Page 28 of Guarding Fable

“So, you really think Popov will kill Papa?” Our father’s former boss was not a man who would put up with Papa embezzling money from him.

She nods. “He might end up turning himself in to go into witness protection if he can get away soon enough.”

“And Delano?”

“He will spend a lot of time in jail.”

I nod and look out at the scenery. Nighttime is coming fast, and the temps are dropping. Thankfully, there is a gas heater on to keep us warm.

“I think you should stay here.”

I look over at my sister. “I want to be with Leo.”

She sighs. “I just got you back.”

“Would you leave Luca behind?”

She shakes her head.

“See. I feel the same way. I’m less than ninety minutes away. We can see each other all the time.”

“We escaped a house only to be captured by two men.”

I laugh and glance behind us. Our men are in the kitchen, chatting about work. Luca is former FBI, and Alessandro is former NYPD. They have a lot in common. I watch as Alessandro says something making both Luca and Leo laugh.

“I think we’re going to be all right,” I say, holding my hand out. She takes it with a smile.

“Yeah, together we can do anything.”

Epilogue

Leo

18 months later

“Ican’t believe so many people were at my show,” Fable says as I drive up the mountain to our house. I smile at the astonishment in her voice. Almost the entire town of Pottsville turned out for her showing of oil paintings.

“I can. You’re very talented.”

“Leo, I could draw stick figures like Destiny, and you would think they were beautiful.”

It’s dark in the cab of my pickup, but I hear the blush in her voice. I turn into our driveway and throw my pickup into park. If we go inside the cabin, I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off her. She shimmered tonight, in her beauty and confidence and the amazing slip of a dress. The shiny green material changed hue every time she moved, and I barely kept my hands off her. I was so tempted to pull her into the library office and fuck her so hard neither of us would be able to remember our names or walk straight.

I undo my seatbelt, then hers. I cup her face so she can’t turn away from me, so she can tell I mean business.

“You are talented.”

She nods, but I can tell that she doesn’t believe me.

“You do know that one guy from DC was insanely in love with your work.”

She shrugs, and even though it’s been over a year since her father was killed, I want to bring him back to life and kill him again. Both my angel and her sister still deal with feelings of inadequacy.

“You are an amazing artist and a mother.”

Her mouth curves into a smile, and even in the dark pickup, I can see the twinkle in her eyes. “Thank you, Leo.”

“No bullshitting, either, Angel. You are talented. That dude who asked for more work from you runs one of the most elite galleries in DC.”

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