Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

This was insane. The actual definition of insanity lay in the fake passport I held in my palm. I wasn’t this person.

“I’m not a criminal, Vaughn. I protect the good. I go after the bad guys. That’s why I’m an attorney. That’s why I put in so many hours at the clinic. It’s why I moved to D.C. It’s why I’m at American. I’m not a thief. I’ve never committed a crime—ever.” I felt the panic boiling just under my skin. I didn’t know if I could breathe. “What you’re asking is … crazy. It’s impossible. It’s … it’s … is it treason? Am I a traitor too?” My eyes were frenzied.

“Hold on. Hold on.” He gripped my shoulders. “Drink this.” He put a glass of water in my hand. “Take some breaths. We can slow this down a second.”

I did as he told me.

“Better?” he asked.

“Yes.” My pulse was under control. I felt less likely to faint. The cold water and deep breaths seem to steady me enough.

“Ok. Listen to me. I’m not offering you a job at Blackwing. That’s not what I do. I’m not asking you to be a thief, as you so kindly call me. And, yes I am asking you to leave your D.C. life, but I’m offering you a new one. One that I’m in. You will get to see your family again. You will get to go home. But I don’t know when. What I know is that we’ll be together. And as far as I’m concerned that’s the only fucking thing that matters. Do you get that? It’s all that matters.”

Could I do this? Could I give up my life? Was there a side of me that Vaughn saw that I couldn’t see? Did he truly believe I could create a new identity? I had to find the answers because the alternative was to go back to the darkness. To live in pain without him. To forever know that I turned him away. That I made the choice to end our story.

“I can’t un-love you,” I answered.

“Neither can I.”

I took an expansive breath. “And if I don’t accept your offer?” I searched his eyes.

“I won’t ask a second time.”

Chapter 31

Thanksgiving had never been my favorite holiday. It always felt as if it were an exaggerated Sunday. Too much football. Everything in the South was closed. It was a day my parents were forced to stay in the house together and celebrate the family they had created. My grandparents would drive over for the day.

Inevitably something would burn. Whether it was the crust on the pumpkin pie or the gravy my mother forgot was on the stove. And who knew how Garrett would handle the day.

When we were kids he would rather be outside on the swing set than inside with the bickering and wafting smells of turkey. I would wander out to find him. If I could sneak it, I’d play too, but I had to be careful not to let one of the monogrammed dresses my mother had bought get dirty. That was always a problem.

I didn’t think this year would be any different. Everything was planned. Garrett was bringing Morgan. My grandparents would drive for the afternoon. And at some point my father would call and ask if Garrett and I wanted to come over for a cocktail. I would take pity on him and confiscate leftovers to take to him. My mother had so many plastic containers she wouldn’t notice if a few were missing. It didn’t seem right that he didn’t have turkey and gravy on Thanksgiving.

But this year was different.

Unprecedented.

I looked up from my book at the waves lapping the shore of the speckled white and brown beach. They made a gentle rippling sound.

My jaw dropped when Vaughn emerged from one of the waves. His body dripped with salt water. He held snorkeling flippers in one hand as he shoved the mask to the top of his head. He grinned.

“How’s the book?”

He shook his head, spraying water over my hot skin.

“Hey,” I squealed. “You’re getting me all wet.”

“Always the plan.” He sat next to me, dropping his gear in the sand. “Is it any good?” He pointed to the paperback in my hands.

“Do you know the last time I read a book that wasn’t full of legal briefs?” I mused.

“So that means it’s good?”

I nodded, laughing. “Yes. It’s very good.”

“Good.” He planted a kiss on my lips. I moaned, tasting the salt on his lips.

“Do that again,” I purred.