4 5. NICK

From our vantage point on the shore, all we can see is the orange glow of the fire, but it’s enough to light up the sky almost as bright as a sunrise .

“I can’t believe this,” Storm breathes. Beside her the dogs whine and fidget, but they don’t give in to their instinct to run away .

“It was the only way,” I say. “To keep the peace, we had to die .”

Storm blinks at me, then looks back up at the glowing sky .

“You call that keeping the peace ?”

I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “What’s the old line about breaking a few eggs to make an omelet ?”

“But it was your home,” she says. “All those antiques. The Hamlin. So much of value going up in smoke .”

“There’s no value in things. There’s only value in people.” I lean down and give Samson and Delilah a pat. “And dogs, of course .”

We watch the fireworks for a few more minutes before we head to the boat. Storm insists on carrying the case that has our clothes and cash in it. She hoists it into the Trojan’s galley as I climb to the cockpit and take us out to sea .

We’re not going far; just to the coast to Narragansett, where I’ll scuttle her. No one will ever know Nikolai Chernenko and Jessica Armstong didn’t die in that house tonight .

Well, except for Josef, Mookie and his nephew .

From the deck of the Trojan, the fire at the mansion looks like a campfire that’s gotten out of control. As we stare at it disappearing into the distance, Storm snuggles into me against the chill coming off the Atlantic .

“How will you access your money?” she asks .

“I left it all to my cousin Andrei Grabinski in Siberia,” I say .

She frowns. “And you’re sure he’ll give it back to you ?”

“I’m sure,” I say smugly .

“Yeah? And why is that ?”

“Because I’m Andrei Grabinski. At least, that’s what the new passport I have made up is going to say .”

She stares at me, taking it all in. It’s been a long night, and it’s not over yet .

“New identities,” she says. “I can’t believe it. My whole life I’ve wished I was someone else. Now I can be .”

“So what name are you going to choose?” I ask .

She gives me a quizzical look. “Storm. Duh. But you’re going to have to get another passport made after you collect your money .”

“Why is that ?”

“Because there’s no way in hell I’m going to be Mrs. Storm Grabinski .”

I chuckle. “Wait a minute,” I say. “Does that mean what I think it means ?”

“What you think what means ?”

“You accept my proposal? I couldn’t be sure – I kind of got shot and fell off a cliff before you answered .”

Storm slides her arms under my jacket and closes them gingerly around my wounded torso .

“Yes,” she sighs. “Yes, yes, a million times yes .”

“I’m sorry about the ring,” I say. “It got lost in the fall .”

“You better be, mister. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it all night long .”

I snort a laugh and she grins .

“Maybe it’s a good thing we’re getting new names,” she says. “We’re new people. I’m beating the shit out of bad guys, you’re laughing and making jokes .”

“It’s enough to make you believe in miracles,” I say .

It’s meant as a joke, but Storm turns serious and squeezes me tighter .

“It was a miracle that brought us together,” she whispers. “I believe that with all my heart .”

I kiss her forehead. “We met in a rainstorm, and we’ve been reborn in fire. There’s definitely something Old Testamenty about that .”

“Can I ask you something? A favor ?”

“Anything.”

“This boat is where we met for the first time. Where you saved my life .”

I nod .

“And you’re going to sink it once we get to Rhode Island ?”

“Yes.” The thought of it sparks just the tiniest twinge of regret .

She leans in close. “I’d like to thank my hero properly for saving me that night,” she purrs. “And what better place to do it than where it all started ?”

I gape at her for a moment, wondering how, after everything that’s happened tonight, she could possibly be horny .

Then I give my head a shake and remind myself to be thankful for small favors .

I pick her up off the deck, ignoring my screaming wounds, and carry her down to the saloon. She lies back on the bunk and pulls me down to her. We make love slowly and tenderly for the first time as an engaged couple .

And for the first time as two truly free people, sailing headlong to meet their destiny .