Consumed by Truths (Truth or Lies 6)

I stop at the door. “I understand. I’m sorry.”

He walks back and gives me a hug. “You aren’t the one who should be saying sorry.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

And then he’s gone. And I’m alone with the twins. I’m supposed to take some time to decide what is best for me and the twins, and there is only one place I can imagine going where I can think. One place in the world that was only ever Enzo and mine’s. One place that all the people who knew of its existence are now dead—Alaska.

I walk into the house my father bought for me in Alaska, carrying a child under each arm. I can say one thing—my arms have gotten a lot stronger over these last six months.

But the second we step inside, I know this is right. This is home. I don’t know what this means for the Black organization. I don’t know what this means for our future, but this is where my heart is.

“We are home,” I say.

“Took you long enough.”

I look up and see two angels.

I should know by now people can return from the dead. But not when I watched them die with my own eyes.

I set each crawling child down and run straight for Enzo. The twins start crawling hurriedly when they spot their father and uncle.

Enzo grabs me in his arms and spins me around as his lips crash down on mine before we collapse on the floor as the twins reach us. He scoops them both up in his arms while never letting go of me.

We are all crying and kissing and hugging. And then I remember Beckett. I hold my arms out, and he joins the kissing and hugging fest.

“You’re both alive,” I whisper.

They cry their responses.

“What took you so long to come here?” Beckett cries.

“I knew it would hurt the most coming here. Because this place reminded me the most of both of you.”

Enzo kisses both of our children who are delighted but also trying to crawl away to explore. But he won’t let them go.

“Jesus, they’ve gotten so big. I missed so much,” Enzo says.

“But you won’t miss anymore,” I say.

Enzo and Beckett have fallen silent, and I realize I’m missing part of their plan.

“We are alive, but only because everyone thinks we are dead. When you go back to Miami, we have to stay hidden here. We can only have these brief moments of happily ever after,” Enzo says.

I frown.

“No, I just got you back. I’m Mrs. Black now. I’m their leader. I have the money, the resources, the power. They will let you live if I tell them to,” I say.

Beckett gives me a look, though, and I know I’m wrong.

“Was this your guys’ plan all along? To fake your deaths?” I ask.

“Sort of…” Beckett says looking to Enzo for help.

“We were both willing to sacrifice ourselves for you. For these kids. We knew you had to live. We knew you could defeat Felix, which we are so fucking proud of you for. So that’s what we did. We died. I’m just lucky the tide was high enough to break my fall, and I can hold my breath for a long time, and I'm an excellent swimmer. I swam away and only surfaced when I was far enough away I didn’t think anyone could see me.”

“Well, it worked. Because I’ve thought you were dead this entire time.” I look from Enzo to Beckett.