“I know that. I handled it.”
“You read the book? Rocked her a little?”
“Exactly the way you do.”
She chews her lip. “I’m sorry if I’m being overbearing. It’s just, she’s all I’ve had. It’s been just me and her since she was born.”
“I understand that.” I lead Allie downstairs, pour her some wine, and sit with her on the couch. She drinks and puts her feet in my lap as I tell her about the plan with her brother.
She doesn’t seem happy about it. “You don’t think Medved is going to see through this?”
“That’s the beauty. It doesn’t matter if he does or not. All I need is for him to send Satya or someone else here. I just need an inch of leverage to use against him.” Mostly I want to kill that old bitch desperately, but I keep that to myself.
I pull Allie closer and wrap my arms around her. She tilts her chin up and accepts a kiss. I hold her mouth against mine, tasting her and breathing her, and something strange occurs to me.
This is normal. Oddly, freakishly normal. We’re parents sitting together after putting our child down to sleep like millions of parents have before. But we’ve never quite had this before.
It’s domestic and simple, and it feels good.
“Can I ask you something?” She brushes her lips across mine, moving her hips in a slow, rhythmic circle. I’m stiffening between her legs.
“I won’t be able to think clearly with you doing that.”
“If I hadn’t been about to marry that other man, would you have taken me like this?” She grinds harder, her breaths coming faster.
“Eventually. I don’t think I could have resisted for long.”
“You can’t resist me?”
“There’s something about your womanly charms.”
“Says the man with the hard dick.”
“I told you, blood’s going in the wrong direction.”
She smiles and bites my lip. “I’m happy you did. Kidnapped me, I mean.”
“I’m happy I did too.” I grip her hair, hunger flaring bright. “My only regret is not murdering a man and forcing you to marry me sooner.”
“I could’ve done without the killing, but I guess the end justifies the means, right?”
“Something like that.” I kiss her hard, burying her mouth with mine, and pull her down onto the couch.
ALLIE
Iwake up early the next morning. Mass is already gone, like usual. I smell the coffee he made downstairs, already waiting in a carafe, and smile to myself.
I can get used to this. Because it’s my new reality.
Rosie’s still asleep, and I decide to let her stay that way for a little bit longer. I head downstairs, already thinking about what I’ll do with the day. Maybe show Gabe around the place. I wish I could tell him about Elias, but that’s a line I can’t cross.
I make it halfway through a coffee before the siren begins to wail.
“What’s happening?!” I look around in a panic.
Lady’s voice cuts through the noise. “Do not be alarmed. This is only a drill. Please evacuate to the nearest designated safe zone.”
“What do you mean, it’s a drill?”
