He lifted his jaw. “You won’t be able to shut me up.”
“Good.”
His gaze flicked to Angelo. Archer held out a hand. “Take care of my sister.”
Angelo clasped it. “That’s a vow I can make.”
They shook once.
Then Archer turned and walked toward the helicopter without looking back.
Ellory watched him disappear inside and the aircraft vibrate and liftoff into the pale blue New Jersey sky.
Only when it was gone did she issue a long, shuddering breath and felt her body slump.
Angelo slid his hand into hers. “You okay?”
Ellory nodded even though her throat still felt tight. “I had three days I didn’t think I’d ever get. It feels like a lifetime…and nothing at all.”
Angelo’s thumb brushed over the back of her hand. “And now he needs to heal.”
She looked up at him. “What happens after this? For him. For us.”
His gaze didn’t flinch away. “I don’t know what he’ll choose. I only know what I want.”
Her pulse jumped, accompanied by a flutter of need deep in her core that only seemed to increase each day she spent with her lover.
She slipped her arms around his neck. “What do you want?”
“I want you here.” He strummed the pad of his thumb over the crest of her cheek. “With us.”
Ellory’s breath caught and stuck. “Angelo…”
“We could use an accountant,” he continued, and she almost laughed at the blunt practicality of it until she saw the intensity in his eyes.
He went on, “You were a crucial asset in getting Cipher. There are more networks to uncover in the world.”
She stared at him. “You’re serious.”
“Dead serious.”
“You talked to Con about this?”
“He wanted me to pose the idea to you. What do you think? We could use your beautiful, brilliant brain.”
Emotion surged into her chest, too full, too fast. “So…what would I do?”
Angelo cupped her cheek, callused fingers gentle against her skin. “Work with Blackout teams. You’ll be protected. You’ll be part of it.”
Part of it.
The words landed like a blow. For so long she’d been outside every circle, useful but alone.
“We can keep honing your knife-throwing skills.”
Ellory swallowed. “And this is what you want?”
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “I want more than your skill set.”
