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“Well, I hadyourkid.”
Something about that statement settles right.“I had your kid.”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “You did.”
“How long will you be gone for?”
“I’m not sure. Bianchi can be prideful and unreasonable. But he’s also smart enough to know when it’s worth cutting ties and when it’s not.”
“All right.”
“Everything is going to be okay, Lyla.”
She’s silent for a beat, and I think she’ll say something logical, like I couldn’t possibly know that.
Instead, she whispers, “You promise?”
Something cracks in my chest, silent and permanent. “Yeah. I promise.”
“Okay.” She rolls over. After a couple of minutes, her breathing evens out.
But I lie wide awake. Talking to Bianchi is an essential part of ensuring Lyla’s and Leo’s safety. It’s also a step closer to them leaving. I can’t advance one of those goals without pushing forward the inevitable as well.
I want them to be safe. That’s more important than anything else.
But…I also want them to stay.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
NICK
Alex is waiting when I step off the plane, arms crossed. The wind ruffles his blond hair as it tears across the open space. “Hey, boss.”
I answer his smirk with a smile. “Hi.”
We didn’t cross paths during my last unexpected trip to Philadelphia. It’s been months since I saw him in person, and our phone calls have been less regular as of late.
Alex broaches the reason for that immediately. “How’s Lyla doing?”
Freshly fucked.Just thinking about last night gets me hard. “Good.”
Alex studies me, then shakes his head. “You’re sleeping with her?”
He doesn’t sound surprised, mostly disappointed.
“None of your business.”
“It is if you’re going to do something stupid.”
“I’m here to do something smart.”
“Smart? We both know you wouldn’t have issued a kill order for anyone else.”
“Leo’s safety isn’t negotiable. And she’s his mother. What did you want me to do?”
Alex whistles, long and low. “Leo, huh?”
Figures he’d remember the stuffed lion I carried around as a little kid.
