chapter TWENTY-ONE

Grace

I am surprised I am not tripping all over myself as we scurry along the walls of St. Ignatius. Every sound startles me to a stop unlike Nix, who is very light on his feet like a cheetah. We are nearing a corner, ready to turn, when Nix stops and then faces me. Placing his pointer finger against his lips, he gives me the universal hand signal to be quiet. He faces forward while my eyes grow in anticipation.

Nix inches a step, stops, moves another inch, and stops again. With his left shoulder against the wall, he inches slowly to check if the coast is clear, and once satisfied, he moves, pulling me along with him. The closer we get to the left exit door, the faster we move.

“Ready?”

I squeeze his hand in answer.

“Once we hit air, run like hell to the truck, jump inside, and stay down.”

I give his hand another squeeze.

“On three. One…two…three.”

He pushes the bar to open the door, and we scramble toward the truck. We are a few steps away when it rumbles to life. Thank God for newer cars that have automatic starters. I jump inside seconds before Nix does, and in a matter of seconds, we are off. He maneuvers his truck like it’s a bumper car, jerking me from side to side. Nix presses something on the steering wheel, and then a ringing tone fills the truck.

“Hello?”

“Where the fuck is Rachel?”

“She’s with Nate. Why?”

I can hear the alarm in Drake’s voice.

“One of Takahashi’s man pulled a fast one on me. He also mentioned Rachel, which means he has eyes on them. Call Nate! Tell him to go straight home and don’t let Rachel out of his sight! Do it now!”

“On it!” Drake’s garbled voice comes out loud and clear through the speakers. “Drive straight home. I’ll explain later. And, Nate…be careful.” Then, Drake’s voice comes through much clearer than moments ago. “Nix? You still there?”

“Yes! I’m ten minutes out! Lock down the garage. No one goes in. Get Greg on the phone! He needs to listen to my plan.”

“On it.”

“Where is Pops and Mama?”

“Don’t worry. They’re in their suite. We’ll meet up there. And, Nix”—Drake pauses—“watch your six. See you in a bit.” Then, the line goes dead.

Nix places his hand, palm up, on the center console. “Hand, please.”

I oblige, needing a sense of safety. He marries our fingers together and then kisses the back of my hand.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m worried about you,” I whisper, my anxious eyes aimed on him.

He shakes his head in disbelief. “Of course you’re worried about me. I guess I can’t stop you but try not to, all right? I’m fine.”

I sigh and then close my eyes. “What happened back there?”

“I wanted so badly to kill that fucker at church. I could have, Grace. I wanted to. Fuck, I wanted to.” Nix grimaces as a loud gasp escapes my lips. “Can you still understand my soul?”

I place my free hand over our connected hands. “Nix, I’m not your judge. That guy came for me, not you. While you continue to save me, I’ll continue to pray for you. For us. Whatever us means.” I look out the window, too embarrassed after my declaration of us.

“Us means, I’m yours, and you’re mine. It’s that simple, Grace.”

“Okay,” I answer, squeezing his hand.

“You know I’d do anything to keep you safe. I’d give up—”

“No.” The calm in my voice belies the fear in my heart. “You’re not going to die for me. We’ll do whatever it takes, call whomever we need to. I’d go into hiding again if it meant you and your family were safe.”

“I will always do what’s right, Grace. Always.”

“I know. I just hope you’ll do what’s right for you. And not—” I am silenced by another kiss on the back of my hand.

“I intend to do what’s right for me. This time, it’s going to be for me. For. Me,” he repeats.

Hearing the conviction in his tone lifts my hopes up that he will do what is right for him.

For him, I mouth silently.

The Fort’s majestic presence does not earn the awestruck feeling I normally get when I see it. I am bathed in my own worry, not able to bask in its beauty. As Nix turns the corner, the guardrails of the parking structure immediately move up. He steps on the gas and hastily parks the truck. In a matter of seconds, he exits the truck, runs toward me, and pulls me out.

Once we are safely inside the protective cocoon of the elevator, Nix pulls me into his arms. I close my eyes, breathing him in, as he cradles my head against his chest. Forcing my inhibitions out of my mind, I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him closer.

He kisses the top of my head, making me sigh. “In such a short time, you’ve become so important to me.”

I look up, resting my chin on his chest. His intense brown eyes are like a bright ray of light burning through the veil of darkness that is my life.

“Where have you been all my life?”

A forced smile spreads across my face. “I’ve been locked away in a convent, praying for my savior to rescue me.”

He smiles that dazzling grin that captured me from the beginning. “I’ll prove to you that I’m worth the wait. I just hope there’s time to fucking do it.”

I groan, burrowing my face against his chest. “Your mouth needs a lot of exorcising.”

The vibration of his chest against my forehead is a dead giveaway of his amusement.

“Your lips are enough.”