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As hard as I’ve fought against the feelings I have for him, I’m relieved. We’ve finally reached a place in our relationship where we’re so united, we no longer need to fight what’s undeniable any longer—we’re made for each other, which means we belong together.
I drop the sharpie marker in my hand and wander over to him wearing a soft expression. He understands what it means and tells me this in his tender kiss.
“You’re my home, Jon,” I whisper. “I don’t want to ever be apart from you again. Twelve years… was twelve years too long. We’ve already lost so much time with each other.”
His arms enclose around me, tight and secure. The most comforting warmth to sink into as I rest my head on his chest and feel his hand sweeping up my back.
“We’ve got plenty of time left. A lifetime’s worth. We’ve just got to get through this fight with Lucius first.”
“We,” I repeat. “I like that.”
He plants a deep kiss on my mouth. “You make me stronger. You make me fight harder. Because at the finish line, I’ve got our future waiting for me.”
Gooseflesh springs up on my arms despite the warmth of his embrace. I simply squeeze myself tighter against him and relish in small homey moments like this.
Tomorrow begins another dangerous chapter in our fight against Lucius, but we’ll never give up. Our future really is waiting for us… just across the finish line.
* * *
Salvatore schedules a brief for his men participating in the mission at Lucius’s summer home. He’s allowed me to attend for informational purposes.
Stitches is second showing up to the conference room in Salvatore’s compound, catching us being affectionate before it begins.
“You two really need to keep it in your pants,” Stitches says, shaking his head. “Not all of us are getting some and here you go flaunting it every chance you get.”
“Whatever happened to Candy?”
My expression contorts into a baffled frown. “Who’s Candy?”
“The escort Stitches met off Tinder.”
“Hey, whoa! She’s no escort. She’s a paid companion. Thank you very much.” He folds his arms as he slides into a chair at the conference table in the center of the room. “She tried doubling her prices. Can you believe that? Highway robbery. She was good, but she wasn’t that good.”
Salvatore merely shakes his head while I look between them. I’m about to ask more questions, but more men arrive, signaling the meeting is about to commence. Though my part in the mission is over, Salvatore has agreed to keep me involved in the logistics and execution.
He stands at the front of the room and briefs the men on the plan. They’ll be posing as South Valley police officers with a signed warrant to search the premises of Lucius Mancino.
Because Lucius only visits his South Valley home in the summer, manning at the property is minimal in the fall and winter months. The staff will be overwhelmed and overrun, scrambling to get in touch with Lucius, who is slated for several business meetings all the way in the business district of Northam.
It would take him almost two hours to make it to South Valley. By the time he or any of his main crews do, it’ll be too late. Salvatore and his guys will be long gone, in possession of Stefania’s phone.
The plan should be executed without a hitch.
Salvatore asks the men if anybody has any questions. After answering a couple, the men are dismissed to go change into their South Valley police uniforms. The room empties, Stitches is the last to leave, then it’s just Salvatore and I again.
“You okay with everything about to happen?” he asks, pulling me close like earlier.
I nod. “I’ll be cheering you on from afar.”
“Any plans?”
“Medjine asked me to brunch at the Garden House. It’s been a while since we’ve caught up.”
“You and that rabbit food. Sounds like I’ll have to take you out for a giant juicy steak for dinner.” He kisses me goodbye, squeezing my ass in jest.
I head up to the loft to spend some leisure time with the cats—Salt and Pepa surround me with scolding meows and wind themselves along my ankles—and then I get ready for lunch with Medjine.
She calls me as I’m being escorted to the car I’ll be taking.
