“How are you doing?” Dakota asked as he and Anastasia were in bed later that night.
“Better,” she lied. She looked down at their interlaced fingers and felt more tears threaten.
“Ana, I know you’re not, don’t lie to me.”
She turned into his body and rested her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating beneath his warm skin, and it was soothing to her. She couldn’t get the images Vincent had shown her out of her head.
The stench of death still stung her lungs, and she knew she would carry it with her always.
She reached with her senses to ensure they were alone. “I have to kill him, Dakota.”
“I know.” He stared at the ceiling, trying to push back the fear in his chest. He believed in Anastasia, but the worry that Vincent might prevail was too much for him to handle.
“We have to figure out a way to save them. Maybe I should try and reach Carmen again.”
“Absolutely not.”
Anastasia sat up and looked at him. “Why not?”
“What if Vincent intercepts you this time?”
“I will be expecting him.”
“Anastasia, you can’t take him on alone, and you wouldn’t be able to harm him in there. Besides, that would let him know that we aren’t taking his deal. That would put us on an even tighter timeline than we are already on.”
“I have to do something, Dakota.”
“I agree. But the next meeting has to be on our terms. Don’t you agree?”
She nodded into the darkness. “You need some sleep.” Anastasia sat and pulled on Dakota’s shirt.
“Where are you going?”
“Just need some air.” She smiled lightly at him. “I promise I’m not going anywhere, Dakota. Get some sleep.”
“All right,” he said cautiously. “Wake me up if you need me, Ana.”
“Will do.” She kissed him lightly and slipped out onto the balcony.
“Can’t sleep either?” She looked over and saw Tony standing on Elizabeth’s balcony. The apartments were across the hall from each other, and the balconies only separated by a small space, since they were located on the side of the apartment and not the back.
“I can’t get the images out of my head.” She sniffled and pulled the shirt closer. “Tony, it was horrible, Andrew’s wife was dead and he was lying there next to her. He told me it was my fault. It’s how I knew it was an illusion.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believed it was all real at first, as if I was really there, standing among all of that death. It wasn’t until he told me I should have taken the truce that I saw it for what it was.” She ground her teeth together. “Just Vincent fucking with my head again.”
Tony laughed lightly. “I can’t remember ever hearing you use such foul language before. It’s amusing.”
Anastasia smiled. “I can’t figure out how we are going to save them. I’ve been racking my brain, but I’m at a loss.”
Tony looked out to the stars. “We will find a way.”
A warning sound went off in her brain, and she tried to make sense of it.
“We have to—” Tony started to say, and then she realized what it was she was sensing.
“Pick a place for the wedding,” Anastasia interrupted.
“What?” At Tony’s perplexed look, she continued, “That’s what I came out here to talk to you about. Dakota and I are going to get married.” She nodded her head behind her in an effort to clue him in that Vincent was listening.
“Oh, that’s fantastic, Anastasia!” Tony plastered a smile all over his face and reached over the railing to give her a hug. “We will start looking tomorrow. How soon?”
“As soon as possible,” she said with a smile. “We want to move forward with our lives. I am going to try and meet with Vincent tomorrow to let him know that we are accepting the truce.” As soon as she felt his presence leave, she sighed. “He’s gone.”
“How did you know?”
“I felt him, like an alarm going off in my head.”
“So are you two really—”
“Yes, that part is true.” She smiled.
“Anastasia, that is truly fantastic. With everything going on right now, it is good to have a piece of good news as well.”
“You aren’t angry?”
“Why would I be angry?”
“Because I told you this way, at this time.”
“Anastasia, I would have been happy with this news no matter the circumstances. Dakota is an amazing man, and I would be proud to have you marry him.”
“Would you give me away?” she asked softly.
Tony’s eyes filled with tears, and he gripped her hand. “Anastasia, nothing would make me happier. It would be an honor.”
“Thank you, Tony.” She kissed his cheek and turned to head back into the apartment. “We are going to win,” she said firmly.
“How could we not?”
“Never thought I would ever be grocery shopping again,” Anastasia said happily. It was such a simple task, and one she had never done with Monica. The only time she had ever gone anywhere was with Elizabeth.
Dakota laughed. “Anything in particular you’ve been missing?”
Anastasia’s eyes lit up. “Nutter Butters.”
“Already got them.” He held up the red container, and Anastasia smiled widely.
“You know me so well.” She kissed him loudly.
“That I do.”
“Dakota?” A woman’s voice sounded from behind them, and they turned around.
A blonde woman stood just behind them, a small basket in her hand. She was dressed in a long white coat and black leggings, with heels that seemed to make her ten feet tall. She was beautiful, and from the look in her eyes, knew Dakota extremely well.
“Martha, nice to see you,” he said as he cautiously eyed Anastasia.
“Can you believe everything that has been happening? Oh my, those beasts. They had me.” Her lip quivered, and Anastasia very nearly rolled her eyes. If there were ever a contest for dramatics, surely this woman would take the gold.
“I’m glad to see you are all right.”
“Thanks to Vincent.” She said his name as if it were a prayer, and Anastasia felt her breakfast threaten to return.
“Yeah, that sure was great of him to put everything back.”
“I’m so glad you are okay,” she said, taking a step towards him. She hadn’t even glanced at Anastasia.
“Yeah, we made it out just in time.” Dakota put his arm around Anastasia’s shoulders and the woman finally looked at her.
“Isn’t that wonderful,” she said, baring her perfectly straight teeth in a forced smile.
“It certainly is.” Anastasia looked up to Dakota and batted her eyes softly.
“Listen, Dakota.” Martha took another step towards him and put her hand on his bicep. “If you want to get together and grab a drink, you have my number.” She looked up at him through her clearly fake lashes and then walked away with an extra swing in her step.
Dakota cleared his throat, and it took everything in Anastasia not to start laughing wildly.
“So, I uh, dated her a while back.”
“You don’t say?”
“Sorry.”
“For what? Dating her? I’m not the one who had to put up with all that.” Anastasia moved her hand up and down in reference to Martha, who still stood in the aisle ahead of them.
“You’re not mad?” Dakota looked at her, surprised.
“Why would I be mad? I was gone for ten years where you believed I was dead. I don’t care about your past, Dakota. Although I do think you did much better with me.” She batted her eyes again at him and blew him a flirty kiss.
“Much, much better.” Dakota laughed, and they continued walking down the aisle.
Anastasia stopped when everyone in the grocery store froze. She looked around and saw that Dakota and her were the only ones who weren’t stuck.
“What is going on?” Dakota asked her, looking at a little girl who had been throwing a cookie box, which was not frozen in thin air, into the shopping cart of her clearly annoyed mother.
“Vincent,” Anastasia said softly. She felt Dakota stiffen next to her, and put her hand on his arm to keep him calm. This meeting had to go perfectly; they had to make Vincent believe that they did intend to take his truce after all. She knew the reason he left Dakota unfrozen was to get a read off him as well. He was not able to hold his temper as easily as she was.
“Hello, Anastasia, Dakota.” Vincent took form in front of their cart.
“Vincent,” they both said.
“It is wonderful seeing you two together.” He smiled at them and bent to lift the Nutter Butters out of the cart. “Good choice, I’ve grown to love these.” He tossed them back in the cart. “So I hear you two are getting married. Don’t suppose I’ll be getting an invitation.” He winked at them, and Anastasia nearly vomited.
“It’s going to be a small wedding,” Dakota said through a smile.
“I see.” Vincent folded his arms behind his back. “So, will we be ceasing fire?” he asked as he watched Dakota’s face.
“We think that’s the best option,” Anastasia answered.
“Good call.” Vincent reached his hand towards Dakota, and Dakota surprised Anastasia by taking it.
“Thank you for giving us this option. It was a hard call to make, but Anastasia has been fighting too long. It is time we move forward.”
Vincent smiled widely. “Anything for family.”
Anastasia felt her blood begin to boil.
“I love the Nutter Butters.” Vincent winked and disappeared. Time began to move again, and Anastasia took the cookies out of the cart and placed them back on the shelf.
“No longer have a sweet tooth,” Anastasia explained at Dakota’s sideways look.