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“Brattleboro is just a little over an hour away. You can come visit us on weekends,” Charlie says as she accepts the box from her sister.
“And be a third wheel? No thanks,” she retorts and glances around the room. The furniture is still in place since Charlie decided against moving it, but somehow, it looks empty. The books on the shelf are already in a few boxes, and the knick knacks around the room have also been packed.
“All done,” Charlie sighs as she closes the last box.
“Take a seat. I’ll carry the boxes down.” I don’t give her a chance to argue before stacking three boxes together. I grunt, my back arching from the weight as I lift them. I sidestep out of the bedroom because of the boxes scattered around, then make my way out of the apartment.
I take the elevator to the basement car park where my car waits. The plan is to bring as many boxes as my car can fit today and come back for the rest tomorrow or the day after. I put the boxes down to take the key fob out of my back pocket and unlock the trunk before carefully placing the boxes inside.
It still feels a little surreal that Charlie agreed to move into my house. And we’retogether, a couple, and I’m one step closer to locking her down. I’ll be able to better protect her if she’s in Brattleboro–the Beauforts’ stronghold. Even Massimo Moratti will have a hard time trying to get his men to blend in without Alex or me noticing.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m relenting on my determination to get out from under his grasp. I’m not fool enough to think Charlie will be okay with me working for the mafia. Besides, it’s too dangerous. All it takes is one person to connectLa Fiammato Ezra Beaufort, and everything will come crashing down.
My phone starts ringing as I walk back to the elevator. Andrea.
“Ezra, how’s it going? How much longer do we have?” she asks as soon as I pick up. I got the original photograph of the night sky in Charlie’s room from Ella and sent it to Andrea. She’s soliciting the help of an artist friend to depict it in the master bedroom of my house. Her friend has had an exhibition for the past week and only just started the painting yesterday.
“At least two or three hours,” I say, checking my watch. We’ll leave here in an hour or so. I’ll take the longer route to stretch the hour and half drive to just over two hours.
“Do you think we’ll be done in three hours?” she asks someone on her end, presumably, Nora, her friend. Sure enough when she comes back on the phone she says, “Nora thinks we should be done by then; but if you can, stretch the time out a little more.”
I sigh as I get on the elevator and press the P. “I’ll try. Thank you, Andie.”
“Of course, we have to make my sister-in-law’s first night here memorable, so she won’t dump your ass when she finds out you’re not actually as charming as you project.”
That little piece of shit. I grin and mutter, “Whatever your reason, thanks anyway.”
“I gotta go. Text me when you’re about to leave the city.”
I agree, and we hang up just as the elevator slides open. Charlie and Ella have stacked the boxes right next to the elevator. I narrow my eyes at her bedroom door. I told her to stay still, damn it. But I pick up three boxes and walk back into the elevator.
It takes four trips and about thirty-five minutes to carry all the boxes to the car and arrange them tightly against each other, so they won’t move around during the drive. The fifth trip back to their apartment is to pick Charlie up. I see her and Ella hugging tightly when I get back. I glance away to give them a little privacy. I’m surprised when Ella comes to hug me next.
“Take care of my sister,” she whispers in my ear, and I murmur in affirmation, “If you make her cry, I’m going to murder you and make it look like an accident.”
“I won’t,” I promise solemnly. I’d sooner hurt myself before letting anything happen to Charlotte. She pats my shoulder as she pulls back from the hug.
“Good.”
“Ready?” I ask Charlie.
She glances around her bedroom, looking a little sad as she glances up at her ceiling. She clears her throat and walks toward me. “Ready.”
I take her hand and squeeze it softly as I lead her to the elevator. Ella trails behind us and waves as the doors slide shut. I open the car door and wait for her to buckle the seat belt before gently closing it. I text Andrea as I walk to the driver’s side to let her know that we’re about to leave the city. She replies with a thumbs up when I get in.
I give Charlie a small smile as I start the car. The car ride is silent, so I turn on the radio, hoping my anxiety isn’t showing as I drive. When we drive into town my phone rings, it’s Andrea. I stiffen and toss a glance at Charlie, but she’s busy taking in the scenery as we drive. I put in an AirPod before answering the call.
“What’s up?”
“We just finished up and are leaving the house now.” The tension leaves me at her words, and I exhale in relief.
“Great. Thanks, Andie.” We hang up, and I glance at Charlie again, but this time she’s already looking my way.
“What was that about?”
“I prepared a little surprise for you,” I tell her, dropping one hand from the wheel to grab hers and press a soft kiss on her knuckles. “I don’t take your chance for granted.”
She gives me a warm smile. In about ten minutes, I’m pulling up in front of my–no,our–house.
