Grinning in the rearview mirror, I start the engine and speed on out of the garage. For the first time in so long, I feel absolutely free. Anything is possible from here on out. Is it possible that, even at a dire time like this, I’m actually feeling...excited about my life?
“That is messed up, lady,” I mutter, pulling the SUV in a wide circle around the front drive. “That is messed. Up.”
I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, waiting for Lukas to emerge from the house. We don’t exactly have time to dally, at the moment. Sloan and his family are well connected within the world of the law, and I have no doubt that he has even more reinforcement lurking around, waiting for us. A shifting shadow catches my eye through the windshield, and I snap my attention forward.
“Shit,” I mutter, as the three men I caught sight of before begin to advance toward the SUV. Sloan’s buddies are not easily deterred. I swallow hard as the men surround the car, each one of them grinning widely. I must look like pretty easy prey, sitting here all on my lonesome without a man to protect me. Once upon a time, I would have felt pretty vulnerable out here on my own. But a whole lot has happened to me in the meantime, and I’m through accepting that I should sit idly by and watch my life unfold from afar. I lock eyes with the man directly in front of me and grin right back at him.
“You might want to get out of the way,” I mutter, and slam my foot against the gas pedal.
The man flies out of the warpath of my vehicle, throwing himself into the bushes as I charge his way. The others scatter with equal fervor, trying like hell to get out of my path. I swerve every which way, stopping just short of hitting them. I don’t want to kill anyone, after all. I just want these assholes to know that I mean business.
A loud boom catches my attention. I slam on the breaks and turn towards the house. There’s smoke rising up over the rooftop—and a sizable chunk of the top floor seems to have been blown away. I gawk at the enormous hole that’s been torn in the Roth Estate, as panicked screams begin to sound from the back yard. The men I’ve been chasing scatter away, covering their ears, as the heavy front door of the mansion swings open.
Lukas emerges, a fiery glow backlighting him in the threshold of his former home. Foregrounded by crackling flames, he looks for the world like some kind of vigilante super hero. His fine musculature swings out from within the ruined house, every perfectly-balanced part of him moving with purpose. He backs up from the doorway and produces something from his jacket pocket—it’s one of the grenades that I grabbed from the weapons locker.
With perfect aim, Lukas lobs the grenade into the front door of the estate and tears ass toward the SUV. He wrenches open the door and slams it shut just as the tiny bomb goes off with an incredible bang, collapsing the exterior of the house.
“You really don’t go in for subtly, do you?” I breathe, watching as bits of the house fall away in scorched chunks.
“Nope,” he says, “Never have. Now, do me a favor and fucking drive, would you?”
I slam my bare foot against the gas pedal and send us peeling down the long drive. I glance at the rearview mirror as the Roth estate quickly goes up in flames. All that finery, all those precious works of art, all gone. And all for the sake of securing our future as much humanly possible.
“My goodness,” I laugh, turning my attention toward the long drive, “What would Gertrude have to say about all this, Lukas?”
“What, blowing up her family home in the middle of her memorial gala?” Lukas says, looking back at the ruined estate, “She’d probably be furious. And not at all surprised. I was never an easy son to have, you know.”
“I have no trouble believing that,” I say. The tall oaks rush by in darkness as we barrel forward. “Will Thomas be able to fend for himself?”
“Oh yes,” Lukas says, “I never told you this, but Thomas is something of a professional himself. He was quite the mercenary as a young man. He decided that he wanted a quieter life of service, though, and came to work for us.”
“Quiet, huh?” I ask, “Is that what you call this?” Lukas shrugs and settles back into the passenger’s seat. I look him over, letting my eyes linger on his sharp, stubbly jaw, the muscles that are bulging with purpose beneath his fine tuxedo. I don’t think I’ve ever set eyes on a more appealing sight in my entire life. “So, where are we heading, Mr. Roth? Care to fill me in?”
“Just take a right at the gate,” he tells me, “We’ll get where we’re going eventually.”
I follow his instructions and swing out onto the main road. From here, it’s impossible to see the chaos raging within the Roth Estate. You’d never be able to guess just driving by that a gorgeous old Tudor mansion has just been blown apart with explosives by its one and only heir.
I shake my head, amazed. Just a few short weeks ago, I was still among the population who knew nothing about Lukas Roth, and the incredible world he lives in. But now that I’m here, I have no intentions of leaving ever again.
“Shit,” I hear Lukas mutter beside me, “It looks like we’re not going to make a clean break after all.”
I glance in the rearview mirror and see a half dozen headlights glaring there, gaining on us. Sloan’s posse isn’t giving up easily. I press down even harder on the gas, urging the car to put distance between us and our pursuers.
“Just listen to me,” Lukas says, “There’s no use getting in a car chase with these guys. We’re going to have to reroute. Slow down, let them gain on you.”
“What?! No!” I shout, “That’s the stupidest plan I’ve ever heard!”
“Really?” Lukas says, “And how many life-or-death missions have you been on in the past, Miss Levy?”
“Don’t play the Experienced Hit Man Card,” I snap, “I happen to have more than a little common sense, my friend. And that sense usually tells me to get the hell away from people who are trying to hurt me while I still can.”
“Trust me Hannah,” Lukas says, “Slow. Down.”
Against every ounce of my own better judgment, I ease my foot off the gas pedal. I look on in horror as the cars behind us start to gain. They close the gap with incredible speed, until they’ve just about drawn even with us.
“Lukas...” I whisper.
“On the count of three,” he says, keeping his eyes on our chasers, “Brake as hard as you can. One...”
“This doesn’t seem very smart,” I say.
“Two...”
“I really wish I thought this would work.”
“THREE!”
I jam my naked heel against the brake, and the screeching sound of tires fills the entire world. Our pursuers speed off into the distance as we come to a grinding halt. I feel myself being lifted bodily as Lukas tosses me into the passengers’ seat and settles behind the steering wheel himself.
“Buckle up,” he grins, and whips the car around in the other direction. He takes off at full throttle as I hasten to fix my gown and strap myself into my seat. The quick maneuver threw off the men on our trail, and they’re lagging behind us by a long shot. As we reroute past the Roth Estate, the sound of sirens begins to grow nearer and nearer. From up ahead, red and blue lights flash through the thick trees.
A swarm of emergency vehicles comes around the bend in the road. Fire engines, cop cars, and ambulances race in our direction at top speed. Instead of pulling out of the way, like any reasonable person would do, Lukas stays his course. I cover my eyes as he drives straight at the oncoming fleet, swerving to avoid a half dozen collisions. But in a heartbeat, we’re through. I whip my head around and watch as the various vehicles form a huge barricade between us and the men pursuing us. I let out a happy, hysterical laugh and sink back against the seat.
“You are a crazy son of a bitch,” I breathe.
“Then what does that make you, for coming with me?” Lukas shoots back.
I snap my mouth closed and turn my attention to the road ahead.
“Will you please tell me where we’re going now?” I ask him.
“Well, we have a couple of options,” he replies. “What’s your favorite continent?”
“What?”
“Where would you like to hole up, while we get our new life together?”
“Um...I rather like this continent just fine, but...how about South America?”
“South America...I can live with that,” he smiles.
We drive in silence for a long while, digesting everything that’s happened tonight. A million mundane thoughts begin to cycle through my head. Should I have called the hospital and given my notice? Will Sophia be able to find someone to sublet my room for the rest of the year? I should have packed some clean underwear. That would have been the smart thing to do. But I slap away these stray thoughts as if they were gnats. Nothing about my life as it was until tonight is ever going to matter again. It’s a sad and freeing idea, all at once.
At long last, Lukas swings off the main roads and into a private air field. I raise an eyebrow at him as he parks the SUV and hops out.
“Let me guess,” I say, “You have a pilot on call to whisk you away, no questions asked?”
“Close” he says, helping me down out of the car. He pulls me past the giant, metallic bodies of a dozen small jets before stopping in front of one at the end of the line. I look back and forth between him and the machine, my jaw dropping.
“You’re going to fly it?” I ask, though at this point I know I shouldn’t be surprised. If Lukas told me that he was going to strap me to his back and teleport us to safety, I’d probably have to just take his word for it.
“You trust me, don’t you?” he asks, crossing his arms in front of his powerful chest.
“With my life,” I tell him, taking a step forward. He accepts my approach, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against him.
“This isn’t all going to be private jets and car chases,” he tells me quietly, “There are going to be some long, lonely stretches coming up. You’ll be cut off from your friends, your family...”
“I don’t care,” I tell him. “Hell, that was never going to be much of a problem for me, anyway. I have to tell you though, the one thing I’m going to miss about my old life is my work. I really felt like I’d found my calling in the ER. What am I supposed to do now?”
“Are you kidding me?” Lukas says, “You realize that I have medical emergencies every other goddamn day, right? And besides, I thought you liked being a personal nurse.”
“This isn’t really sort of thing I ever had in mind, professionally,” I smile up at him, “Being a personal nurse to a hit man, and all. If only my folks could see me now...”
“Well, I’d be more than happy to hire you. Again,” Lukas says, bringing his lips to my neck, “Talk about an excellent HR decision if I’ve ever made one.”
“I don’t want to be your employee anymore Lukas,” I say firmly, “I want to be your partner.”
“Hannah,” he says, brushing my hair out of my face, “I’m starting to think that you always were. It just look me a little while to realize it.”
We freeze as sirens begin to wail in the distance.
“We should probably beat it, huh?” I say.
“You’ve got that right,” Lukas replies, and closes my hand in his.
By the time the cops arrive, our trail is cold. We’re safe together, sailing high above danger and fear, on toward the next glorious chapter of our lives. It’s not the way I ever expected my story to unfold, but I’ve always loved the idea of leaving it all behind.
Epilogue
-Lukas-
I admit, torching my family’s home to the ground was not exactly what most would call a subtle exit. From afar, Hannah and I watched as every major and local news network scooped up the story of the gala-gone-awry. It was strange, watching the endless footage of the Roth Estate burning to the ground.
Even knowing that countless generations of my family called that place home, even knowing that my last memories of my mother, wife, and children all lived in that mansion...I feel an odd sense of relief, knowing that it’s gone. The fact of the matter is, I don’t need a thousand-acre tomb to help me keep my family in my heart. They’re there to stay, whatever happens. I’ve spent so many years trying to forget what I’ve lost, but after that last act of destruction, I feel like I’ve finally made peace with my past.
They do say that fire is cleansing, after all.
Hannah and I made good time out of the States. Not having to get through airport security was certainly a big help, as was my companion’s level head. There aren’t too many people in the world who would have been able to keep up with me on that wild ride, but Hannah handled it like a pro.
We made it south of the border before anyone could figure out where we’d gone. And really, other than Sloan’s thugs, who’d be looking for us? Thomas certainly won’t be starting any rescue missions, and Hannah’s parents probably won’t realize that she’s gone until she neglects to come home for Christmas. It’s strange, feeling so unmoored in the world, but oddly enough it isn’t entirely lonely. I’m in very good company down here, after all—it turns out that Hannah’s all I need.
In the week or so since we fled the Roth Estate, our relationship has deepened. What we share is more than a passing affair, or an exciting fling. From the moment I met Hannah, there was something I recognized within her. We’re two lost souls who have happened to find each other. We understand each other on a level that is deeper than love, though we happen to make excellent lovers, as well. We don’t have labels for each other, or a category under which to shove our relationship. But for the time being, we’re both content with not knowing exactly what’s going on.
As I rise from an afternoon nap, several days into our expatriate refuge, I realize that Hannah is no longer lying in bed beside me. I plant my feet on the wooden planks of our tiny bungalow and stand, stretching out my already-relaxed muscles.
For the umpteenth time, I pat myself on the back for having had the foresight to buy this little hut however many years ago. I suppose I always knew that, at some point in my life, I’d be on the run from the law. I figured that I might as well do it comfortably.
I make my way out into the main room of the tiny home. The cabin is about the size of a one bedroom apartment—or, one single room of the Roth Estate. The kitchen and living room are not separated by a wall, there’s one bathroom, and our bedroom is really a very cozy closet. But even though I’m used to far more spacious digs, this will do just fine for now. Since we fled, Hannah and I have been enjoying the close proximity. It’s been lovely, getting to know each other in such an intimate setting.
Fixing myself a little afternoon snack of fruit and coconut water, I wonder how long we’ll actually be able to stay here. It would be hard to trace us, even if anyone was inclined to...but it wouldn’t be impossible. Honestly, it’s not someone finding us that has me worried about the longevity of this arrangement, it’s my and Hannah’s personalities.
We’re not the types to sit around, lounging in paradise while the world spins madly on. Before all this, we were both very driven people, professionals, the top of our trades. Sure, our jobs were as different as night and day, but we both cared about them very deeply. How long before we get the itch to go back to work?
I settle down at the kitchen counter and force the thought from my mind. I need to let the future unfold as it will, without worrying too much about the outcome. My life has already proven to me, in no uncertain terms, that the best laid plans are still completely foolish. Plans are foiled. Resolutions are overturned. There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen next in life, and I’m finally coming to accept that. Instead of forcing and fighting, I’m going to enjoy the moment as best I can. Luckily, I’ve found someone who makes that pretty easy.
Wondering where Hannah’s gone off to, I cross the small living space and pop open the door. The heat outside is heavy and thick—but what do you expect, so close to the equator? Our little hut is right on the beach, nestled amo
ng some towering trees. At the water’s edge, I spot Hannah—her white sundress bright against the backdrop of the sea. From here, her body makes the most beautiful, curving line. She’s a natural wonder in and of herself.
I watch as the warm breeze flattens the thin fabric against her skin, sets it to hugging her breasts and hips. Leaning against the doorframe, I cross my arms across my chest and watch her in sheer admiration. Sure, the call of action and adventure will drag me away from this place one day, but in the meantime, this will do just fine. I’m safe on a beautiful piece of land in a beautiful country, in the company of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I’m pretty sure I can be contented with that for a while.
-Hannah-
Cradling the pre-paid cell phone to my chest, I stare out into the endless expanse of blue that is the Pacific Ocean. Before Lukas and I fled from the Roth Estate, I’d never seen any body of water except the Atlantic. In fact, in all my life I’ve never ventured away from the East Coast of the United States. I always hoped I’d be able to see the world one day, though this isn’t exactly the way I imagined traveling. Instead of backpacking through Europe, I’m on the run with a millionaire hit man in South America.
But I guess beggars can’t be choosers.
I turn the little cellular device around in my hands, wondering who I should call. It’s been a few weeks since we disappeared rather unceremoniously from our previous lives. I wonder if my parents have even stopped to wonder about me yet? We haven’t really been on speaking terms for years, after all. Probably, they’re too preoccupied with company dinners and block parties to worry after the whereabouts of their only child. But honestly, I can’t bring myself to care too much. That ship sailed a long time ago.
Instead, I decide to call the one person I’m actually worried about in all of this. I flip open the cell phone and punch in a number I’ve long since memorized. The line crackles and rings a couple of times. This isn’t exactly the ideal location, as far as cell phone reception is concerned. Finally, the line clicks, and a familiar voice comes through from a thousand miles away.
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