Page 45 of Operation Wolf: Eli
CHAPTER 24
Olivia
“ARE YOU SURE YOU’REready to do this?”
I smiled up at Eli. “Don’t you think it’s a little late to ask that?”
We were standing in a private airfield, our suitcases already on the small jet where Gunner and his wife, Celine, were on board, waiting for us.
“It’s never too late,” Eli said, reaching up to brush a stray hair that the wind had whipped across my cheek. His brown hair was backlit by the setting sun behind him, making it look as though his head was engulfed in a bronze halo. “I know how much you wanted to stay here in Chicago. How much you wanted to finish your degree and everything. We don’t have to leave.”
I shook my head. “It’s better this way,” I said, squeezing Eli’s hand.
It had been nearly a week since the final showdown between Eli and the Outfit, and I could still hardly believe we’d gotten through the ordeal alive.
Ian and the mysterious blond woman had managed to escape undetected when the police arrived on the scene. But after Ian had taken her to the hospital, the woman had given him the slip before he could question her.
Then there was the much more interesting drama that had unfolded. The mob was in an utter uproar over the death of Carideo and starting to sort out the leadership and what to do about the FBI that was currently making mincemeat out of their operations.
“We were lucky enough that the police let us go in the first place.”
“Yeah, well, with Hunter’s connections, it would have been hard for them not to,” Eli muttered. Then he smiled. “Guess it pays to have friends in high places.”
“Hey, you guys coming?” Gunner poked his head out the door.
“We’re coming!” I called. I turned back to Eli with a smile. “I think you’ll do absolutely great working for Cooper Enterprises,” I said. “And besides, NYU has a fantastic art program. I’m hardly losing any of my credits during the transfer.”
“You mean the world to me,” Eli said, sweeping me into his arms for a long, tender kiss.
I clung to him as I kissed him back, so grateful that he was here, that we were together, and that we could finally move past the pain and into happier times.
I would have liked to stay longer, to give Dad more than the hasty burial we’d done for him. But it was too dangerous to remain in the city, and it was high time that the both of us finally moved on from this place.
“And you mean the world to me,” I replied after finally breaking the kiss. “I’m happy to go anywhere, as long as it’s with you.” I smiled. “And don’t forget your gift.” I nodded toward the painting that was propped against the stairs leading up to the jet. I had gotten Hunter to ship the painting to me, and I’d presented it to Eli last night after our romantic dinner. My secret project—the painting that embodied everything that I thought our child might look like. A child I wanted with Eli so badly I could practically taste it.
Together, we walked toward the jet’s stairs where Eli grabbed the painting like precious cargo before we boarded the plane, leaving Chicago behind for what we knew would be a brighter future . . . together.
