Page 139 of Inside the Wicked

“You deserve to walk hand in hand with your love down the street. Be shown off with pride. Be completely and onlyyou.Not this. Not hiding and sneaking around like a criminal.”

Rhett didn’t get any ice cream, only a coffee, which he takes a sip of.

“So do you,” I say. “This world isn’t fair sometimes. We don’t always get what we deserve, but what I do know is that we’re lucky. We have more than what most people hope to find even in secret.”

His arm around me caresses the top of my thigh. “You’re right, baby.”

I leave a pause of silence before I say, “When we get Liam back ... he’s in the same position as us. There’s a warrant out for him, and I don’t know what they could have on him that’s tied to his dad.”

“If he’s completely innocent, I wouldn’t worry.”

Rhett can’t be sure if Liam wasn’t involved in Matthew and Gregory’s conspiracies, but I am. I’ve been preparing myself to discover what he might have been aware of, but I hope I’m right in believing he was never privy to it.

“Why shouldn’t I worry?”

“Well, I should say I wouldn’t worry if Allie loves him back. She’s a damn good lawyer. If there’s anyone who can clear his name, it’s her.”

I don’t know how that didn’t come to mind, but it’s a beacon of hope.

“If not, we might need more baseball caps,” I say.

Rhett chuckles, finishing his coffee as I bite my way down the ice-cream cone.

Night is falling, and the diffusion of orange and pink against the sky is a sight that stops time. When life is usually too busy to stop and check the hour, it’s rare to find a place to watch thesun that gave us the day as it promises a new tomorrow with the beauty in its fleeting rays.

“I promise to love you, Rhett Kaiser,” I say, staring at the last of the amber glow. “Until our very last tomorrow.”

Rhett guides me to look at him by my chin. I can’t explain how sometimes I see him and I erupt inside like it’s the first time. Then I want to cry in absolute joy, because I found him. This is it. And life has never felt so promising just knowing he’ll be with me wherever we go.

“Until our very last tomorrow,” he says, then he kisses my deeply. Kisses me until we’re both struggling for breath, but neither of us want to let go.

When we do, and the night grows darker, I get to my feet and take off my sunglasses. I’m not usually great with heights, but since needing to hideout on the ledge of the penthouse apartment I guess I’m beginning to conquer that fear. I don’t look down as I cast my arms out for balance.

“Stability has never been your strong suit. Please get down,” Rhett says.

“Or you could join me.”

I’m glowing with euphoria walking the ledge. Maybe it’s the thought of facing Alistair tomorrow when we only narrowly escaped Jacob. Maybe it’s the fact we survived today that makes me feel a little delirious.

Rhett walks on the floor beside me, looking braced to grab me if I wobble the wrong way. “Ana, get down.”

“So bossy.”

I hop from one foot to the other, making Rhett jerk, and I giggle at his scowl.

“If you don’t get down?—”

“You’ll spank me? Maybe that’s why I’m still up here.”

Rhett’s blue eyes darken, his mouth almost curving a little.

“Devious little thing.”

“Catch me,” I call. Spinning, I throw all my trust at him in a backward fall.“Omph.”

I break into a grin as he cradles me then sets me down. He’s looking at me in a way I can’t decipher. Not smiling, not quite concern ...

“I didn’t think I’d meet anyone like you, Ana,” he says. My grin falls at the unexpected seriousness of his tone. “Tell me you want me despite all I’ve done.”

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