Page 29 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

“Sorry about eavesdropping.”

“It’s fine.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “We weren’t exactly being quiet. He really knows how to crawl under my skin.”

“Yeah, it’s kinda his thing.”

Eli laug

hed.

I stared into his eyes. No, I couldn’t picture my parents when we were together, and I couldn't picture my home in Wyoming. It had been so long since I had a home. I could picture starting a family with Eli eventually, though. I felt like he could become home to me.

“We need to go over the plan for tonight,” Eli said. “Everyone’s meeting in a couple minutes over breakfast.”

“I really don’t need to talk to Mr. Crawford,” I said. “Maybe we should just try to take down Don tonight instead.”

“You’re very trigger happy.”

“I’m not,” I said.

He raised his eyebrow.

I laughed. “Fine. Maybe you have a point. We could just capture Don instead, though.”

“That would be much harder. Hopefully Crawford doesn’t have a security detail.”

I didn’t respond.

“No one is going to ask Crawford if he’s your father, Summer. That’s a conversation you can have with him if you choose to. No one is forcing you.”

I nodded, my cheek sliding along the soft pillowcase.

“But if he is your biological father, it doesn’t change anything. You had a father.” He placed his hand on my other cheek and stopped the movement.

I hadn’t even realized I was still nodding.

“Crawford wouldn’t replace that relationship. No one could replace your dad. But if you have any family that’s still alive…that’s something to hold on to.”

He had a point. A really good point, actually. “I’ll think about it.”

He placed a soft kiss against my lips.

Chapter 13

Thursday

“How was your therapy session last night?” Liza asked as Eli and I joined her at the table.

“Unproductive,” I said. I watched V’s back as he flipped pancakes at the stove. Did he know that Don wanted him dead? It seemed like he knew everything. Maybe my revelation wouldn’t be a shock.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate.” Liza adjusted her glasses as she stared at me. It felt like she was trying to read my soul.

“Um, what’s up?” I asked as I drummed my fingers against my knee. She was making me incredibly nervous. Or maybe it was just the fact that I had been lying to them for months. No, not lying. Withholding information was different. V couldn’t exactly argue with that logic.

“Were you planning on…you know…dressing up tonight?” Liza asked.

“I’m planning on wearing all black, if that’s what you mean.” I knew the rules. I wasn’t allowed to leave the apartment unless I was in disguise.

“Well, yeah,” Liza said. “But are you going to like put on some makeup? Wear a pushup bra? That kinda thing?” She pointed to my breasts.

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