“There’s going to be a party,” I continue, slowly reaching for her hands. “It’s just for show, and I’ll slip out as soon as I can, but it might be a while.”
London stares at me for a long moment. “It’s an engagement party, isn’t it?”
“It means nothing,” I stress before tugging her against me. “It’s all part of the arrangement. You’re the one I’m coming back to, London.”
Her expression shifts and falls. “Okay.”
My stomach lurches. “I’m trying to arrange for you to see your parents at a neutral location. It won’t happen for some time, not until all of this dies down, but I’ll do what I can.”
I’m not even sure they’ll agree to visit London, not with how coldly they’ve been treating her, but I owe it to her to at least try.
London throws her arms around me. “Thank you.”
My arms come up around her. “You shouldn’t thank me. I’m the reason you can’t see them in the first place.”
London stirs. “It’s been a long day.”
I lead her to the bed, pull back the covers, and wait for her to settle in. Then, I pull down my pants and climb in next to her. London tucks herself into my side, and I spend a long time stroking her back and planning what to do next.
If the Fitzpatricks and Everetts want to play dirty, I’ll give them what they want.
And I won’t stop hitting them, even when there’s nothing left.
Chapter Eighteen
London
“Can’t I—”
“No.”
“But it’s just—”
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard me out.” My tone rises. “It’s just the library, for fuck’s sake. I’m not asking to step foot out of the house.”
With everything else happening, I know that any temporary freedom I’ve brokered is on hold.
I can’t blame Mason for it.
I spent the night tossing and turning and replaying what it felt like when the electricity cut off and the sound of gunshots sliced through the air. In the morning, as I stood under the showerhead, I tried not to shudder as I remembered what it felt like to take cover in the walk-in closet in Mason’s room while Katia fought outside the door.
Mason is right about hand-to-hand combat not being enough.
What good is learning how to use my fists if our enemies don’t play fair?
You’re not there yet, anyway. Besides, with Katia around, it’s unlikely you’ll ever have to fire a gun.
There is no love lost between the assassin and me, but if the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that her loyalty to Mason runs deeper than whatever jealousy and resentment she harbors toward me.
Despite all the trouble I keep causing her.
Still, I don’t like knowing I’m back to square one when it comes to my freedom, and I’ve spent the morning pacing and eavesdropping whenever I can.
I feel guilty for not trusting the information Mason gives me, but I know something has changed.
Sometime between the attack last night and when Mason woke up this morning, there’s been a shift.
