Page 116

“Together. I trust you, and you trust me, right?” I stare into his eyes. “You told me once that when this was done, when all the drama was over and we got to the bottom of this—” My voice wobbles. “You told me you were letting me go home, Torin. Is that still true?”

He holds my gaze, my face framed in his hands. “When this is over. When our enemies are in the ground.” His thumb brushes my cheek, just once. “I'll let you go wherever you want, Valentina. Every door open, every road yours.” A beat passes. His jaw tightens. “But I'd be a damned liar if I said I’m not hoping you choose the one that leads back to me.”

He kisses me again and lifts me straight up, my legs wrapped around his torso, his fingers twisted in my hair. He's too impatient to take us to bed, so he lays us on the couch, kissing me, my tongue against his. I hear that distinct male sound of satisfaction that makes me feel like a goddamn queen.

Something breaks open in my chest. I don't answer with words. I answer the only way I know how—by closing the last inch between us and kissing him again.

He makes a sound low in his throat, pulls me into his lap, and there is no more talking. There is only this. Only him. Only the way Torin McCarthy kisses me as if I’m the only solid thing in a world still shaking. Only the couch and the firelight and my naked body joined with his.

He kisses me again. I kiss him back.

“I love you.” The first thrust takes my breath away. My arms reach around his broad shoulders. “I love you,” he says, his eyes burning into mine.

“And I love you.”

He turns so he's on his back and I'm riding him, my legs straddling either side, moving with friction, chasing pleasure. Every roll of my hips catches the metal. I've learned what to do with that. His hands cup my breasts as his eyes rove over me. “I love you so much, and I don't want to lose you.”

“I don't want to lose you either.”

“Then promise me you won't.”

“I promise.” A spasm rips through me, and I lose my words entirely, lose everything but him, his name the only thing left on my lips. Then he follows, and I collapse against his chest, both of us breathing hard, still tangled together.

Neither of us moves to separate.

The next morning, we open our eyes at just about the same time.

I’m not sure either of us actually slept.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

TORIN

The flight back is quiet. I've seen a side of Valentina I haven't had the privilege of seeing before. She's quiet. Trusting. Her head is on my shoulder for half the flight, but she's not sleeping.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“Thinking.”

I hold her hand and savor this moment, willing myself to believe it won't be the last time.

Now that Declan has lost his contact in Boston, he's had to piece together what he knows.

We get to our hotel, secured by Declan and Seamus. The first thing I do is hand her my cell phone. “Go on. Call Lorenzo.”

With shaking hands, she dials Lorenzo’s number from memory. “Hello? Lorenzo?” She clears her throat. “It's me. Valentina.” I hear his voice on the other end of the line. He might be crying or cursing in Italian, maybe both.

Her eyes meet mine. “Never been safer.” I smile at her, hold her hand, and kiss her fingers. She does trust me.

“No, I can’t tell you where I am yet, but soon. If I tell you, it might compromise my safety. But I promise you I will. Very soon. Can you answer a question for me?”

She holds my gaze. I can hear Italian on the other end of the line. She nods and clears her throat. “It's come to my attention that a woman was impersonating me. She was engaged to marry one of the McCarthys, and when you and Father went to go see her, you realized it wasn't me.”

She nods, listening. “I want to know what happened to that woman.” She goes still. “You brought her in for questioning,” she repeats, looking at me. “I see. You were going to execute her, but Father convinced you to give her to him. He said he would handle her execution.”

Her eyes stay on mine. Her throat works, her voice a bit husky. “Did you ever confirm that he followed through with it?”

A pause. “Right. Why would you? No, I’m not in immediate danger. I need to go. Save this number, Lorenzo.” Her brow knits. “I know you’d come for me. I know you will. Lorenzo, I promise. I was taken from you. I was held. Terrible things have happened to me, but I'm alright now. You have to trust me.”