish I didn’t have to do this to you.”
Raquel hums, pulling me closer. “What are you saying?”
“That you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
It’s both a lie and a truth. Sheisthe most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Raquel’s not only gorgeous, but her heart and her soul burn so much brighter and purer than everyone else in the world combined. I wish I could tell her how much I adore her smile and the sound of her laugh and the way her presence brings me so much calm, but I can’t. It’ll only hurt her that much more and I already hate myself enough.
I carry her to our bed. She hasn’t slept on her side of the room since we got here, but I have zero complaints. I like waking up to find that she’s hogged all the sheets. I like finding her curled up next to me like I’m the only source of warmth in the universe. I like the smell of her hair and how soft her skin is beneath my palm and the way she sometimes gives me a sleepy kiss when she rolls over to find a more comfortable position.
I undress her slowly like I’m opening a gift. This is probably the only one I’m going to get this year, so I have no qualms about taking my time. I kiss her tenderly, caress every inch of her skin, move against her without an urgency. All I want to do tonight is savor how she feels beneath me, how she moans in my ear, how she holds onto me so nice and tight.
Right now, there’s nothing but us and this moment.
If I focus on anything other than her, there’s a good chance I might break.
Chapter 27
Raquel
December 24th, Christmas Eve. T-minus one day before our heist is a go.
When I wake up that morning, my stomach is a gurgling mess. It’s probably because of nerves. How else can I explain this terrible nausea, my pounding headache, and the constant need to hurl? My whole body is sensitive, burning. Even the faint silver light of morning through the crack in the curtain is enough to agitate me. I decide to get out of bed and grab myself a glass of water.
I make a mad dash to the bathroom and dry heave into the toilet instead.
“Raquel?” Gabriel calls out to me. He knocks on the bathroom door. Thank the merciful gods above I had enough sense to lock it. I really don’t want him to see me like this.
“I’m fine!” I mumble weakly over my shoulder.
“Are you sure?”
I lick my lips, try to swallow. What the hell did I eat last night? I pray I haven’t accidentally caught food poisoning before one of the most nerve-wracking, important nights of my life. I need to be on my A-game tomorrow, not worrying that I’m going to be sick all over the vault floor.
It takes another five minutes or so, but my stomach finally settles. Once I’m convinced I’m not going to make an absolute fool of myself, I pull myself up onto my feet and vacate the bathroom. Gabriel stands just outside, his arms braced on either side of the frame, his brows knitted together in concern.
“Are you feeling alright?” he asks me.
“Yes, don’t worry about it. It’s a… big day tomorrow, that’s all.”
He nods. “Klaus stopped by earlier with the package you requested.”
I make my way to the coffee table. Our inside man did good. At the bottom of a discreet shopping bag are two copies of the catering uniform the servers will be wearing tomorrow at Van Straus’ masquerade —one for me and one for Gabriel.
