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I know what he said, but it was an emotional moment. I don’t expect him to run away with me if I have to start over again.

“I love you, Elliott, but I don’t think it’s realistic for you to go into WITSEC with me.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I can’t really think of a specific reason why. I can think of twenty random reasons but they all sound dumb even in my head. “You’re a part owner of Shadow Security.”

“So are you.”

“Daniil and I have a contingency in place for something like this.”

“Then he and I will work something out too. I own two houses I can sell so we’ll have plenty of money to start over. I’ll re-invest the money I invested in Shadow Security into something else. I could get my PI license and do that for work. You could probably tell the program you want a teaching degree and you could teach computer science at a high school or something.”

“Have you actually put thought into this?” I demand incredulously.

“Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“I thought it would be easier if I didn’t drag you down with me.”

He reaches across the center console and grabs my hand. “Luna. Would you please knock it off? I’m a grown ass man who’s lived a lifetime. I can decide how I want to spend my future.”

“You’d be miserable without Grim.”

“I’d be more miserable without you.”

I don’t know what to say to that so I just squeeze his hand. “I love you,” I whisper. “More than anything. That’s why I don’t want to ruin your life.”

“The only thing that would ruin my life is living it without you.”

“I love you,” I say again. “More than anything.”

“I love you too, princess.”

“I don’t want to have to start over,” I admit softly. “I want to fight to stay.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. And I promise—Daniil won’t be willing to let us go without a fight.”

“But what if they come after me?”

“There’s a copy of the list in the vault at the royal palace in Limaj. I think we have some pretty serious evidence that they don’t want released. My guess is, Daniil is going to have a conversation with Director Marchmont. Anything happens to you and me, that list goes public. He leaves you alone, we leave him alone.”

“You think that would work?” I ask.

“If anyone can make it work, Daniil can.”

I close my eyes and send up a soft prayer into the universe.

I don’t want to leave the wonderful life Elliott and I have started to build at Shadow Security, and I sure as hell don’t want to start over again.

“Get some rest, princess. Everything is going to be okay.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Epilogue

Rage