Page 74 of When Sinners Rise
“Yeah. He’ll have a whole load of intel that’s useable.” I smirk and fold my arms, knowing damn well that all this swings in my favour whether Logan likes it or not. An affair out there in the public, and the possibility of this Landon guy being pissed as hell? He’s not messing around with that. “Don’t worry, you’ll be going home soon enough.”
Sure as fuck, the door opens around ten minutes later, and a slightly less pissed-looking Logan walks in. “Get whatever you’ve got together. Landon should be at JFK tomorrow. Youtwo will come with me until then, and I’ll get the passports dealt with.”
He’s walking for the door again before any of us say a word.
I frown and look at Miri as Naja starts collecting their things. I should be pleased as hell with that outcome. It’s simple and efficient and doesn’t end with my death. Easy. He’s coming to get them, and Logan will protect them until that point. After that, they’re home and dry. Yeah, sounds perfect.
Shame of it is it rips the time we had right out of my hands.
“That’s it, then?” Miri says. “Just a while with Logan? Where will he take us?”
“I don’t know, but you’ll be safe.” I think.
She smiles and looks at Naja as she walks past us. “And where will you go?” I shrug, unsure for now. Home is where I should go. I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.
“Miri? Come on,” Naja says from the doorway.
“Okay. Just give me a minute.” Naja looks at me, still annoyed about my whole fucking being. “Naja. Please.”
“Fine.” Doesn’t stop her slamming the heavy, old door, though.
Quiet.
She sighs and looks around the room, smiling about something. “It’s cute here, don’t you think?” I frown again. Hadn’t thought about it a whole lot, if I’m honest.
“I doubt what goes on in here is that cute.”
“I don’t know. They must love each other if he’s doing all this to protect Samuel. Maybe he’s not as heartless as you seem to think he is.”
“Maybe.” I’m not feeling it, though. Definitely not until I know she’s in this Landon’s hands and on the plane back home.
I open the door to lead her out. No point dragging it on any longer than it needs to be. Nothing’s changing, and that’s exactly the way it needs to be.
“Wait, Shaw.” My brow cocks, and I look back at her. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do any of this, and you did. I know how much it’s cost you.” She walks a little closer and smiles, then fidgets her hands. “I don’t know what else to say. Just … thank you.”
“Yeah, well, you deserved a better life than we were offering.” I smirk and stare down at lips that are damn near begging me to kiss them goodbye. “You can go find yourself a real one now.” She stares at me as I back away a few steps. “Make it good, yeah? Live it.”
We walk out and along the paths back past the church. Logan’s already in his car with Naja beside him and Samuel standing by the window. Nothing else is said. I just watch Miri walk over there and get on in, constantly checking back in with me before she disappears into the blacked-out interior.
The door slams, and I stand with Samuel as they reverse out of the parking lot and drive up to the road. Gone.
The longest fucking sigh rattles through me, and I turn to nod at Samuel before making my way to my own car. Done. There’s nothing else to say now, is there? Everyone’s happy and getting what they want. I nod to myself some more as I slide into the seat, close my own door, and start the engine.
Nothing stops my stare tracking out the way they went, though. I’m fixed on it, like it’s a trail I should be following. I don’t think it’s distrust of Logan. It’s more like a base feeling in the pit of my stomach, a yearning that’s somehow telling me I’m dumb to have let her go. Maybe that’s just the Cortez in me, though. She was our property after all.
Samuel’s beside me before I manage to pull out of my parking bay. He waits while I roll the window down. “They’restaying at my house until Landon gets here and the flight’s ready.”
“Yours? This is yours.”
“Here.” He hands over a piece of paper with an elegantly scrawled address on it. “This is my place. Your family don’t know where it is.”
“It's in Smithtown Bay?”
“Yes. I thought, perhaps, you might have other things you wanted to say before she left.”
“And you’re telling a Cortez where your home is now? You’re more intelligent than that.”
“Perhaps, but what does it matter anymore?” He smiles and looks back at his church. “Love’s the thing that matters. I’m ready for it to matter more. You’ve just taught me that.” I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about, but I stare at the address some more as he starts walking away. “Good luck, Shaw Cortez. Keep looking after that conscience of yours. It will guide you well.”
