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The land is a natural slope, meaning the men can scope the street without alerting the cops. “Any movement?”
“Nothing,” he replies. “And nothing from the mailbox camera. Only visitor has been her neighbor.”
“Good,” I say, nodding. “Stay on the camera. Call me if there’s any concern.”
“Will do.”
I climb the fence that leads to a small field, then a residential street, then another one. I keep moving, stalking through gardens. I’d rather the cops didn’t see me visiting Lena after what happened. It might arouse Ramirez’s suspicion if she heard about it.
Finally, I’m in the yard. I crouch in the dark, taking out a burner cell to call Lena. She answers almost right away, breathless. “Jamie?”
“I’m in the yard.”
“I’m coming. Wait there.”
I almost laugh.Wait there. As if there’s anywhere else I’d want to be. I should’ve been with her all day, but I had to do my work. Now, I’ve given Russel the details I managed to get out of the first man I visited. The names. The connections. I only had to hit the silver spoon prick three times before he started blabbing.
“I’m sorry, man. I’m so damn sorry.”Russel sounded almost in tears when I told him Lena might’ve tried calling him.“The phone was dead, dammit.”
“Human error,”I told him.“Don’t sweat it.”
“I could’ve gotten you killed, man.”
We’ve both saved each other’s asses too many times for that sort of talk, and he knows it.
When the back door opens, any other thoughts clear from my mind. All I can see is my woman, a silhouette in the semidarkness with her form outlined even clearer in clothes that fit her. She steps forward. I emerge from the shadows into the light from the house, wrap my arms around her, and hold her softly. I don’t give in to my full instincts yet. I know the paid security is watching.
Leading her inside, I close the curtains and pull her up against me. She collapses against my chest, her hands clawing at my sides. She holds onto me tightly. She never wants to let go. She neverhasto let go.
“I missed you so much,” she sobs into my chest. “In the bunker… after… I thought you were dead.”
“I couldn’t leave you,” I say fiercely, leaning down and kissing her. Hard. Passion burns through me as I press down on her lower back, pushing our bodies as close as possible. “I’m never going to leave you, even if it means kidnapping you, remember?”
She laughs. It’s like she’s letting go of all the darkness. Not forever. That’s not how life works. “When I was in the bunker, I was thinking honestly, am Ialwaysgoing to be his prisoner?”
I smirk, letting the pain go, too, for now at least. She doesn’t seem worried that we’re holding each other downstairs. Simone could catch us any moment, but“catch”is the wrong word.She already knows about us.
“Lena, did your mom…”
She nods, looking up at me with her strong, vibrant eyes. The same eyes our children are going to have. I want them to be as much like her as possible. I want her to be in every single part of them. “She told me. She knows.”
“I had to tell her,” I say passionately. “I didn’t know—”
Lena stands on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine. She holds me tightly. Her hands tighten on my back, her fingernails digging in. I can feel her passion, her need. We kiss, and then she leans back with a shaky smile: part fear and part pure relief.
“I know why you had to do it. I would have, too, in that place.” She gently raises her hand, touching the skin near my cut with a Band-Aid now. “Does it hurt?” She releases her hold on me. “And your body, Jamie, I’m sorry. I saw all those bruises.”
I snarl, grab her hip, own her. I pull her against me and let her feel how solid I am. I let her feel the desire. “I could be on fire, Lena, and I’d still want you. Nothing could make it stop. You’re my woman.”
She nods, then looks away.
“What is it?” I ask, touching her chin as gently as a bad man can, turning her to face me.
“It’s Mom,” Lena whispers. “She’s still hiding something, but I can’t push her. At least I know you were never together now. I know you told me, but…”
“You didn’t want to doubt your mom. I get that, Lena. I never wanted to doubt my dad or Jack. I wanted to believe they’d always do the right thing, but I see it now.You’rethe right thing. Our family is the right thing.”
“Who would’ve thought this started with a kidnapping, huh?” She smiles, pulls on my shirt, and collapses against me. We kiss, and then she pushes herself away. “It’s so quiet, and Mom’s in the house.”
