“It was time,” I reply, without looking at Mayfair. I just watch Tess.
And her smile iseverything.
She’s the reason for not spending weeks in the basement of the Blackfen headquarters with my victims.
For a second, I can see a different future. Walking hand in hand through the woods with her. Our kids running ahead. Golden-red leaves, and spring flowers. Summer sun, and footprints in the snow. Her. Me. All the time. Forever.
I love her.
The acknowledgement is natural, as though it’s always been inside me, waiting to step out of the shadows.
“If we provide you with his information before we dispose of him,” begins Mayfair, “you could investigate and find anyone else involved?”
“Yeah. I’d still do all of that.” I glance down at Tess. I have a flash of hope that perhaps she’d work with me.
Westminster meets the eyes of each man, silently asking a question, then he turns to me. “We’d be happy to help, and host anyone you bring. You can count yourself a member of the London Mafia?—”
“Maths Club,” corrects a female voice from the far end of the table, and there’s a mix of groans and laughter.
But all that matters to me is that Tess is smiling, and when I shift my hand, laces her fingers with mine.
My heart lifts.
“We have the problem of what to do with him now,” Mayfair says, jerking his chin towards the man on the floor. “Becausethat’sa waste of oxygen. Who has space in suitable ‘accommodation’?”
“Currently no one in mine,” one of the English accented Blackwood triplets offers. “I won’t deal with it personally, but I have someone who’s good at this sort of thing.”
“Good. Thank you.” I stand, and Tess blinks once before she’s on her feet, at my side. “We’ll be going.” I’ve shared Tess long enough. I’ve achieved what I wanted, it’s time to go before there are more maths jokes.
“Good bye! It was lovely to meet you all,” Tess says sweetly.
“We’ll see you next week,” replies one of the women. Willow, I think. Bethnal’s wife. “For book club.”
Tess hesitates.
Willow frowns. “You’ll come, right?”
“I’d like that,” Tess replies diplomatically.
“She’ll be there,” I say. “Even if I have to chase her down myself.”
There’s laughter, and I pretend it’s a joke.
Because our chases? They’ve felt like games, but having had her with me this evening is serious. I discovered seeing otherpeople with her is not just bearable, it’s fine, becausesheis here, by my side. Because she believes in me.
That changes everything.
I wanted her before. I’d been willing to lie and cheat and kill to keep her.
But now? It’s a matter of life or death.
Tess belongs tome.
20
TESS
We’re so good at faking, I feel like his girlfriend for the whole journey back. We discuss how the evening went, and Kirill tells me about everyone there. He has a scary amount of information and power.
