Page 176 of The Thief
"I'm afraid of how much I love you. How far I'd go to keep you. How empty my life would be without you."
"You'll never have to find out."
"Promise?"
"I promise. No matter what comes next, no matter who tries to hurt us, I'll always come home to you."
She nods, satisfied. We dress in comfortable clothes and move to the bedroom, where the sheets smell like her perfume and safety.
"How do you feel?" she asks as we settle into bed.
"Tired. Relieved. Clean."
"Clean?"
"Like I washed away something that's been poisoning us for months."
"Trace."
"Trace. His threats, his games, his hold over our lives. It's finished."
She curls against my side, head on my chest, fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin.
"What happens now?" she asks.
"Now we live. Really live, without looking over our shoulders."
"Sounds nice."
"It will be. I promise."
"I love you, Freddie."
"I love you too. More than anything in this world."
Being wrapped in each other's arms, we finally allow ourselves to imagine a future without fear.
It's a good feeling.
The best feeling.
And tomorrow, when the sun rises on our first day of freedom, we'll start building that future together.
One day at a time.
One moment at a time.
One kiss at a time.
But tonight, we're just two people who found each other in the darkness and refused to let go.
Tonight, that's everything.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
alastríona
The morning of Henry's funeral is gray and miserable, which feels appropriate. Rain patters against the windows of the safe house where we've been staying since his death, a steady rhythm that matches the hollow ache in my chest.
