Page 34

CHAPTER 34

SCARLET

I love him, but do I trust him?

After Vincent, I trusted no one. I couldn’t fathom trusting anyone who bought into organized crime. It went beyond the crime, of course. How could a trustworthy person believe a man had the right to beat his wife? How could a family member sell a daughter in a business transaction, not caring for her well-being? Greed is a sin for a reason. Greed leads people down amoral paths. And one thing motivates those in organized crime—greed.

But here is a man with more money than he can spend in his lifetime. His motivation has evolved. He wants his sister to be healthy. He wants her to beat a demon that he’s furious he can’t fight for her.

To me, he has been kind. I trusted him to touch me, the first man since Vincent. And right or wrong, while the rational part of my mind says he wasn’t honest with me, I believe him when he says he did what I would’ve done in his shoes, because Willow was the one person in my world I trusted. She hated our family’s culture and what we represented as much as I did. I would’ve done anything to assure her safety.

My soul trusts the man before me. But still…he lied to me.

There’s a rap at the closed door.

“Hate to interrupt, but we need to convene. We’ve got to finalize plans before we exit England.”

“Aye. Give us one more minute.” Nick’s index finger brushes against my cheek. “Your eyes have softened. An Aspen once more.”

How poetic.

“You okay?”

“You let me mourn her.” That’s the bit I can’t let go.

“She’s still dead to you. Don’t you see that?”

“No. She’s alive.” Can’t he see that?

“Is it so different? If she’s living in another country, and you can’t see her ever again, or if she’s up on a cloud, living in heaven?”

I close my eyes. It’s different. Christ, it’s different.

“Can you forgive me?”

“Forgive, yes. Forget, no. From here on out, I need honesty. Absolute. You’re the one who said no secrets.”

“Quite right. Understood.”

We stare at each other, gazes hard and firm, only his burns through my skin and singes my heart.

I nod confirmation. We’ll be all right .

He pulls me to him, pressing my face to his, one hand on the back of my head and one on my back.

“I love you, Angel.”

Just as quickly, he releases me and slides the door open.

The man behind the computer says, “If you’re ready, I’m going to dial in the team. Won’t mess with video, as we’re in transit.”

The driver of the van remains focused, intent on the road.

“Works for us,” Nick says.

Nick’s strong hand nestles into my lower back, and the warmth eases the tension. He guides me to a bench that runs against the side of the van opposite Sophia and her computer terminal.

There’s a click and then Sophia says, “I’ve got Angel and Falcon here. Ready to chat.”

“Excellent. Angel, let’s talk about your options first.”

“Why me?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Nick says, practically speaking over me.

I shoot Nick a glare, but he unwisely ignores it.

“Angel, this is Nomad. I’d like to move you into protective custody.”

Ah, Tristan. “What about Falcon?”

“If he’s game to walk away from his businesses?—”

“No,” Nick says. “I’m not running from this. But it’s a good idea for Angel, temporarily, if you can do it right. Like we discussed.”

“No,” I interject. “And don’t talk over me as if I’m not a human being with value.”

“You have a tremendous value, and that’s why we’re talking about you first. You are the highest priority,” Nick argues, the blue in his eyes icier than I’ve ever seen. It’s like we didn’t just have an argument and make up.

“All right, you two. Good to see you’ve bonded. But we’ve got some decisions coming up. Need to decide which direction this caravan is going and need to get teams in place to assist.”

I recognize that American twang. “Leo?”

“Hi there, Angel. Might as well tell you now that we heard your discussion. You’re in a souped-up van. You’ll do well to keep that in mind later tonight. As for the one you were asking about, she’s good, and I want to keep her that way, so from here on out, if you ever need a name for me, it’s Saint. Alrighty?”

“She’s nodding,” Sophia says. “There’s no video. You’ve got to use your voice.”

“When this is over, can I?—”

“Let’s discuss that later. You two open to new identities? It would mean leaving everything you know behind,” Leo says.

“What’re you offering? Greater protection than what Nomad can provide? Or are you speaking for his employer?” I ask, careful to avoid saying the word Interpol lest that be a keyword that’s being searched.

“Until the case, WITSEC is an option.”

“WITSEC isn’t the worst idea,” Nick says.

“I never imagined an ending where I floated to the clouds unscathed.” I scowl at Nick. “Let’s stop circling. I’m staying with you.”

Nick’s jaw clenches.

He blinks. Rubs his eyes.

“I dare you to fight me on this.”

His face softens. Resigned. “If I believed these blokes could keep you safer than I can, I’d fight you tooth and nail on that, love. As it is, there are too many parties here. I’ll keep you safe.”

“And you won’t consider a new start? There’s a lot of shit going down, Falcon. We could use you. You and I both know you don’t give a flying fuck about your businesses.” Leo’s voice comes through strong.

“Disappearing’s not an option,” Nick says.

“Copy that,” another male American voice says. “So, what’s the plan? Where do you want to go? You’re tracking due west at the moment.”

“And to confirm,” Leo breaks in, “it’s the two of you? You’re not separating? Safest option?—”

“We’re not separating,” I cut Leo off and meet Nick’s gaze dead on.

“Seems I can’t shake my angel,” he says, the corners of his lips tugging upwards.

“No, you can’t.”