35. Charlotte

35

CHARLOTTE

I get two blissful days with Ivan before he tells me that we're taking a trip. He's rented a car with cash this time, he says—not stolen—and we're going to take a drive up to California.

"Is that such a good idea?" I bite my lip as I look at him, slipping into a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved T-shirt. "We just left the States to lay low. Should we be going back?"

He looks at me, hesitant, and I know I'm not going to like what he has to say. "Just tell me," I say finally, and Ivan lets out a heavy breath, sinking onto the edge of the bed.

"I called Bradley," he says slowly. "I made a deal."

"What? You did what ?" For a minute, I think I'm not hearing him correctly. "What do you mean?—"

"Just listen." Ivan stands up, grabbing my hands and holding them in his. "I need you to trust me. You want your life back, right? Your home, your friends—you want to be free to see them again, right? I took all that away from you."

I narrow my eyes at him. "I forgave you for that," I say slowly. "We've talked about it. I understand. And yes, I want those things—but I want you , too, Ivan. And those things?—"

"Might not be mutually exclusive." He rubs his thumbs over my knuckles, his expression pleading with me to listen to him. "Trust me, Charlotte, just like you have up to this point. I made a deal with Bradley, but if all goes well, then it'll turn out in my favor, not his. And we'll both be free to do as we please."

I look at him suspiciously. "And if it doesn't?"

"Then I'll go to prison. But you'll still be free. You'll get your life back. It's a gamble, but—" Ivan grins, that mischievous look in his eyes. "We went all the way to Vegas, right? We've gotta place at least one bet."

I shake my head, chewing on my lip. "I don't like it."

"I knew you wouldn't," Ivan says softly. "But please. Trust me."

He's right that I have. And it's gotten us this far. I nod slowly, even though I still feel uncertain. But Ivan has been playing this game much longer than I have. I have to trust that he can see it through to the end.

"Okay," I whisper, and he pulls me in for a kiss.

I lean into it, savoring the feeling of his lips on mine, knowing that this could be the last day we spend together. The thought feels like it claws at something in my chest, and I want to change my mind, to tell Ivan no. To tell him that it's too dangerous, that we should stay here, in Mexico, in this little sunny bubble that we created for ourselves over the last couple of days.

It's been like a dream. Like heaven. With the anger and resentment gone, there's just been the two of us, in our own little haven.

But I know what Ivan's afraid of. That eventually, the shine will wear off. That I'll start to miss my friends again. My life. That I'll resent him.

I don't think I will. But I can understand why he would fear that. And while I would never ask him to risk his freedom to give me back my life—if he could get us all of that back…I can admit that it's tempting.

Ivan's fingers stay laced through mine for the entirety of the drive to the Tijuana River Valley. I try to soak it all in: the sunlight, the hours with him, the fact that whatever happens now, everything between us has been figured out. He loves me and I love him. And if for some reason this plan goes awry, I tell myself, I won't let Bradley win. I'll get a lawyer, a good one. I'll find a way to get him out.

We meet Bradley in a parking lot just as we get into the Valley, just over the border. It's an empty lot across from an old, closed-down furniture store, across from an In-and-Out. Bradley is standing just outside of his car, sunglasses on, seemingly alone. I feel Ivan tense as we pull into the lot, and he lets out a slow breath.

"If this goes wrong," he says softly, "I love you, Charlotte."

"I love you, too," I whisper.

And then, as Ivan starts to open the door, I see a second man get out of Bradley's car—this one taller, older, with a bearing that suggests he might be Bradley's superior. I feel a little of the tension drain out of Ivan, and I take a breath, hoping against hope that this goes according to plan.

We walk towards where Bradley and the other man are standing. Bradley straightens, sliding off his glasses. "Well," he says with a grin. "Here to turn yourself in, Kariyev?"

"Not exactly." Ivan turns his attention to the other man. "Special Agent Shelby, right? Bradley's boss?"

Bradley has frozen, a look of confusion on his face. "You talk to me," he snaps. "This is my?—"

"It's your nothing," Ivan interrupts. "Special Agent Shelby, I have proof here that my father, Dima Kariyev, will be at this address in Chicago tonight, to move a shipment of women that are being sold to various buyers in numerous countries. My brother, Lev, will likely not be there, as he was engaged with tracking me down, and my other surviving brother, Ani—if he's alive—will also be busy trying to find me. But they'll be easy enough to track down, once you have my father. You can take him, and this business down, in one swoop tonight."

Shelby looks at the texts from Dari on Ivan's phone, his expression skeptical. "And why didn't you get this information for Bradley, when you were reporting to him?"

"Because I didn't trust him," Ivan says flatly. "My plan was always to find a way to get this information to you, once I had it. Bradley has disliked me and my work for you from the start. He resents that I can exchange my freedom for information. He resents it to the point that he tried to manipulate Ms. Williams here, to pin fake kidnapping charges on me, and use Ms. Williams' former boyfriend to threaten her and provide incorrect information."

I step forward, before Ivan can stop me. "I have texts from Nathaniel Taylor that prove that he was threatening me. Bradley should never have engaged his help in anything involving me. But Agent Bradley didn't seem to care much for my welfare, at least not past the point where it could help him."

"I planned to get this information sooner rather than later," Ivan continues. "But everything went all to shit a couple of weeks ago, as I'm sure you're aware. Bradley seemed to have gone rogue, so my goal was to stay ahead of him and my brothers, until I could get Charlotte to safety."

Shelby is still looking at Ivan through narrowed eyes. "And your reason for fabricating this handover today?"

"I wouldn't have gotten this meeting otherwise." Ivan shrugs. "I needed you to be here, or else Bradley would have thrown me in the deepest pit he could, and fabricated enough to make sure no one found out how he'd behaved."

"This is—" Bradley starts to splutter, but Shelby holds up a hand.

"It's not the first time Bradley has been censured for his conduct," he says slowly. "What is it you want, Kariyev?"

"I want all possible charges against Charlotte thrown out. I want her to be able to return to her former life once my father and his associates are arrested, without fear and with protection, if need be. I want a restraining order filed against Nate, so he can't threaten her. And I want amnesty for myself and the man who provided this information. I'll give his name when I have guarantees." Ivan holds his ground, unflinching as he lists it off.

Shelby draws in a slow breath, considering as he looks down at the phone. "I'll have you and Ms. Williams taken to a hotel," he says slowly. "And when we've made the arrests, if all of this pans out, I'll have an agent bring the agreement to you to sign. If not—if this proves useless—" He shrugs. "You'll be taken in and charged, and Ms. Williams will be questioned. Is that fair?"

Ivan hesitates, and I look at him. "It's good, right?" I whisper. "The information?"

He nods, swallowing hard. "So long as nothing goes wrong. As long as Dari comes through."

"Is it worth that chance? To get everything back?" I'm tempted to tell Ivan to jump into the car with me, and we'll run again. But he still seems determined to see this through.

He nods. "I think it is. You'll be safe no matter what. I'm sure of it."

"Okay." I bite my lip. "I trust you."

"That's acceptable," Ivan says, turning back to Shelby. "We'll take that offer."

Next to him, Bradley is spluttering, trying to get a word in. But Shelby raises his hand again, looking sharply at him.

"We're done here," he says curtly. "We'll talk about your future back at the office."

And, for once, as Shelby gets back into the car and motions for Bradley to follow him—Bradley has nothing to say.

—

The hotel that we're taken to is comfortable and clean, with a huge bed made up with white sheets and a gorgeous view. I give the authorities my former phone number to pull the texts from Nate, and Ivan and I wait in the room to hear about our future.

It's impossible to sit still. We order room service and pick at it. Ivan turns the television on, but neither of us watches it. And then, just when we both feel like we're going to go mad as the nighttime hours tick past, Ivan gets a message on the phone that he was left with.

"It worked." He stares down at the screen, his face slack with disbelief. "I can't believe this is actually happening. It worked. We're going to be fine." He repeats it again, astonishment coloring his tone, and I jump up, looking over his shoulder to read the message.

Arrests made. Dima Kariyev and others in custody. Will come to hotel to sign amnesty agreement.

-Agent Caldwell

I sink down on the edge of the bed, the realization that it's almost over hitting me. That we're going to be safe. Ivan's father is arrested, and if his brothers weren't already—the ones that are still alive—they will be soon. The agent who comes to talk to us will tell me about keeping Nate away from me. And Ivan and I—we'll be free to live our lives. Not on the run, not as different people, but our lives.

"You fixed it," I whisper softly, half-amazed by it still. "You fixed it all."

Ivan smiles at me, setting the phone down. "I told you I would."

"So what happens after the agreement?"

Ivan breathes in slowly. "We go home. I'll be given amnesty so long as I stick to whatever probation they give me—I'll have to avoid some criminal activities, I'm sure. But I think I can manage that."

"Are you sure?" I can't help but grin, getting up from the bed as I walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You'd have to stop stalking me. That's probably on the list."

"I don't need to any longer. You're right here." Ivan grins back, his hands on my waist. "And if you run, little dove, I'll catch you."

I suck in a sharp breath, as he leans in to kiss me, soft and slow. When he breaks the kiss after a long moment, he looks down at me, his hands still gripping me gently.

"What do you want to do after this?" Ivan asks curiously. "You probably just want to go home, right?"

I smile, feeling lighter than I have in a long time. "To see everyone and let them know I'm safe, sure. But not to stay."

Ivan tilts his head. "No?"

"No." I lean up, kissing him again. "Not yet, anyway. There are so many adventures that I haven't gotten to go on yet."

I lean in, pressing my forehead to his, my arms still wrapped around him as I breathe him in. "And I want to go on all of them with you."