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“Do you think I could do it?”

He lifts my chin and gazes into my eyes. “I think you could do anything.” He leans slowly down for another kiss.

“Cheesy,” I whisper, but I’m smiling ear to ear, intoxicated just by his closeness.

We kiss passionately, then leave the apartment building. In the car, he plays gentle music, and we drive without talking. He places his hand on my leg. I hold onto his big bruised knuckles. The cuts and scrapes are a sign he’s just like any other man. A sign that gunning for Rafael could end up with his death.

I can’t have that. I squeeze his hand.

“Are you okay?” He asks huskily. “Or is that a stupid question?”

“A month ago, my life was simple. Serve tables. Smile. Ignore the crap that comes with the territory. Now… the threat, poor Sasha, Owen’s sister… the brick, and my poor baby girl having no idea what’s really going on. And you.”

My voice breaks. It shocks me. He squeezes my leg. I hold onto his hand with both of mine.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I say.

“When I get enough to move – if I do – it will be done right.”

“But there’s always a chance you’ll come off worse, isn’t there?” I snap.

He says nothing, staring at the road. That’s all the answer I need.

“Believe it or not, I care about you,” I say. “All versions of me… the tired mom and the fun VIP girl and the spy, all of them, okay? Promise you won’t do anything without telling me first.”

“Serena—”

“Promise.”

He pulls the car over on a quiet, dark stretch of beach. Turns to me and takes my hands. “I promise.”

“Good, thank you.”

That gives me time to save him when he thinks he’s saving me.

We climb from the car. Nikolai wraps his arm over my shoulder, and we walk down the beach together. I lean against him, resting my cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “Do you think Rafael’s looking for us?” I ask.

“Probably,” he says, stroking his hand through my hair.

With the sea lapping, no one anywhere near us, and the moon shining down, this is the most peaceful I’ve felt in days.

“But the chances of him finding us here and now are almost zero,” he says. “Sooner or later, he’ll find the apartment complex. He’ll think to check it. But I’ll have made my move by then.”

Or I will have.

He kisses the top of my head. “You’re safe. I promise. Let’s just enjoy this.”

We walk for a time, then find a sandy dune. Nikolai takes off his jacket and lays it on the ground. I look at his hip, the holster there, with the gun ready for him to grab.

I sit beside him. He smiles down at me. His eyes have a dreamy look. He’s about to say something when his cell phone goes off. “What the… it’s Maksim. My brother.”

“Answer it,” I say hurriedly.

“Hello.” He brings the phone to his ear. “Yes. Yeah, I’ll be there. Uh—maybe. Yeah. Well, it hasn’t been long.” He laughs, shaking his head. “I know. Yeah. I’ll send the letter.” A pause, and his tone darkens. “Oh? Shit. Okay. No, no. Like I said before, man, we’re good here. I’m handling this. Focus on DC. Yeah, talk soon.” Nikolai’s mouth falls open. He looks so adorably delighted. “Love you too, brother.”

He hangs up and swallows, looking at me in shock.

“Good call?” I ask.