Page 80 of Conceal

I shake my head. “It’s too dangerous. You can cut the head off of a snake, but it can still bite. The Chernovs and Vitales all still have loyal soldiers. Someone will step up to take charge. And we’ll spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders.”

Her shoulders sag as she accepts the truth.

“But,” I say brightly, trying to cheer her up. “That means we can start over wherever you want. Argentina. Russia. Ireland. South Africa. You name it.”

Alarm flashes across her features.

“And I already have a plane waiting to take Juliet wherever you decide.”

She stares at me for a long, uncomfortable amount of time; her face unreadable. I wish I knew what she was thinking.

“I love you,” she whispers, tipping up on her toes and pressing her warm lips against mine. In a second my body’s on fire, molding itself to her, wrapping her in my arms, cupping the back of her head in one hand and bending her the way I like.

We kiss for longer than we probably should, but I don’t care. I feel like I can breathe again for the first time in months. Like the sun’s come out again after months of darkness. Like my heart has remembered how to beat.

But an alarm sounds in the back of my brain that she’s not out of danger yet.

I pull my lips away from hers like it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, chest heaving, and rest my forehead against hers.

“I’m so fucking in love with you...” I whisper, my breath caressing her face.

She pulls back farther, a confidence or knowing or something firming up her spine.

“And you all are coming with me?” She looks to Mik, as if he’d ever leave her side.

I don’t even bother with a response.

A soft smile plays on her lips, and I like it so much more than the sadness that was there a moment before.

“I’ve always wanted to visit Paris.”

The city of love.

And that’s all I need to hear.

I walk back out to the SUV. I find a realtor in Paris who can help us with an apartment at first while we find houses we want to buy and download Duolingo onto my phone because I don’t know how to speak French.

Chapter fifty

Lev

Ifucking hate this.

I hate everything about it.

Tatiana’s free. I can touch her, taste her, hold her, love her, and I’m in this stupid apartment packing suitcases.

Logically, I know it’s necessary. We have to leave the country. Clothes can be replaced; we really just need enough clothes, toiletries, and Sparkle’s equipment to last us a week or so.

So I go into my and Ro’s apartment and pack a bag for each of us. We never really had any meaningful belongings, so it’s quick work.

Up in Tati’s apartment, I pack a bag for her and one for Mik, before packing away feed, toys, and Sparkle into her carrying case.

Anxiety makes my skin prickle.

Finally, I’m standing on the curb with all of our bags, the damn bird, and growing irritation. Ro’s SUV appears around the corner and stops in front of me. I say fuck the bags, rip the back door open ,and launch myself at Tatiana.

Mik, thankfully, lets her go, knowing I need my time with her. I’ll tell him he’s a good man later. As he and Ro load everything in the back of the SUV, I hold on to her tighter.