Chapter Twenty-Eight

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Emily Fernandez. With the help of her sister-in-law, she removed her wedding gown and changed into her white reception dress with a lace neckline and pearl buttons down the back. It was just as beautiful as the wedding gown. No expense had been spared by Elonzo, including renting out an entire resort on the Mexican Riviera. Lots of security. Lots of important guests. Which was why Elonzo had called in some favors to have her record wiped clean under both identities. Though, she'd had to keep the Emily name because explaining "Justine" to his family, who knew her as Emily, would raise eyebrows.

Honestly, it was fine by her. As long as she knew who she was.

"You look fantastic. How do you feel?" Angela asked.

Terrified. But ready. This was going to be the toughest job she'd ever done, and she was in it alone. No backup, no team of greedy, sketchy, eccentric hit men with big hearts and enough baggage to fill an entire airport. No hard-ass, secretive boss to push her to keep going when self-doubt crept in, which it would. There were no guarantees this marriage would change a thing for the better. Either way, she was all in now. No going back.

"So happy." Emily sighed. "Can I just have a moment alone to soak it all in? Tell my husband I'll be out in a second." Really, she needed to rest a second. There were photos to take and hands to shake. She'd have to wear a smile all night long to sell her blushing-bride story.

"Sure." Angela left, and Emily stared in the mirror. "Hello, Mrs. Heroin King," she said to herself.

"The name doesn't suit you," said a deep voice.

She looked over her shoulder toward the door leading out to a private garden. "Charge?" she whispered. "What the hell are you doing here? You'll get us both killed."

"Don't worry. I did my homework and found an easy way in. These people are always so sloppy—Elonzo's men spend too much time watching porn on their phones. Also, the power just went out momentarily in the security booth and took the cameras offline. I have a few minutes before they reboot."

"Nice to know, but why the hell are you here?" she repeated.

"I had to see you again."

Always the protector. "Okay. You saw me. I'm fine. But you're not supposed to be; they think you're dead. Go before someone comes in here to get me." She started pushing him back. "I mean it. I've come too far to have you fuck this up."

He gripped her hips and bent his head, kissing her lips. It took a moment to register how good his lips felt. Familiar, warm, safe. But all that was an illusion.

She pulled away. "Please go."

"Are you going to sleep with him?"

"What business is that of yours?" she asked.

"Are you? Answer me, and I'll leave."

"I-I haven't decided."

"Well, don't. I changed my mind. I don't want to go to bed every night knowing you're with him."

"Charge, what the hell…?" He couldn't be serious. "I just married the man, and you know why."

"It's not a real marriage. It's not a real relationship. But what you and I have is. Come with me."

Leave? He wanted her to leave? Now? "Nice try, but I have to think about all the people whose lives are a mess because of this business."

"‘ This business ' is not going to end. Not the way you have it planned. And my plan to pick them apart is just as na?ve. We can't stop them like that."

She exhaled sharply. She wanted to hear him out, but not here. Not now. It was too dangerous. "You need to get the hell out of here," she whispered.

"You said you loved me," Charge pushed. "So prove it. Let's go. We only have a few seconds."

She looked at the door leading out to the reception and then at him. Her heart felt torn. Neither path would result in a long happy life. "I can't just leave. I can't turn my back on this chance to change things."

"I'm restarting suite forty-five. I can't do it without you, Justine. I can't. I need you, and to prove I'm telling the truth, I won't leave here without you."

So first he said he'd leave if she answered him, and now he wouldn't leave unless she went with him? Always the manipulator. "They'll kill you."

"Then they kill me," he shrugged, "but the only way my plan works is with you. Being with me . You are the only person I trust."

Dammit. Hearing him say those words and back them up with his life meant more to her than it should. It meant everything. Maybe because Charge was the only one she trusted, too.

Sort of trust. (A) She wasn't stupid, and (B) Charge was a hit man. His secrecy habits would be hard to break.

She stared for a long moment, searching her gut for the right answer. "Do you have a plan?"

"And ten backups."

"He won't stop hunting me if I go with you." It would be beyond personal for Elonzo if she publicly humiliated him like this.

Charge flashed a charming smile. "No one's caught you yet. And we'll be ready."

She stared into those steely gray eyes, knowing that if she had one real weakness in this world, it was being unable to say no to him.

"Screw it." She took his hand.

***

"This place is perfect." Lita pivoted in her tennis shoes in the center of the small office and then smiled at the real estate agent. "You take cash?"

THE PAUSE