Page 74 of Sins and Salvation

I check my watch. "Three hours."

"Where to?" Maeve asks.

"Spain first. Then anywhere." I grab her hands. "I have people there who owe me."

Sarah snorts. "More criminals, right?"

"People who can get us what we need to start fresh."

Maeve yanks her hands away. "Hold up. You want to run off tonight with our six-year-old to another country where more of your shady friends will help us?"

"I want you both alive," I snap.

"And I want my son safe. Your contacts could sell us out the second we land."

"They won't. They know what happens to people who cross me."

Sarah whistles. "Jesus fucking Christ, what a mess."

Finn's phone buzzes. He walks off to answer it while I face Maeve.

"Look, this is shit timing. But we need to go. Now." I try to sound less desperate. "Just trust me on this."

She stares at me, torn. "Fine. But we tell Conor what's happening. No more bullshit."

"Done."

Finn walks back, face grim. "Cormac just called, the Russians found our sister."

"What?"

"Someone busted her out. Two guards dead."

"Fuck." I rake my hands through my hair. "She's in with the Russians."

"Looks like it."

Maeve grips my arm. "If she's working with them, she'll tell them about Conor. About us."

"We go now." I look at Sarah. "Pack only what Conor needs. Nothing traceable."

Sarah nods and goes inside. Finn follows, leaving me and Maeve alone in the darkening garden.

"I wanted more time," I tell her.

"For what?"

"To leave clean. Give you and Conor time to adjust." I touch her face. "Didn't want it like this."

Her eyes get wet. "I don't know if I can do this. Run forever."

"Not forever. Just until we're safe." I put my forehead against hers. "I'll make us safe."

"How?"

"Cut all ties. Become someone else. Someone better." I kiss her. "Someone you both deserve."

Inside, Conor hunches over his paper, crayon in hand like nothing's wrong. Sarah jams Conor's clothes into a backpack. Finn prowls past each window, checking sightlines, his hand on his gun.

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