60. Easton
Easton
SINGAPORE - TWO DAYS LATER
“The fact we’re here . . . in this place of all places,” Gwen whispers, palm pressed to the window overlooking the skyline. “Either Molly knows we’re onto her, or she came here because she’s just that big of a see-you-next-Tuesday. I mean, forgive my language—but damn.”
I cross the hotel suite and rest my hand at the small of her back, inhaling her perfume.
While I would rather we be on the coast of Italy, I’ll take anywhere in the world as long as it’s at her side, and she’s safe.
Got the by-her-side part covered, and we’re on the verge of the safety part.
Any minute now, in fact, and this nightmare will be over.
She leans into my touch and tips her head to rest on my shoulder. “This really feels like a full-circle thing. Julian saved Falcon from a plane crash here, and now . . .”
Right. I stare out the window at Singapore. From this height, the bay is like a dark mirror reflecting towers of light.
When she faces me, I follow suit, wasting no time to kiss her. We’ve yet to go beyond having a few stolen moments in the last forty-eight hours, but I’m dying to whisk her away when this mission is over. To take things slow—or fast, that’s always an option, too—and just be with her.
At the sound of a phone vibrating from a notification, her lips freeze against mine before she straightens and tilts her head in mild confusion.
“That’s my mobile. Can’t be Carter. He’s supposed to call you when it’s go-time.
” She grabs her phone from the nearby dresser, and a small smile crosses her lips. “Elaina texted. Checking in.”
“Is she still upset we kept her in the dark?” I ask as her fingers race over the screen to respond.
“She’s a teenager. She’s upset about a lot of things,” she says with a light laugh. “But she’s just relieved we’re all okay, and that Camila was able to help without consequences to her health.”
Thank God for that.
While I wait for her to wrap up texting, I go back to the window and set my hand on the glass.
My eyes land on the brown and black leather bracelets.
Gwen bought them from a pop-up shop on the street earlier.
Pure impulse buy. I may not be a jewelry guy, but if it makes her happy, I’ll go to my grave wearing them. Just, not anytime soon.
I still have Constantine’s St. Michael medal, too.
He insisted I keep it. Apparently, he told Juliette about it, which prompted her to call me yesterday, and we wound up having a pretty good talk about faith and forgiveness and all the things.
She gave me a lot to think about. After all the evil I’ve seen in my lifetime—let’s just say I’ve decided to make the jump into believing what Juliette does, and I feel at peace with that.
“Annnnd now my mum’s blowing up my mobile,” Gwen grumbles. “She can wait.”
“She must be relieved your name has been cleared.”
Thankfully, POTUS and her grandfather moved fast in that department. They also resolved things with the Aussies, Brits, and Swiss without disclosing the truth about Falcon Falls or the president’s secret SEAL teams.
That leaves wrapping things up with Molly, who must know by now we didn’t die in Switzerland and her team failed in England. But she’s so arrogant and cocky, she thinks she’s safe from being found by us.
I push off the glass and pull her into my arms.
“Mum claims the damage has already been done in too many of her social circles.” She links her fingers behind my neck.
“And you feel horrible about that, I bet.” I smirk, then press my mouth to hers, licking her lips open.
“Downright shameful,” she murmurs just as my phone begins ringing.
I groan against her mouth, then back up to grab it from my pocket. “Carter’s on his way. Are you sure you want to go with us?”
I have to try one more time. The only reason her dad even let her come with us is because, as far as we can tell, Molly doesn’t have a death squad with her. She’s flying solo.
“I need this, trust me. Good for the soul.”
I toss my phone on the bed and draw her against me. “You know what would be good for my soul?”
She laughs, then takes a peek at what boxer-briefs I’m sporting. “Ohh, a new brand.”
“If you’re lucky, I might even let you take them off later.” I raise my brows a few times. “But only because I plan to sleep commando.”
“As long as you let me sleep naked next to you, we have a deal.”
“There will definitely be no sleeping,” I rasp, “that I can promise you.”