“This is such a mess,” Blair comments, and my shoulders sag a little.
“It really is.”
“How did we get to this point?”
Her softly spoken question makes my jaw clench. One of my arms wraps around Blair’s waist, pulling her into my side. The scent of her shampoo lingers in the air, and it soothes the aching nerves inside me. Yet, it’s only a matter of time before I completely lose my shit and snap. At this point, it’s not a matter of if — it’s a matter of when.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But it will all work out eventually. It has to. Mom will wake up and heal, Dad won’t stay in prison for long. I will find Luna, and you will get to kill those who hurt you, Blair. I promise.”
She looks up at me, and I can’t decipher the emotions that flood her expression. A hint of guilt, regret, hope, and what seems to be gratitude. She nods, then kisses my shoulder. My grip on her waist tightens, and this little moment, which couldn’t have possibly lasted more than two minutes, is the most peaceful I’ve known in a while.
The moment is interrupted when Aria returns, the elevator door opening. I take my arm away from Blair, reluctantly so, and start shoving the remaining boxes and bags into the elevator.
“They’re here,” Aria says. “They’re starting with the top floor, and they’ll go down. They’ve been instructed to clean the underground passage as well, in case the feds find it.”
I nod. “Good work, squirt.”
“Let’s go.’’ Blair takes her hand in mine, our fingers intertwined together. A single, most simple touch by her, and I’m already feeling a bit better. The effect she has on me is instant, and she’s not someone I’ll ever let go of.
She’s mine, always and forever.
As she leads me down the stairs, making our way to the basement, my eyes are glued to the way her hand is holding mine. It’s only now that I realize the intensity of Dad’s love for Mom. It’s the same as the deeply rooted feelings I have for Blair, and I’m certain if the two of us were in the position Dad and Mom are in right now, I’d do the same. I’d pull the trigger just to be with her.
“Arlo,” Blair’s soft voice reaches my ears, though she doesn’t turn to look at me. “I love you. We’ll get through this together. We have to.”
She gives me a small squeeze, and I nod, although she can’t see it. “We have to.”
As soon as we step into the basement, I see people already taking action. The passage is wide open, with at least twenty of our men entering. They’re all wearing full gear, provided by Freya. My eyes flick to the side, to four massive tanks of some clear liquid.
“Ah,’’ Lucas pops up, noticing my curiosity. “Freya gave us those. It will get rid of every single DNA in this manor without ruining the furniture, clothes, or anything of the sort. It’s one of her new creations.”
“And why is everyone wearing gas masks?”
“Because it’s still in the trial stage. Just in case.”
I nod. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes. Everything you’ve packed has been shipped to a secure location, and Aria left with Niko. She took Arson with her, just so you two won’t have to think about her as well.”
Blair’s face washes over with relief. “Good, good. I almost forgot about Arson.”
“Where will you two go?” Lucas asks, and I pause for a moment, then sit on an empty bench, watching as the men around us start working diligently. Once they’re fully wrapped in their gear, protective gloves, and masks, they grab everything they need and start walking up the stairs, leaving the three of us all alone.
“I’m thinking of the building above Niko’s diner. It’s not being used, right?”
Lucas nods. “Yeah, it’s supposed to be a residential building, but no one lives there. We never got around to renovating the entire thing. There’s a small studio we use from time to time, fully furnished and usable. You can go there. The entrance is separate from the diner.”
“The only problem is…” I sigh. “The Agent has someone watching over the house for sure. If we leave through the door, he’ll have us followed. If we take the passage route, he’ll be pissed. I don’t know anything about him to know whether or not I can afford to piss him off.”
“Since when do you care about shit like that?”
I pause. “You’re right. I don’t. Let’s go, butterfly. We’ll leave through the passage.”
She nods. “Did you bring everything?”
Lucas interjects before I can respond. “I’ll have someone bring you the necessities. There should be some clothes for you, Blair, that Aria left behind last summer. I’m not sure if it will fit, but it should be fine for a day or two.”
“It’s okay, thank you,” Blair smiles.
