That’s our main protection now. The press has been slowly leaking all the details of his wrongdoings. The politicians we met with to help get the word out have been steadily taking action against him, moving pieces across the board to try to corner him until he has nowhere to run. I thought he’d hunker down in the governor’s office, maybe even start trying to find a way to punish us, but someone must have finally convinced him to throw in the towel and walk away.
“Well, hopefully they continue to hound him. Could he flee the country?” I don’t think he could, but then I don’t know for sure.
“No. A judge mandated that he stay in Colorado unless he gets permission, and he’s required to check in regularly. I’m guessing that helped the case for him stepping down. It’s hard for him to do his job if he can’t travel and is being watched everywhere he goes. Thankfully for us, that’s going to keep him from his after-hours job as well.” Levi lets out a sigh of relief.
“Thankfully. Not that it’ll stop him from trying to get someone else to do it for him. He has other men like Corey. My brothers too. But they’ll be too nervous to want to deal with the firestorm, and without his assets they’ll have a lot less money too. But yes, you’re right. We’ll still have to be careful.” I agree with Levi’s assessment, and then I remember I won’t have to worry about my father because I’ll be out of the country after tomorrow.
We’ve been so glued to all the news reporting and all the leaks that were coming out around my father’s scandal that we’ve barely had time to think, let alone talk about the fact thatwe’re heading back to the convent tomorrow. We’re returning the relics, but I’m also planning to go back with them.
I don’t know how long I’ll stay, but after talking to the abbess over the phone to let her know our plan for the relics, it was obvious I have amends to make. Corey’s men ransacked the place after I was kidnapped. Two nuns were hurt. Thousands of dollars in damage done. Tourists were frightened enough to leave, and the loss of revenue hasn’t helped pay those bills. Likewise, someone needs to make sure the relics are returned to where they belong, and it was my family that made a mess of everything. It’s the least I can do to try to atone for their sins.
I look over, and Levi must be having the same thoughts because sadness washes over his face despite the small smile he’s forcing. I feel it echo in my own heart.
“Are you packed for tomorrow?” he asks. It’s his way of asking if I’m ready to leave. I’m not. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to leave him.
“I love you.” I blurt the words out, and his eyes widen for a moment before a real smile, one that’s pained and full of conflicting emotions, but still very real, forms on his lips.
“I love you too.” He says the words back easily, like he’s said them a million times before now.
“I know I said we shouldn’t say it the night before anything big, but lately all the days and nights are big, and I don’t want to keep waiting to tell you how I feel. I need you to know that no matter where I am, or how far apart we are, I love you.”
“You’re taking my big speech away from me. I was saving it for tomorrow.” He chuckles and smooths my hair out of my face before he leans over to kiss me softly.
“Well, fuck tomorrow.” I grin when he pulls away to look at me.
“In that case, I love you, Zephyrine. I think you know by now that I’d do anything for you, but if I need to say it, then know I’vesaid it. If you ever need me, all you have to do is say the words. I’m always here. No matter what happens. No matter how much time passes. I will always be here for you. Okay?” His blue-green eyes are glassy as they search mine.
“Me too,” I agree, because I can’t say more. Not with the way it feels like my heart is going to shatter.
“I know you need to do this. For yourself. Because of the past. To make it up to the nuns who helped you when you didn’t have me yet. I don’t blame you one bit for this. It still hurts to let you go though.”
“I hate leaving you. I don’t know how I’ll manage without being able to talk to you every day. Being able to see you laugh and making dinner together. And Teddy.” I sigh. “I’ll miss Teddy, and he doesn’t even understand I’m leaving.”
“He’ll miss you. But maybe someday you can take some vacation time and come visit him. Visit all of us.”
“You’ll come see me at the convent sometime?”
“If the abbess ever forgives me and doesn’t have me killed on sight, absolutely. Otherwise, you’ll just have to sneak off the island and meet me in town.” He grins.
“I’m sure she’ll forgive you. We’ll apologize for everything. Once she sees we’ve brought the relics back, she’ll have to forgive us on some level. I hope. I’m sure it’ll take a while for her to let it go.” I groan. “I can’t wait to find out how many toilets I’m going to have to clean.”
“There’s still time to run away with me.”
“Don’t tempt me. It’s a much better offer. But a wise man once told me we can’t give in to every single temptation that comes our way.”
“He sounds wise. You should listen to him more often.” Levi winks at me, and I descend into giggles, my tears and my sadness forgotten as I kiss him a dozen times, and he wraps his arms around me.
“Speaking of temptation, I have something for you.” Levi lets me slide into the spot next to him as he releases me and walks over to the cabinet next to the mantle, pulling out a gift box.
“What’s this?” I ask as he places it in my hands.
“Open it and see.” He nods, dropping back to the couch next to me.
I carefully undo the gold ribbon, and the dark navy-blue wrapping paper follows to reveal a thick rectangular box. My brow arches upward in curiosity, and he grins as I open the lid.
“It’s a phone.” I pull it out.
“Your phone. Or a copy of it, anyway. The real one’s still at the bottom of the lake keeping mine company. But I backed all of our data up every night before then,” he explains.
