Page 65 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 2

“And if I wanted to donate most of this stuff to museums.” I nodded toward the rows of artifacts.

“Then we’ll help you do that, Angel.”

“You don’t have to decide anything right now. You can take your time—”

I cut Gideon off. “There’s nothing in here I need. I already have more money than I can spend in multiple lifetimes.”

“There’s likely a finder’s fee with this stuff or you could sell it,” Chase stated with a shrug.

“And you don’t have to decide today.”

But the thing was, I was ready for a fresh start without any reminders of the past. But I conceded their point. “I’ll consider it.”

Axel squeezed my hand. “Good. We should get you to the ship.”

I nodded, ready to head out and begin the next part of my life. Inside, I waved goodbye to my old life, with the middle finger salute.

And for the first time in forever, hope infused my steps.

Chapter twenty-three

Washington D.C.

Kylie

Afterwelefttheisland, things moved quickly. We boarded the Navy vessel, and the commander gave me his quarters to use. All the sailors on board were respectful and kind, a far cry different from any of the goons on board Luka Santos’s yacht.

It shouldn’t have been such a surprise. But then, I had been living in a hellscape with brutal men for years.

Gideon, Axel, Chase, and Mateo survived the battle intact. Mateo had retrieved boatloads of data regarding Santos’s criminal operation.

Given that they didn’t want news of his demise to spread before they could take down the rest of his organization, they entrusted the Naval Commander to take me to Nassau to retrieve the diamonds. And then he personally escorted me all the way to Washington D.C., where I was hidden in a CIA safe house with round-the-clock protection.

The agents were pleasant. I made them meals, just like I did with my guys. There were always two agents stationed at the door of the penthouse apartment. I wasn’t a prisoner and could go out if I wanted. I went to a few museums along the National Mall. But I missed my guys.

At least one of them checked in with me every day. But it wasn’t the same. I knew they were out risking their lives to route out the last dregs of Luka Santos’s criminal empire. It didn’t make it any easier waiting for them to return.

We still hadn’t had a conversation about a potential future together. It left me in this state of limbo. While I waited, I looked at places I’d potentially like to live. At the top of the list were places like Hawaii, Seattle, and Connecticut. But I didn’t know if I wanted to stay in the United States. If the guys didn’t want to continue our relationship, I might go on a world tour, check out Europe, maybe make a stop in Japan, Bali, and Indonesia, before heading on to Australia and New Zealand.

But today was the day. They were coming to the apartment. It meant that soon I would know whether they wanted to be with me or if I would head off on a solo adventure.

To that end, I spent the day preparing and made a pot roast for dinner with fresh baked yeast rolls.

The table was set. The roast was ready and staying warm in the crock-pot. I had the rolls in the oven keeping them warm. I dressed for the occasion in a slinky, eat your heart out, red number. The only ingredient missing was them.

At the knock on the door, I pressed a hand over my quivery belly. Everything would be fine. This wasn’t goodbye.

Please don’t let it be goodbye.

But I wasn’t someone who things normally worked out for and I kind of wanted to hyperventilate into a brown paper bag. I understood why they had lied and forgave them.

And there they were, standing outside my door, looking rugged and handsome as sin in suits. Holy hell, I wanted to jump their bones. I’d never seen them in suit and ties before. It was a good look on them.

But I wouldn’t beg them to stay with me. This morning I promised myself, it had to be their choice. I wouldn’t chase them. They had to want me—us—on their own.

“Hi. Come in.”

Axel entered first. He didn’t say a thing. Just walked straight inside and picked me up. His mouth slammed over mine. I moaned. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist. Difficult to do in a dress but we managed. He shoved the skirt of my dress up near my waist.

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