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Britain pursed her lips, trying her best not to be offended. "This is not an easy out," she corrected him. "This is me reevaluating my life after you went back on what you promised me."

"Let's say you come back a week from now. Will shit have changed by then?" he asked.

Britain motioned her shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know, Priest. You tell me. I just don't understand how even when we're feet away from the jet I'm about to board the thought of maybe reconsidering your newbusinessrole still hasn’t crossed your mind," she scoffed while shaking her head, shaming him.

Priest smacked his lips. "C'mon,Gioia. You don't think I've thought of every possible way for me to get myself out of this so I could keep you here with me? I'm stuck with this one," he assured her as he shook his head.

They were at a crossroads, and at the moment, neither of them could bend their wants and beliefs. "If there's a will, then there's a way," she mumbled as she set her eyes on the jet.

He leaned his head back against the headrest of his seat. "You're right," he agreed. "Gimme some time to figure this shit out."

"I'm not gonna drop everything and run back to you once you have things figured out," she warned him with a side eye.

Priest shook his head. "I don't expect you to, but I'm not gonna sit back and just wait. I don't care if I have to fly back to New York myself. You ain't never fucking leaving me," he threatened, causing Britain to chuckle.

Britain scoffed again. "You're dead, remember?"

He smacked his lips carelessly. "I don't give a fuck."

Together, the two burst into laughter. Their unorthodox life had become their new normal, and speaking on it in such a casual manner was amusing. It was nice to share some laughter with each other since they had so much tension between them. Priest extended his pinky finger to Britain, causing her to glance down at it questioningly.

"Promise me you'll miss me enough to come back to me soon," he proposed as he eyed her through his dark orbs.

Without any hesitation, she hooked her pinky with his. "You promise me that you’ll never make me feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life ever again. Keep all your promises to me like you've been doing," she requested.

"You got my word,Gioia," he agreed to another promise that he had no intentions of breaking.

Sealing the promise, the two kept their pinkies interlocked for a while before parting their fingers. Glancing out the window, she could see the door to the jet open as the stairs were wheeled over to the aircraft so she could board it. Pursing her lips, sheglanced over at Priest who was sporting a bleak expression. "That's my cue," she said, motioning her head toward the jet.

He exhaled a heavy sigh as he nodded his head. "Yeah," he said as he reached for his door. Exiting the vehicle, he made his way around to assist her out. She shuffled behind him as he handed over her bags to the flight attendant to be taken up the steps of the jet.

Turning around, he faced her, his eyes peering down at her. She gazed up at him, a light smile gracing her face. "I love you," he professed to her as he opened his arms.

Britain instantaneously fell into his embrace, clinging to his chest. No matter how upset and unforgiving she felt, she was still madly in love with him and vice versa. "I love you too," she replied, letting the smooth scent of his Creed cologne fill her nostrils.

"Come back to me when you're ready. Just don't take too long." He sat a kiss on the top of her head.

Britain nodded her head, remaining in his embrace for a little while longer. It pained her to part ways from him, but she couldn't see herself bottling in all her true feelings just to appease him and his wants. He made a selfish move, and although their relationship was never tit for tat, his decision made her think that maybe she was too selfless when it came to him. Her mind was scattered, and she needed to figure things out without being met with his dark orbs full of sorrow. Some distance and time would do them well.

His hold on her faltered, releasing her so she could make her way toward the jet. He leaned against their Bentley Bentayga, watching as she boarded the plane. She was sure to wave goodbye to him, which he returned by kissing his two fingers and gesturing the kiss in her direction.Once Britain got on the jet, the door was pulled shut, causing a sinking feeling to settle in the pit of his stomach.

He had to let her go.

Chapter Sixteen

A high level of uneasiness surrounded Priest as he watched Britain's jet take off in the direction of The States. He felt like he was letting her go at the worst time possible. His situation was still making its rounds in the streets, and his dogmatic mother was still making it her mission to spread horrid lies and allegations to the media. Watching it unfold as he remained in the shadows in Italy was sickening. It became even more gut-wrenching once he realized he wouldn't be able to protect Britain from what she could be faced with upon landing in New York.

Of course, he tried his best to ensure that security was tight and that no one could fuck with Britain's safety, but for some reason, he felt like that wasn't enough. She was the woman he loved unconditionally; he didn't think he could ever be at peace if he wasn't in the city by her side, no matter how much security detail she had or how many times J'Ru and Kaymen promised she was safe with them.

Britain too felt a sense of uneasiness as she felt the jet descend from the skies. The skies were gloomy as light rain showered the city, which only increased her anxiety. The jet landed in New York around five in the evening, which translated to eleven in the evening out in Italy. She had picked up the skillof converting the time in her head from Priest. At first, she made it seem as though it was so complex, but now, she was doing it without even thinking.

Due to the rain, the pilot had to ensure all safety precautions were followed, so it took a while for her to actually step out of the jet. When she was finally cleared, she was met with none other than Cyro, who already had his hand out for her and an umbrella to hover over her head and shield her from the rain.

Cyro being the first familiar face she saw upon landing made her chuckle. "Pleasure to have you back,Mrs. Justice," he offered Britain a polite head nod.

A smile canvassed Britain's face as she placed her hand in his. "It's good to be back. And we're engaged, not married yet," Britain enlightened Cyro, who had addressed her with Priest's last name.

As he aided her down the steps of the jet, he nodded his head. "Okay,Mrs. Justice," he returned with the use of Priest's last name, disregarding her correction.