Page 115 of Till Death Do Us Part

She laughed, hot and heavy. “If this mission all works out… I’m going to have a lot to get out of my system once we’re done.”

“Then it’s yours,” I whispered. “Take it.”

“Mm. That’s what I like to hear.” She paused. “You know I do… love you, though.”

“Of course,” I laughed, brushing her cheek. “And I love you too. That’s why I want to make sure you have everything you want.”

She smiled, a light flashing in her eyes, before she kissed me again. She pulled back when footsteps came from the stairwell behind her, and she closed her pants again just as the door swung open and Petra came out, holding Clara and giving Vera a look.

“They got the cat out of the safehouse too,” she said. “But she’s abjectly miserable without her moms.” She paused, looking at the two of us. “Am I interrupting you fucking?”

“No, no,” I blurted. “We were just talking. About what comes next.” Vera put a hand up.

“We just finished fucking.”

“Vera!” I put my hands over my face.

“In that case, I’m not handing you the cat until you’ve dealt with the other pussy on your hands.” Clara mewed happily now in Vera’s company, though, and Petra leaned against the fence. “Operation’s ready to come together. Rail’s prepped the security for Elaine to stay here.”

“No,” I said. “I’m coming with.”

They both shot me looks, but I stood up taller.

“They want me alive. They’ll be more careful what they do if I’m with the group. And I’m done with staying off to the side while everybody else puts themselves in danger for my sake. Vera’s my wife. I’m not letting her go into this place alone.”

Vera and Petra exchanged looks, and I saw the dry smile on Petra’s face before it spread to Vera’s. “Damn,” Petra said. “She really does love you. Guess I won’t be able to knock your lights out. I’d hate to make Elaine sad.”

I pouted. “If you hurt my wife, I’m going to be mad at you.”

“Elaine,” Vera said, her voice soft but serious. “We don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. You don’t have to do this. Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” I said. “I promise. If you’re going, then I’m going with you. This is our mission.”

She slipped her hand into mine, eyes gleaming. “Then we’d better tell Rail. There’s no time to lose.”

Chapter 58

vera

Rail’s voice over the radio was gravelly as Petra pulled the car into the lot behind the facility.

“The Whitecliffs are in position,” he said. “The water tower demolitions are scheduled to go ahead at twenty minutes to midnight. The emergency signal is ready to go whenever you’re in position.”

I smirked, looking out the front windshield—Caitlyn and Elaine in the back, Caitlyn on her computer and Elaine watching the surroundings carefully. “Guess you’re back in the game, huh, Rail?”

“Hmm… let’s say the scene was getting dull. A new clan emerging? I guess my ears pricked up.”

“Once this is done, we should keep working together.”

“Presumptuous as ever, Wolf. But you can’t get far without a bit of audacity. To be clear—I think this is a harebrained suicide mission. Prove me wrong and come out of there alive, and we can work together. I’ll even cut a better deal for you if you come out with all your limbs still at least half attached.”

“Ah, I should be able to do that. I’ll send the signal once we’re in position.”

“Good luck. To you and your wife both. And your whole family.”

My whole family.

Despite all this time dedicating myself to a family… somehow, I felt like I’d never had one of those before.