It was obvious to Angelo that Mark loved Tilly and missed his son. It was also equally obvious to both Mark and Angelo that he could never be with them and keep them safe. But they could be close. They could build a stable, safer life. And maybe, one day, the estrangement might not be so necessary.
“Anyway, it’s irrelevant because the castle is in Moldova, which is not Transylvania. It is a state which has no extradition treaty with the US, which means we can all stop running from various authorities,” Mark said.
“I don’t know that this will be happily ever after, boys and girl,” Angelo declared. “But I do know that this is going to have to be good enough for now. We will be close to Tilly. We will have a home that is not easily raided because it is literally a fortress. We will have the home we have craved, a single place to put down roots.”
“What about the Organization?”
“Their interest has been neutralized.”
It took Gemma all of thirty seconds to work out what that meant. “You mean, this was their idea. I escaped the Organization because I didn’t want to be their pawn, and you’ve made us all their pawns. Angelo! How could you!”
“We cannot constantly fight on every front, Gemma. The Organization has agreed not to pursue you. This is the best opportunity for something like peace that I’ve encountered in all my many years. I’m going to take it. Each of you will have to decide for yourselves if you want the risk.”
“Wow, is that an attempt at democracy?” Gemma sassed Angelo, and earned a hard slap to her bottom for her efforts.
“I’m in,” Mark said swiftly.
“I guess. But there better not be fucking vampires,” Bobby seconded.
“Fine,” Gemma agreed. “Let’s all move to Moldova and live happily ever after.”
“We’re not really happily ever after sorts of people,” Bobby said.
“Well, we weren’t fantasy castle in far away land people either, but that’s what we’re going to be. Is it too much to believe we might have a happily ever after?”
“Yeah,” Bobby said. “Yeah. It is.”
“I don’t think so, girl,” Angelo smiled, his dark eyes lit with the warmth of potential. “I think we’re all going to be very happy.”
“Or die trying?” Bobby added, for some edge.
Gemma agreed, nodding intensely.
“Happy forever, or down in a blaze of glory.”
* * *
The End