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He shrugs. “I came into some money. All you need to know is that we’re going to be all right for a little while.”
“Came into some money, huh?”
I grin and laugh, tossing the duffel bag of money on the bed and unzipping it. Molly peers over into it for the first time and her eyes round in surprise.
“Holy shit, that’s so much money!”
I shrug. “And that’s without even dipping into my account,” I tell her.
“Won’t the Kings be pissed? That's club money.”
“I’ve got plausible deniability,” I explain, zipping the bag back up and stashing it away in the safe in the closet. “Plus, nobody’s going to come lookin’ for it since not even Reaper knows where we are. Also, everybody already thinks I gave the cash to Hammerhead, so as far as they’re concerned that’s it. They believe I gave him the bag and if it’s lost, it’s his fault. Let them try to get it out of him.”
She laughs. “You seem to have everything figured out already.”
“I like to think so,” he says. “Now, let’s go see about that beach.”
“I can’t wait.”
We take off our boots and roll our pant legs up then open the French doors. We walk through the opening in the retaining wall and walk all the way down to the water’s edge. A wave crashes and sends a rush of white, foamy water up the sand and over our feet. Molly laughs hysterically and claps her hands.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“I think this is amazing.”
The sun is slipping toward the horizon, casting the sky in vivid, fiery hues. It sparkles off the water dazzlingly, making the surface glow the same shade of red as the sky. Overhead, a couple of seagulls circle, their plaintive cries rolling over the beach. In the distance is the Santa Monica pier and we stop to watch it for a moment. The delighted shrieks of the people on the roller coaster fill the air.
“I’ve never seen the ocean before,” she says softly. “This is more than I ever imagined it would be. It’s beautiful. It’s magical.”
I nod as I survey the endless ocean stretched out before us. I’ve always preferred the endless desert vistas, but there is definitely something about the ocean that’s soothing. Calming. The heavy scent of salt in the air is pleasant and the crashing of the waves is a melodic sound I think I could listen to just about forever. Molly is right. It’s beautiful.
“What made you think to come out here?” she asks.
“Because this is probably the last place anybody would ever think to look for us,” I explain. “Plus, we’re in LA. There’s like twelve million people in here spread out over a few dozen cities. Good luck trying to find us.”
Molly smiles and turns to me, taking my hands in hers as the waves crash and the water rushes over our feet.
“You really have thought of everything, haven’t you?” she asks.
“I like to think so,” I reply. “At least about what’s important.”
“And have you thought about what comes after this? When the fairy tale ends and we have to go back to reality?”
I give her a gentle smile. “I haven’t,” I admit. “I just want to enjoy the fairy tale for as long as it lasts.”
“That is a very good answer.”
She leans in and gives me a fiery, passionate kiss. The sound of the waves crashing fills my ears and the water rushes over our bare feet. I can’t think of a more perfect evening. Yeah, I want this fairy tale to last as long as it can.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
“So? What do you think?” Hawk asks.
“I think it’s incredible.”
We stand before the Caravaggio exhibit looking at the paintings. I’m almost speechless. It’s more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Every painting is gorgeous. Stunning. When Hawk told me he was taking me to the Getty today, I felt like he told me he was taking me to Disneyland. Art has always been my thing. I’ve loved it since I was a kid and I remember making my parents take me to local museums and galleries. I couldn’t get enough.
Trapped in the Howlers’ clubhouse, I would often think back on those days. I would recall the beauty I’d seen in the paintings and sculptures. Those memories would fill me with joy and would often give me the strength to make it through another day. I vowed that once I got out of there, I would visit a museum just as soon as I could. And Hawk, being the thoughtful and kind man he is, made that vow a reality. He made that wish come true.
