Page 51 of To Catch a Firefly

If that’s the case, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for a lot of things. Please forgive me. Please. Please.

I miss you, my precious firefly.

I close out the email when I’m done and reopen the one from Lucky. This time, my message is meant to be read.

Hey, Luck. I hope you arrived safe in Greece. Can’t wait to hear what you get up to.

I know I said it before, but I’m sorry about the glass. It was never my intention to hurt you, and if I could go back, I’d do things differently. I wouldn’t keep it from you. As for Gabby, well, it had only just happened. I would have toldyou, but then you were here, and now… Now, we’re here. But I suppose, in the end, intentions only stretch so far.

I’m sorry, okay? I’ve been a shitty friend. I’ll do better, I promise. Please believe me.

Ellis

With a deep breath, I hit send. I can only hope it helps, at least a little.

“Don’t forget the steaks, baby,” my mom says.

I grab the plate and head outside. As I’m loading our steaks onto the grill, the first drops of rain hit my arm. They’re big, fat, and they splatter against me like paint on a canvas. I hustle inside before they start coming down in earnest.

Storm’s coming. Feels fitting.

Before I put my laptop away, I click open the email from my dad and type out a quick response. He wants to know if we can talk?

No.

I hit send and put it out of my mind.

Chapter 18

Lucky

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is a bad idea, Lucky-boy.”

I scoff, tugging Danil’s shirt up higher and bending to lick his nipple.

He hisses, arching toward me, even as his hands make like they’re going to push me away. “Anyone could see us.”

“And that’s a problem, why?” I counter, scraping my thumb across the bud as I bring my lips to his neck.

His head thunks against the wall. “Because we’re in a foreign country,farfrom home and legal representation, and I don’t want us getting arrested for indecent exposure in the back hall of afamily restaurant.”

I huff against his neck, pulling back as someone walks past us toward the bathroom. “Since when are you the voice of reason?” I ask, tugging his shirt down.

He brushes his hair into place with both hands, chest rising and falling and jeans tented. “Oh, I don’t know,” he snarks.“Since about two months ago when you decided getting past a broken heart meant diving headfirst into any and all potential danger?”

Irritated, I turn and walk away, but Danil catches up to me quickly. His hand curls around my wrist, grip loose.

“Lucky, if you want me to blow you back at the hotel, I’m all for it. You know that. But this isn’t like you. I’m worried.”

I pull from his grip, hackles up. “I don’t want your pity.”

“It’s notpity,” he says, stepping with me onto the street. “It’s caring. If you want to use me as a distraction, fine. I have no problem with it. But you’ve been…off, ever since we left Nebraska. It’s like you’re courting danger. Taking risks you never used to.”

I hold up my hand for a taxi, shaking my head. “We both take risks for our job.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” he snaps. “This isn’t you swimming with sharks. This is you being reckless. This is you drowning and not giving a shit.”

“Come on, Dani. You’re making a bigger deal—”

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