Page 108 of Dark Soul

EPILOGUE

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Alexia

“This is it,” Dark said, letting her into the small studio apartment.

“It’s not as bad as I imagined,” she said. “At least the windows are big.”

Dark arched an eyebrow.

“You’d be willing to live here?”

“Thorne did say he had a one-bedroom he could clear out for us,” she reminded him. “But yes. I’d be willing to live anywhere, if it means we can be together.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.

“God, Alexia, I …”

“Just say you’ll give us a chance, Dark. A chance to see if this works.”

“Believe me, this works,” he said, grabbing on to her butt and bringing her flush against his hard body.

“Not that,” she said, laughing. “I already know that works. I mean, if we work, you and I, without any lies between us.”

“No more lies,” he promised, bringing her even closer into his embrace.

“What do you think Thorne wants to talk to you about?”

Dark shrugged his powerful shoulders. “He’ll tell us when he’s ready, but I imagine he’s got another target for us.”

“Like Kvyat?” Alexia shivered. “Thorne told me the man had arranged to sell the plans for an experimental nuclear reactor to the Iranians, who would have used it to manufacture weapons … I just don’t understand how a man could do that …”

“I wish you hadn’t had to see that. And I wish you hadn’t had to see him die,” Dark said, tightening his arms around her.

“He could have traded me back, along with Nikolai, but he gifted me to that awful man, Dark. I have no illusions about what would have happened to me if you and your team hadn’t been there.”

“We were there. I’ll always be there for you, Alexia. I swear to you.”

She burrowed into his T-shirt, feeling his strength and letting it fill her.

“There’s something I need to ask you,” he said.

She tensed, then forced herself to relax.

No more lies.

“You told us you had a contact, remember? Somebody tipped you off that Kvyat was looking for a tutor for his son.”

Alexia nodded. “Yes. I already told Thorne everything I know about him, but it isn’t much. All I know is he’s a journalist, and that he was looking to expose Kvyat …”

“He could have gotten you killed.”

“He didn’t.” She paused for a moment. “Thorne wants an introduction.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him I’d email my contact, but that it would be up to him whether he wanted to speak to Thorne or not.”