Endless Love

by Drake, Tabatha

  I hop up, putting all of my strength into my left leg as I reach for the crutches by the bed.

  The girls’ voices echo from downstairs. I pause at the landing, taking a moment to listen to Lilah’s cackling and Lucy’s impish giggle. I almost expect to hear Elijah chiming in as the voice of reason among the chaos.

  Miss you, little brother.

  I slowly ease forward, taking each step one at a time on the way down. The crutches dig into my armpits but it’s easy enough to handle. I’ve been through far worse.

  “What are you doing?”

  Lucy stands at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips.

  “I can do this, Luce,” I say.

  “I told you to call out and I’d come help you down.”

  I take another step and she tenses.

  I laugh. “Lucy, I got it.”

  She eases back, a look of worry on her face as I continue downward. When I reach the bottom, she lets out a sigh and scolds me.

  “Call for help next time,” she says, pointing a finger.

  She walks off. I notice the large duffel bag sitting by the front door.

  “Hey, big brother,” Lilah greets me as I hobble toward the kitchen table. She stifles a yawn as she raises her coffee mug.

  Lucy pulls out a chair. “Sit,” she tells me.

  I don’t argue. Not with those eyes.

  I lower down slowly onto the chair and Lucy takes my crutches. She sets them off to the side and slides a second chair a little closer to me.

  “Keep your leg elevated,” she says.

  “I will,” I say.

  “Do you need help?”

  “Not right now.”

  “A pillow? Because I can run upstairs.”

  “No, I—” I sigh and look up into her attentive, yet amused, eyes. “You’re kind of loving this, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe,” she answers.

  I nod. “Some coffee, please.”

  She smiles and spins toward the coffee pot.

  Lilah stares at me, shaking her head. “Enjoy your little slave while it lasts,” she jokes.

  Lucy sets an empty mug down in front of me and shrugs. “He did the same for me,” she says, gazing at me as she fills it. “Breakfast in bed. Foot massages. Sponge baths.”

  Lilah’s eyes roll in disgust.

  I turn my head up as Lucy leans down and kisses me. “You don’t have to,” I say.

  “I want to,” she says.

  “In that case, can I get some of that bacon?” I ask, pointing at the stove.

  She rises and nods. “Coming right up.”

  “Oh — and toast.”

  Lilah stands up from her chair. “And on that note…” She sets her empty mug in the sink and turns back to me. “I have somewhere else I need to be.”

  I gesture behind us at her bag sitting by the front door. “Are you sure?” I ask.

  “Yeah,” she says without hesitation. “I’m sure.”

  I take a deep breath, pausing to admire my baby sister. I probably won’t see her again for a while but that’s typical. Before, I had to worry about whatever dangerous mission she and Elijah were traversing the world for. Not anymore.

  Now, I just have to worry about him.

  But I have a good feeling.

  “Don’t be a stranger, little sister,” I tell her.

  Her shoulders bounce. “I always was a little stranger than you, big brother.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  She smiles. “Yeah, I do.”

  Lucy opens her arms and Lilah gladly accepts the tight hug.

  “Take care of my brother for me,” Lilah says.

  “I will.”

  “But don’t let him be too much of a baby.”

  Lucy laughs. “I won’t.”

  I sigh, taking the abuse.

  Lilah leans over the back of my chair and wraps one arm around me in a half-hug. “Bye, Dante,” she says.

  “Bye.” I pat her arm. “And be careful.”

  “That’s what I was waiting for,” she says with a laugh.

  She pecks my cheek before sliding away. I turn to watch as she scoops her bag off the floor. She pushes on a pair of sunglasses and blows a quick kiss on her way out the door.

  Lucy sets a plate down in front of me, one completely stacked with toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs. “Want some juice, too?” she asks.

  I eye the plate. “No, but I am missing something.”

  “What?”

  I grab her by the waist and pull her down into my lap.

  “No—” she says. “Bad leg. You have bad leg.”

  “I have bad right leg,” I say, settling her on my left. “Left leg is just fine.”

  She chuckles as I bounce her up and down twice. I slide my hands up her body, gently coming to rest on her face, as I ease her closer for a kiss. She kisses me back, her arms slowly wrapping around my neck.

  “Will you do it for me?” she asks, biting her lip.

  I sigh. “Not right now…”

  “Please. Come on.” She bats her eyelashes. “I made you breakfast.”

  “Luce.”

  “And coffee.” Her lips graze my cheek, traveling back to whisper in my ear. “And maybe, after breakfast, I’ll take you upstairs… and I’ll—”

  “YA vas lyubil. Lyubov' yeshche, byt' mozhet,” I say, pulling her against me.

  Lucy gasps. “Oh, yes.”

  I bite her neck, feeling her tremble. “V dushe moyey ugasla ne sovsem…”

  “Uh-huh.” She trembles playfully. “That’s gonna do it for me.”

  I inch a hand up her shirt and she parts her lips. We kiss hard and fast, making up for every lost moment we were away from each other. I grip the elastic of her pajama pants, wanting so badly to rip them off her body. Her own hand slides down and rests on my inner thigh, gently tempting my cock to wake up.

  “More,” she moans.

  I cup her rear and push her up to sit on the table as she slides my plate to the other side. I stand, biting through the pain before settling onto my good leg and crushing my lips on hers.

  “No pust’ ona vas—”

  Lucy wraps her legs around me.

  “—bol’she ne trevozhit—”

  “Seriously, you guys?”

  We flinch toward the front door.

  Lilah stands in the doorway. “I was gone for thirty seconds.”

  I look at Lucy, her cheeks burning red. “Well, we…”

  Lilah snatches her bike helmet off the hook by the door. “Forgot my helmet,” she says. “Safety first. I’m talking at you two.”

  She backs up and closes the door behind her.

  Lucy collapses against my shoulder, cringing. “Well, that’s a thing that happened.”

  I laugh, shifting backward to sit down in my chair. “Maybe we should wait until after breakfast.”

  She hops off the table and pulls my plate back to me.

  I grab a piece of toast and take a bite, softly gazing at Lucy as she smiles at me. “What?” I ask, chewing.

  “Just looking at you,” she says.

  I pick up my coffee. “See something you like, Ms. Vaughn?”

  “See something I love. Something I… could not appreciate more.” She tilts her head. “You’re always going to save me, aren’t you?”

  I push my plate away and turn toward her, giving her my full attention. “Always,” I say, holding her eyes. “No matter what.”

  Lucy nods. “I don’t know how I could ever repay you for what you’ve done for me, Dante Hart. But I’m gonna try.”

  “Luce.” I push her hair behind her ears. “The reason why I save you is because I feel like I’m repaying you for saving me.”

  She looks down, her eyes glistening. “Really?”

  “The night I met you…” I shake my head. “Hell, before we even met, I could feel you. I saw your picture and it changed me in an instant. Suddenly, I wanted something more than the man I thought I wanted to be. The more I think about
it, the more I realize… that I wanted to be that man because it led me to you. It led us… here. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Would you?”

  Lucy bites her lip. “No fucking way.”

  I laugh and she leans over the table to kiss me. She giggles as I wrap my arms around her again, forcing her to sit back down on my good knee. I hold her close, going quiet as I take my fill of her. Every sense slows down and I experience the next few perfect moments of our lives in total bliss.

  “Hey, Luce,” I say.

  “Yeah?” she asks.

  I look at her and smile. “I really liked seeing you in a white dress.”

  She furrows her brow, conflicted by the memory. “You did?” she asks.

  I nod. “Yeah.”

  “Well…” Her eyes lock on mine. “Maybe you’ll see me in one again someday.”

  I kiss the edge of her mouth. “I’d like that.”

  She kisses me back. “Finish your breakfast,” she says. “Then, later, do you wanna play some poker?”

  “Poker?!”

  “Yeah.” She shrugs. “I don’t know. Being back in that casino again kind of got me in the mood for it.”

  “You truly are your father’s daughter.”

  She playfully smacks my chest and I flash back to that first night again, my heart filling with bliss.

  “Hell yes,” I answer. “I’d love to play with you — but only if it’s strip poker.”

  Lucy chuckles. “Sold.”

  She moves to slide off my lap, but I pull her back in for another long kiss.

  My Lucy. My foul-mouthed dancer from Chicago.

  “Hey, Dante,” she says.

  “Yeah?” I ask.

  She looks at me and smiles. “Will you do one more line?”

  I pull her closer, my lips grazing her cheek as I move to whisper in her ear.

  “Whatever you want, Ms. Vaughn.”

  Chapter 30

  Archer

  The airport bustles around me as I gaze out the window one last time at Chicago.

  I can only assume our mission was a success. The news channels have been running the story all morning, every last one of them with copious opinions about what happened to the mythical Boss of Snake Eyes.

  The rumors were true. It was a woman. No. That’s not right. The real ones running the show are the corporations and the—

  Blah blah, as they say. It doesn’t matter anymore. Let them talk.

  I take a step back from the window as a family hops off the nearest bench to board their flight. I still have some time to kill and I’d rather not do it standing.

  I sit down and glance around the unruly airport again. Dozens of people shuffling about, just trying to get home and see their loved ones again.

  I can relate.

  But there’s no one waiting for me where I’m going.

  “Hey, you.”

  I smile before glancing over my shoulder to spot the tuft of fiery red hair standing over me.

  “Hey,” I say.

  Lilah lowers onto the bench beside me. “How ya doing?” she asks.

  I laugh. “It’s been a rough few days, sad to say. And you?”

  She shrugs. “It all worked out in the end. Sparky says hi, by the way.”

  “I’m happy to hear he made it out all right.”

  “We all did.”

  I exhale with relief. “Good.”

  She chews on her lip. “So, you’re an illegal.”

  “Yes,” I say with a light chuckle.

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “I didn’t think it was important to mention.”

  “I don’t know...” she says, canting her head. “I think the start of a relationship is the preferred time to divulge one’s legal status.”

  I laugh. “Touché, love.”

  “Did they rough you up?” she asks.

  “No worse than you.”

  She snorts. “Good.”

  “But I have been deported,” I say.

  “For how long?”

  “A very, very long time.”

  “Bummer.”

  I clear my throat. “Come to see me off, have you?” I ask.

  “Something like that.” She glances around. “Or we can just leave. Do a little sight-seeing… of the nearest hotel room.”

  “I don’t think Judy will like that,” I say.

  Her brow furrows. “Who’s Judy?”

  “The delightful Air Marshall in charge of making sure I get on the plane.”

  “Oh.” She laughs. “Is this Judy watching us right now?”

  “She is,” I say.

  “Well, in that case, you pretty much have to go then, huh?”

  I nod as I memorize her face. Cute dimples, wild hair. The whole perfect Lilah package.

  “I do,” I say.

  “Then…” Lilah rises off the bench. “I guess I’ll be seeing you when I see you.”

  “I guess so.”

  She taps her toes. “It was fun while it lasted.”

  I smile. “It really was.”

  “Sad we didn’t take that trip to jazz country.”

  “Maybe someday.”

  She nods. “Maybe someday…”

  Lilah stares at me for a moment, her heel bouncing on the floor impatiently. I hold her gaze, stifling my chuckle rising just beneath the surface.

  Finally, she exhales hard.

  “That’s it?” she asks.

  “What’s it?”

  She scoffs. “Ask me to go with you, you moron!”

  My lips twitch. “You’d go with me?”

  “Yes!”

  “Why?”

  Her mouth opens but only air comes out. She sputters for a second as her little eyes flick back and forth. “Because,” she finally says.

  “Because why?”

  “Because...” She shifts on her toes. “I haven’t been to London in a while.”

  I stand up and her eyes fall to her shoes. “Is that all?”

  “You said something about an aquarium before. That sounds neat.”

  I nod. “It is.”

  “And...” She stutters. “I rugngn uyy.”

  “You what?” I ask, tilting an ear.

  She blows hard at the floor. “I love you,” she says. “I want you to ask me to go with you because I love you. Okay? Don’t have to make a big deal out of it—”

  I kiss her, not caring about who might see.

  She wraps her arms around me. My heart slams against my ribs, making it hard to even breathe, but I don’t care. This woman. This damned, beautiful woman. She’ll be the death of me.

  But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Lilah…” I say.

  “Yeah?”

  I gaze into her vicious eyes. “Would you go to London with me?” I ask.

  She bites her curling lip as she reaches behind her and pulls a boarding pass from her pocket. “Might as well. I was going there anyway.”

  I laugh and kiss the edge of her mouth.

  “Where’s your seat?” she asks.

  I step back to withdraw my boarding pass from the inner pocket of my jacket. Lilah tilts her head to read it and her nose curls upward.

  “Ugh. Economy class,” she says.

  I nod. “Yes, the US government is a bit stingy.”

  “Well...” She shrugs. “Exactly fifteen minutes after the captain turns off the seatbelt light... meet me in the bathroom.”

  “I dunno…” I tease. “I’d have to run that by Judy. She might not like it.”

  “Invite her along. I don’t mind. She a blonde? Brunette? What are we talking here?”

  I chuckle. “With that visual in my head, I might not even need you, love.”

  She slaps my chest. “Asshole.”

  I snatch her wrist and pull her close again. “Say it again.”

  “Ass-hole.”

  “Not that.”

  She licks her cherry red lips. “I love you,” she says, “Archer Allen.”

  I kis
s her again, taking another deep breath of her to get me through this flight.

  “I love you, Lilah Hart,” I say.

  My favorite bounty.

  Signed, sealed, and delivered.

  She’s mine.

  Chapter 31

  Luka

  I step inside the warehouse and I inhale a deep breath. The air is thick and warm, blood and sweat still lingering from the last agent we questioned here.

  Someone new sits in the chair now, his hands and legs bound, but he hasn’t been beaten on. Morning sunlight pours in through the windows, illuminating every familiar brown hair on the man’s head.

  Markov walks in behind me and closes the door. “Make it quick,” he says, peeking at me with his good eye.

  I sigh. Not this again. “There’s still plenty of time.”

  He gives a knowing grunt.

  I move closer to the chair and the man looks up at me.

  “Privet,” I greet him. “Do you know who I am?”

  He looks from me to Markov and back. “Yeah,” he answers.

  “Good.” I offer a friendly smile. “I apologize for the ropes. From what I hear, you have a habit of disappearing.”

  “Not well enough, apparently.”

  “When Markov told me they found you, I wanted to be the one to speak to you myself,” I say. “I had the pleasure of working alongside your son-in-law recently. He’s a good man.”

  He stares at me, unblinking. “What do you want?” he asks.

  I pick up a chair by the wall and set it down in front of him. He watches me cautiously as I sit down to look him in the eye.

  “I want to offer you a job, Casey Fawn.”

  His brow furrows.

  “I know.” I laugh. “That’s not what I usually say to snakes who end up in that chair, but… well, times have changed.”

  “Shit must have changed a whole lot, then.”

  “More than you know.”

  “Let me guess,” he says. “Either I join up with you or I’m a dead man? Is that how this works?”

  “No, Mr. Fawn.” I sit back. “Quite the contrary. If you’re not interested, I’ll let you go. You’ll be given ample time to leave Russia, but I do hope you’ll stay and consider my offer.”

  He exhales. “I’m listening.”