Page 95 of Code Name: Grit

“Ecstatic,” I assured him. “I can’t wait for you to see the villa.” It had been in my mother’s family for generations. “It always felt like home, no matter how briefly we stayed.”

We boarded the plane and settled into the luxury cabin as it took off into the night sky. Drake held my hand as we watched the lights fade beneath us.

“Next stop, Italy,” he said, brushing his lips against my knuckles. “As soon as we reach cruising altitude, I have another surprise for you.”

I raised a brow, and he winked. “What is it?”

He shook his head, smiling. “You’ll see.”

Once the pilot announced we were free to move around the cabin, he stood and held out his hand. I took it and followed him to the back of the aircraft, where he opened a door.

“Oh my,” I gasped at the stateroom that was bigger than our bedroom at home.

“I don’t want to wait any longer to make love to my wife,” he murmured, already unfastening the buttons on my blouse.

The eight-hour flightacross the Atlantic passed in a comfortable haze of champagne, quiet conversation, and sex that somehow felt different—better—now that we were married. As dawn broke, I leaned against Drake’s shoulder, watching the Mediterranean come into view, its azure waters sparkling beneath us as the jet began its descent toward the Italian coast. The familiar view of buildings with terracotta roofs cascading down the hillside to the sea below us sent a chill of excitement coursing through me. Drake and I would spend a month here. No missions, no investigations, just us.

“It’s perfect,” Drake murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple.

The car that had been waiting for us at the small airfield wound its way through narrow streets, climbing toward thehills above town. When we finally arrived at the villa, the sun had fully risen, illuminating ancient olive groves and vineyards stretching toward the ocean.

The Villa Bianchi stood as it had for centuries—stone walls weathered by time, wooden shutters thrown open to catch the morning breeze, a riot of bougainvillea climbing over the entrance. The caretaker, an elderly man who had known my mother since childhood, greeted us with bread still warm from the oven and local wine.

“I can see why you love it here,” Drake said as I gave him a tour that ended on the terrace.

I joined him, slipping my arm around his waist. “The perfect place to begin forever.”

His smile as he turned to me was both tender and heated. “Forever,” he agreed, drawing me into his arms. “Starting now.”

As his lips found mine, I surrendered to the sensation, to the knowledge that this was just the beginning. Whatever came next—challenges, missions, dangers—we would face them together. But for now, in this ancient place where generations of my family had found solace, there was a sweet promise of the endless days ahead we’d share.

25

GRIT

The trip back from Italy felt longer than our journey there, though I wasn’t sure if that was due to the actual flight time or my reluctance to leave the paradise we’d found at Villa Bianchi. For a month, Lumi and I had existed in our own world—exploring ancient coastal towns, swimming in the crystal-clear Mediterranean, and making love in the centuries-old villa that had become our sanctuary.

“You’re quiet,” Lumi said, her fingers intertwining with mine as our driver navigated the winding road from the airport toward Canada Lake.

“Just thinking about how perfect the past month has been,” I replied, bringing her hand to my lips. “And wondering if we couldn’t have stretched it to two.”

She laughed, the sound still as intoxicating as the first time I’d heard it. “You’re the one I caught checking your phone for updates from Tank.”

“Occupational hazard,” I admitted with a smile.

The truth was, as much as I had treasured our time away, I felt the familiar pull of work. K19 Sentinel Cyber was more than just a job—it was a calling that both Lumi and I shared.After weeks of lazy mornings and wine-soaked evenings, I found myself eager to return to the place and people that had brought us together, in the first place.

When we arrived at Kane Mountain Great Camp, Admiral and Alice greeted us at the entrance, both beaming with genuine warmth.

“Welcome back,” Admiral said, embracing Lumi before shaking my hand. “We’ve missed you both.”

“It hasn’t been the same around here without you,” Alice agreed, her eyes lingering on Lumi with a fondness that spoke of the bond they’d formed.

“Did we miss anything important?” I asked as we made our way to the main building. Admiral exchanged a glance with Alice. “Nothing that couldn’t wait for your return. We somehow managed to keep things running smoothly even without your help,” he joked.

The command center was buzzing with activity when we entered. Dragon sat at her station, headphones half on as she studied her monitor with intense focus. Tank leaned against a nearby console, his arms crossed and his tall frame towering over her as they conferred quietly. Atticus worked at a separate station, his leg now fully healed from the injury he’d sustained during Lumi’s rescue.

“Look who’s back,” Tank announced, raising his head and breaking into a smile that transformed his weathered features.

---