Page 29 of Atonement

12

Thursday

12:30 a.m.

The pastonly serves one purpose.

To destroy you if you let it.

The truth about a lie is, it’s never,really, truly a lie, right?

Most everyone’s deceit holds a small amount of honesty. A little bit of yourself that could be true, if you let it.

My name is Declan AceMcClintock.

My profession?

Husband. Father.

My first priority is to them forever. Being a hired hitman when needed for the FBI, and a double agent for the United Nations always comes second.

My weakness?

My wife. My children. Always.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. My profession’s been exposed. My weakness never stands a chance of being conquered.

But as I look down into my arms, tighten my hold on my daughter and pull my son into my arms a moment later, I couldn’t give a fuck if I’m forever handicapped by my weakness. If I lose my job and have to find a new line of work.

I got my life back. I’ve received absolution for my sins. Delivered a penance and made them pay the ultimate retribution for their own. I received full atonement, finally after seven long years and as I look up in my wife’s tear-filled eyes and watch as our children push out of my arms and run into the embrace of their mother.

Mission fucking accomplished.

My earpiece buzzes a moment later and I hear Kira’s voice come over the line. “Ace, we’ve seized control of Victoria’s backup plan. Five Bratva members, armed and ready to barge through the back door. As far as I’m concerned, this job never happened. Take a fucking vacation and be ready to report to headquarters in 10 days. Your debt isn’t paid off yet.”

That’s another thing I couldn’t give a fuck about. I’ll forever be in debt for the job they helped me finish. It’s a debt I have no problem paying as my wife rises to her feet, holds my children’s hands and walks towards me looking happier than I’ve seen her in years.

“10.4.” I respond, just as she reaches my side and I pull her into my arms, both of us feeling lighter than we have in years.

“Daddy,” my son’s voice calls to me and I swear my heart explodes. “Can we go home now?”

I look down into his eyes, then glance at my daughter who’s face still holds panic, fear, shame, and I fear she’s forever changed by what she walked through over the years we’ve been forced to spend apart.

“Yeah, Buddy,” I smile softly. “Let’s go home.”

I catch my wife’s eyes as we walk out of the building. She glances down at our daughter, her hand shaking in her mother’s grasp as she look behind her with terror. She gives me the same worried look I felt grace my face moments ago. Both of us knowing it will take time, but we’ll fix this. We’ll dedicate our life to helping her get past this. Both of them. Any way we can.

Reaching the car, our children climb into the back seat, almost as if they’ve been trained to never disobey. I shake my head knowing we have a long road to walk before we can ever put this behind us. If we ever can. But as my gaze rises and I lock eyes with my wife, I smile as she takes a few steps towards me, I pull her close, and savor her kiss. Slowly. Deliberately. Appreciating every slip of her tongue against mine, I drown in our victory before reluctantly pulling away and looking her lovingly in the eye.

“We’re you ever going to tell me about Russia?" she bites her lip before pushing back slightly in my arms.

Here we go.

She studies me. Fire returning to those eyes that I love so much to tame. I don’t respond, because truth be told, no, I was never planning on telling her, so I never was faced with my worst fear - failing her once again.

“Just because you got me back in your bed, Ace, doesn’t mean there can still be secrets between us. Doesn’t mean I have to give you everything you want when you’re not giving me what I need in return.”

“Hm, tell me how that works again,” I taunt, tightening my grip on her waist and pulling her closer. “Because, if I remember correctly. I got everything I wanted earlier, without complying to your demands. Your wet pussy. Your tight ass. Only thing I didn’t fuck, was your mouth, Sweetheart,” her lips part and her jaw drops. “But,” I tease, taking her chin in my hand, a mischievous grin spreading across my smug face as her eyes widen. “I can see now that you’re willing.”

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