"We should sleep," Julian said. "Big day tomorrow. Partners meeting to discuss surveillance strategy."
"And handling Luca's situation."
"What situation?"
"He's being cagey about Valentino. Won't tell us how he's planning to convince the journalist not to publish. Just says it's under control." I frowned. "I'm concerned about his approach."
"Why?"
"Because Luca's usually forthcoming about strategy. But with this—with Valentino—he's secretive. Almost possessive about handling it personally. It's unusual."
"Maybe he just wants to protect us. Keep us at distance if things go wrong."
"Maybe." But something about Luca's behavior was off. The cold look in his eyes when he'd seen Valentino's photo. The intensity with which he'd volunteered to handle it. The absolute certainty that Valentino wouldn't publish.
I'd worry about it tomorrow. Tonight was about Julian. About us. About rebuilding what we'd damaged and making it stronger.
We turned off the lights and lay in the dark. Julian's head on my chest. My arms around him. Both finally at peace.
"Elio?" Julian said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad we fought. Not because I liked it. But because we learned how to fix it. How to talk instead of just hurt each other. How to be better partners."
"Me too. I hate that I hurt you. But I'm glad we got through it together."
"Next time we fight—and there will be a next time—we'll remember this. Remember that we can fix it. That we're worth fighting for."
"Always worth fighting for."
He fell asleep first. I stayed awake a while longer. Thinking about everything we'd talked about. Everything we'd agreed on. Everything we'd learned.
We were stronger now. More honest. More trusting. More of a partnership than we'd been before.
The threats were still out there. David Reeves regrouping for another assault. A mole inside our organization. Dante watchingJulian. Winston still feeding information to the FBI despite being powerless.
But Julian and I were united. Partners. Facing everything together instead of me trying to protect him from everything alone.
I pulled him closer and closed my eyes.
Tomorrow we'd meet with the partners. Plan surveillance strategy. Watch for the mole's next move. Deal with Luca's concerning behavior around Valentino. Prepare for whatever the FBI was planning next.
But tonight we were safe. Together. Stronger than we'd been before.
And that was worth all the fear and hurt and struggle it took to get here.
I fell asleep holding the man I loved. The man who'd taught me that trust was stronger than control. That partnership was better than protection. That love meant letting go as much as holding on.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. New threats. New fears.
But we'd face them together.
CHAPTER 15: JULIAN
TWO WEEKS AFTERElio and I reconciled, I found myself standing in Inferno's loading dock at 6 AM watching a shipment arrive, and I realized something: I was happy.
Not despite the danger. Not despite the constant vigilance. Not despite knowing that federal agents and enemies from my past were watching.
