Surrender

Vaughn nodded. “And I’ve ordered room service for breakfast. All your favorites.” He pulled me against him. “We won’t be home any time soon.”

I looked in his eyes. “It sounds perfect. I can’t believe you did this. But I didn’t pack anything.”

“You don’t need clothes.” He winked. Shit. This was for show, but it was revealing and intimate to act this way in front of our friends.

“Holy fuck,” Aubrey whispered. I’d never heard her swear like that before.

He laughed, taking my hand. He turned to Paul. “Thanks for an amazing evening, but I think I’m going to take my wife upstairs now. Sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, but I wanted to surprise Kate.”

“I understand. Thank you for coming,” Paul answered. “I appreciate your generosity. The money is going to change children’s lives, and there is nothing more honorable than that.” He slapped Vaughn on the shoulder. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, friends.”

Kate hugged me. “Lucky, lucky you. No clothes?” she giggled.

I smiled. “I am incredibly lucky. You are too. You and Paul have something I hope we have in ten years.”

“Ten?” She cocked her head to the side.

“Eight,” I corrected. “You know, after we’ve been married for ten years.” I pulled her in for another hug. She’d never forgive me, and I understood. “Goodbye,” I whispered.

Paul waved goodnight and guided her through the doors.

A few of the guests milled about the ballroom. We walked past, casually, as if we weren’t headed for the single most life-altering act of our lives.

“I can’t wait for you to see the suite,” Vaughn gushed. “The bed is huge.” His voice was loud. I blushed, realizing everyone who heard him thought we were headed for a night of insanely hot drunken sex. Any other night, that would be true.

I gripped the stole at my breastbone. I’d had bare shoulders all night and felt warm with the wrap covering my skin. We waded through more guests before stepping onto the elevator.

Just as the doors began to slide closed, my gaze landed on a familiar face. A face I had convinced myself I’d never see again. His eyes lifted to mine, confirming what I already knew. Those were eyes I could never forget. Pale gray, watery eyes that always seemed incapable of emotion.

My nails dug into Vaughn’s palm.

Agent Kenneth pushed toward me. “Emily!” he cried out as the doors closed.

“Fuck. A buddy of yours?” Vaughn gritted his teeth. He tapped more buttons. I watched in horror as the doors retracted and closed for two more floors before we finally landed on our own.

“Oh my God. That was Agent Kenneth. He’s half a day early. What do we do? What are we going to do? He’s here. He isn’t supposed to be here.”

As soon as the doors opened he pulled me along the hall. “We run.”

We stepped off, sending the elevator to hit every floor from here to the top of the hotel.

He shoved the key into the lock and threw open the door. Our bags were packed and waiting near the dresser. Our changes of clothes were laid out on the bed. I spun for Vaughn to unzip the gown. I’d never struggled like this to keep my body moving forward. Something in the back of my head told me to just surrender. To collapse and let Agent Kenneth take me.

But every time I looked at Vaughn I remembered I was the light. I couldn’t collapse now.

I kicked off my high heels and pulled on the black T-shirt and pair of jeans we had bought at the mall the week before. I released the pins from my hair, tugged my bun low enough that I could adjust a blond wig on top. Vaughn fit a ball cap on my head that matched his.

He strapped a huge belly under his shirt that made him look like he was carrying an extra eighty pounds of fat. There wasn’t enough time to dye his hair. The fat suit was what he was counting on. I tied the laces on a pair of running shoes. I needed them tonight.

“Ready?” He looked at me.

“How are we going to get out if the agents are here?”

He looked at his watch. “It has been four minutes. We can do this. Believe me. We’re faster.”

I nodded. “We can.”

The bag I had packed had an extra strap. I slung it across my body so that my hands were free.