“I love you,” I said the moment we were seated, needing him to hear it again.
Pure happiness showed on his face. “I love you too.”
“I didn’t want you to think… I was going to tell you that anyway after today.”
“Not if you’d gotten yourself killed.”
I glared at him. “Or if you had.”
“You locked me in. You told me you were coming back and then you locked me in.”
“I’m sorry.”
He raised his brows. “Are you?”
How honest did I want to be? “I’m sorry I had to deceive you, but if we were in the same circumstance, I would do it again. I would do anything to protect you, even if it meant… Even if you didn’t want me anymore, even if you stopped trusting me. As long as you were alive and safe, it would be worth it.”
Emilio shook his head. “That’s… I don’t know whether that makes me mad or turns me to mush. Both, I think. Stop being so fucking arrogant when you’re being romantic.”
I smiled. “Are you sure you want that? Arrogant is kind of my signature style.”
He rolled his eyes. “You can be a lot to put up with.”
“That’s true, but I can give you a lot too.”
His gaze dropped to the growing bulge in my pants. “I already know that.”
“You do understand I can also give you anything money can buy, right?”
“Even an island of my own?”
“If that’s what you want. This one seems fairly adequate, but—”
“I don’t want an island, and I don’t want your money.”
“Are you sure? It can be quite convenient.”
Emilio rolled his eyes. “You’re really exasperating after a victory.”
I took his hands in mine. “I know you didn’t fall for me because of my money. Believe me. I’ve been through that bullshit plenty of times.”
“How are things going to work between us? You said having a relationship was too complicated for you.”
“I’ve been thinking about that since we were on the plane to the island.”
His mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“I am. Once I see something I want, I don’t hesitate. I go after it, sometimes before I even admit how important it is.”
“Again, I feel like I should be annoyed by that.”
I grinned at him. “Don’t be. I don’t want to keep you in only one part of my life. I want you to be part of both of my lives, as Thomas and as X.”
“How can that happen without people knowing?”
“Too many people already know. It’s only a matter of time before I’m exposed. It would be a hell of a lot better to choose that time for myself.”
Emilio shook his head vigorously. “You cannot tell people you run Vigilance.”
“Men with my kind of money and power don’t have to follow the law.”
Emilio glared at me. “I wish I could say that wasn’t true, but I know it is. Still, what about your sister’s reputation?”
“You know I wouldn’t do anything to endanger her political career.”
“Then how—”
“I’m going to confess to having been a silent partner in a security firm, Vigilance Security. We do act as bodyguards for certain clients, and we are providing security.”
“I suppose you could sell that to people who aren’t part of the criminal underground.”
“Those are exactly the people who might be uncomfortable knowing I’ve continued to use the skills I learned in the army, but if they think I’m just funding this company, no one will mind, and I’ll be able to continue working to the extent I have since we started. It won’t solve all my problems, but at least my involvement in the protection industry will no longer be a secret.”
“You think that will be enough?”
“If not, then I’ll change plans as we go. Since you’ve never used your real identity as a hacker, you can be yourself, Emilio, Thomas Carrington’s boyfriend.” I loved the smile that lit up his face when I said that.
“Won’t the press be watching Vigilance closely if they know you’re connected?”
“That’s where you come in. You’re going to help me deceive and deflect.”
“Wait, what are you saying?”
“That I want you to work for me full-time.”
His eyes widened. “You’re going to let me take risks for you?”
“That will be determined on a case-by-case basis.”
“I guess that’s the best answer I could hope for.”
“So you’re in?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.
“With Vigilance or with you?”
“Both.”
“I was already in way too deep to ever back out.”
“Then don’t.” I ran a hand up his inner thigh. “Do you think it’s time for me to be in deep too?”
Emilio burst out laughing. “That was really cheesy.”
“Are you saying you’re not interested?”
“Not at all, Thomas Elliott Xavier Carrington. I want you all the way in.”
“Then that’s what you’re going to get.” I took hold of his upper arms and pulled him close.
“One question first,” he said. “What should I call you?”