Niall (Vigilance 2)

“Can he travel?” I asked. We needed to get out of there as quickly as possible.

She frowned. “It’s not the best idea, but considering he’s in good health otherwise, I think he’ll be all right. Are you headed to Boston?”

“Yes.”

“Private plane?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. He’ll actually be able to rest on the flight and he won’t be around a lot of other people. Once he’s there, he’ll need time to recover.”

“I’m right here,” Marco said. “Quit talking over me like I’m a child.”

I’d never been happier to hear him complain. Looking at Dr. Janssen, I said, “I’ll make sure he does whatever he needs to make a full recovery.”

Marco growled. “I’m going to be right beside you making those assholes pay for all they’ve done.”

“I’ll make sure they pay. You need to rest, drink lots of water, and eat to get your strength back.”

Marco’s eyes lit up. “Speaking of food, have they got any here?

“I think something could be arranged if you’re feeling up to it,” Dr. Janssen said.

“I’m starving.”

I knew then that Marco was going to be fine.

The doctor handed me a card. “Call me if anything comes up while you’re still here.”

“Thank you.”

She helped Marco into a sling. “Keep this on as much as possible, rest, and take care of yourself.”

“I’ll do what I need to do,” he said.

She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t want to hear that you’ve made yourself worse.”

“I’ll be in Boston, so you won’t have to worry about it.”

“I’ll still know.” She managed to look more threatening than any mob boss I’d met.

“I think you’d better do what she says.”

Marco gave me a look that said I would pay for that.

After Dr. Janssen left, I took his hand. “I wish we could stay so you could rest.”

“It won’t take long for Compton and Orly to find us, and if Malachi is dead…”

They wouldn’t rest until we were too.

There must have been leftovers in the kitchen of whoever’s house this was, because a little while later, Flavio brought us plates filled with garlicky roasted chicken, fried plantains, and rice. I was too filled with adrenaline from our escape to be very hungry, but Marco cleaned his plate and finished off what I’d left on mine.

An hour later, we were on X’s plane headed back to Boston. Marco fell asleep almost immediately, but I sat there staring out the window at the night sky wondering whether X would go for the plan I’d devised and how I could convince Marco to stay back.

I already knew he’d never agree to miss the takedown. In his position, I wouldn’t either, but I needed to keep him safe. When I’d realized he’d been shot, I’d nearly lost it. I’d wanted to kill Compton and the others with my bare hands just to have the satisfaction of snapping their necks.

As I watched blood soak Marco’s shirt, I’d known one thing. I loved him. Somehow in this crazy whirlwind of a mission, I’d gone from thinking he was an impossible asshole to being unable to imagine my life without him in it.

I had no idea if he felt the same way. He might not have any interest in continuing what we’d started after we took down the traffickers, but I wasn’t going to just walk away. I was going to fight for him. First, though, I might have to fight him to keep him from doing something incredibly stupid.

He sighed in his sleep and shifted. I tensed, hoping he wasn’t in pain.

His brow furrowed, but once he rearranged himself it smoothed. I stroked his cheek, and he smiled. I wasn’t sure if he was partially awake or not, but I didn’t want to disturb him, so I pressed a light kiss to his forehead and snuggled against him, finally tired enough to get some sleep.

21

Marco

We began our descent into Boston at an hour that was either too late or too early depending on your perspective.

My shoulder hurt like hell, but I was alert and capable unlike I had been when we’d left St. Croix.

I winced as I changed positions, but the pain was worth it to better see Niall. He lay curled against my side, his features soft in a way they rarely were when he was awake. I stroked his hair back from his face. I owed him my life. If he hadn’t pushed me, hadn’t been so determined to get me out of there, Compton and Orly would have killed me. I owed Lucien too for having his men meet us. I would have to contact him as soon as we landed.

Using my good arm, I pulled Niall closer and watched him sleep. I worried that when we returned to Boston, he’d change back into the cold, reserved man he’d been, though if I were being honest, he’d always been full of hate and passion with me. The annoying shit.