Page 94 of Bulletproof Love

“Get going,” Leon says. “You’ll be late, and I have loads of work to do here.”

I wrap my arm around Falin and wince as I bend to grab our bags. She swats my arm away, slinging them over her shoulder before I do something else dumb and fuck myself up more. “No lifting! You better behave this weekend or you’ll get it.”

I waggle my brows. “Is that a promise?”

“Fuck’s sake, get out of here already,” Leon groans, throwing a couch cushion at our retreating back.

We get settled in Damon’s car, which he repeatedly told me I’d face sudden death if anything happened to. Attachment issues, I swear. “Are you ready?” I ask Falin.

She gives a half smile. “I think so?”

Not only are we taking a little trip into Jersey to see Bella and Ruby, the strong as fuck teenager labelled number two, but we’re also meeting Falin’s biological aunt for the first time.

“It’s going to be great,” I reassure her. The engine rumbles to life and Pierce The Veil sounds through the speakers. “And hey, maybe you’ll get some answers about your parents. If not, at least you’re laying to rest a part of you that’s been searching for so long.”

“When that match first came through I never believed I’d be alive long enough to actually speak with her, let alone meet her. Alexander had me by the throat,” I tense, my jaw clenching as she says his name. She notices, and covers her palm over mine. “Metaphorically, and… Well, you know the rest.”

“You’re here and she’s the luckiest person alive to get to meet you,” I say. “If she doesn’t love you, do I have your permission?—”

“Don’t even finish that thought,” she says, laughing and shaking her head. I rest my hand on her thigh and head out of the city, already feeling homesick for our little apartment with our kittens and our best friends.

“I’m going to miss the babies,” I say. “But it’ll be nice to get you all alone in a hotel room.”

“Why would that sound so creepy coming from anyone else? Major Norman Bates, shower scene vibes.”

“Oh yeah?” I drop my voice. “I can think of another shower scene I’d like to recreate.”

“But your stitches?” she asks. “Also, cheesy… What am I going to do with you?”

“I got the all clear from the doctor this morning. I was going to keep it a surprise and do a whole scene later where I get naked and fill the tub and?—”

She grabs my face, shutting me up with a quick kiss. “I think we should check into the hotelbeforewe visit the kids.”

Her hand drifts over the bulge in my pants and she gives a soft squeeze. “Yup. You’re right.”

“Always am.”

She’s not wrong.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX

FALIN

It’s beenone month since killing Alexander Orlov. Seems like so much longer though. I don’t think I’ll ever stop looking over my shoulder, and I sure as hell won’t go out without my switchblade. Like I keep reminding myself, Alexander may be dead, but there’s so many more monsters hiding in the shadows.

But tonight, I put that out of my mind. Walking hand in hand with Jasper down a busy Manhattan street, I feel something I haven’t felt in years. Peace.

“You’re doing it again,” Jasper says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I glance up at him. “What?”

“Hiding somewhere in your head. I call it your emo time.” He pulls me against his side and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “What’s going on in there?”

“My emo time, huh?” I laugh, soaking in how nice it is to feel his warmth against my skin in the early spring breeze. “I don’t know, just thinking about how different everything feels lately. How different I am.”

“Different good or different bad? If it’s bad, just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” I know he’s kidding around, but also, deep down, if I needed something, he’d seriously do it. Anything.

“Good. Definitely good.” We stop at a crosswalk and I turn to face him. “A year ago I would have run from all of this. The commitment, the family we’ve built, the messiness of letting go of what I can’t control.”

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