Page 132 of The Twilight Theft

And Noah. Enzo would have killed Jayce and me in the stairwell if Noah hadn’t rescued us. A man I didn’t even know.

“Jayce, I don’t want to keep living this fake life. I left the CIA because I wanted to get away from the lies. But all I did was exchange lies for spin, and nothing got any better. Until you.”

Her mouth slowly eased open, but no words came.

“You’re the most open and honest—”

“I hold a lot in.”

I tapped her nose. “Would you let me finish?”

“Will it be long?” She inclined her head toward the bowl. “I’m hungry.”

“No, you’re not. You’re deflecting.” I placed a hand on either side of her face, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I know that, because you ran on an injured leg to save me. You showed me how you feel about me. There’s no need for words.”

“I’ve never had a boyfriend before.”

I kissed the tip of her nose. “And I hope I’m the last one you ever have.”

She took in a sharp breath. “That sounds kind of serious.”

“I’m kind of a serious guy.”

Was it too much? Too soon?

Screw it.

“If you can’t stay here, what if I come back to Halifax with you for a while? Maybe a couple of weeks?”

“We have nothing in common, Drew.” She pulled my hands from her face. “How would that ever work?”

“So we find common ground. We both grew up in the light. You fell into the shadows, and I skulked into them intentionally. We can start there and spend every day keeping each other out of the dark.”

She placed my hands on her hips and wrapped her arms around my neck. “In the twilight?”

“I don’t care.” I slid my hands to her ass. “As long as you’re there with me.”

Chapter 48

Emmett

Iwalkedafewsteps toward the jet and paused, taking in the expansive hangar, the simplicity of our Gulfstream, and the sun shining through the giant open door at the front. Another job mostly well done.

A wild ride, but successful in the end.

Jayce and Drew climbed the stairs into the jet, his hand grazing her back, and I smiled. They’d wasted too much time living in their dark pasts, thinking they didn’t deserve the happiness they obviously felt together.

Good job, Emmett.

Life was too short for that bullshit.

Something metal clanged in a corner and a jolt ran up my spine. A fist flew at my face and a bag went over my head. Next would be the boot in the ribs.

No, it won’t, Em. You’re safe. You’re with your team.I wasn’t in the room where Fenix had held me. Not on the plane they flew me to Venice in, or the villa where I waited for Scarlett to come for me.

I slid my hand into my pants pocket. Casual move. Standard Emmett Reynolds.

But my fingers grazed the textured face of the poker chip hidden inside. It was blue with white pips. A flame decorated its center. Five thousand printed on one side. A small hole poked through its middle.

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