“Thank you,” she said softly. “I don’t even know what to say. I feel bad you had to use up so many favors. I want to be able to tell you how I feel about you, but it feels wrong to do that while I’m still married to Elon. I need a divorce, and he’s not one to grant something like that, so I have no idea how that’s all going to work out.”
“Baby, you got to know this. The FBI just cracked an enormous case in that warehouse. Elon, Sam Charles…they’re going away for a long time. The FBI owes both you and me. Either way, I would have used up all my favors and called in a million markers if needed. Don’t worry about all that. Right now, you have to think about what you want, and if you want a divorce, you’ll get one.”
“How?”
“Elon is screwed, baby. He’s going to do a lot of time, and his crimes will be smeared all through the news. I’m pretty sure his family, the government, his legal counsel will all put pressure on him to at least do one right thing and grant you a divorce.”
She just nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Carson sighed, not wanting to overwhelm her any more than she already was. “Right now you only have to decide this. Do you want to go see your parents, or do you want to go to a hotel and eat, shower, and rest? I’m pretty certain your parents have heard the news of what went down by now, but it’s up to you to tell them what you want, when you want.”
“I need a shower and clean clothes,” she said while staring down at her disheveled clothing, then corrected herself. “Come to think of it, I don’t have any, but I think I should stop by my parents’ house. Let them know I’m in one piece, and then go take a bath and maybe get some clothes at the hotel?”
He had a feeling that stopping to see her parents wouldn’t bring the reaction Lila was expecting, but there was nothing he could do. He had to let Lila see for herself where her parents’ true allegiance lay.
“That’ll work. It will also give you a little time for a nap before Asher and the Vegas gang arrive. The Tunnel is running on a bare-bones crew at the moment, I’d guess. Asher, Mike, Petal, Sydney, and Penelope are all on their way here as we speak. I doubt they’re going to let you rest or let me have you all to myself.” He growled, lightening the moment, but made his point. He was looking forward to being with her, and only her.
“Two things, though,” Lila said firmly. “I’m thirsty and I have to use a bathroom. Do you think the driver can make a pit stop at a corner store?”
Carson shook his head, annoyed at himself. “I’m so stupid, I should’ve thought of that, but I was so nervous about getting you back and telling you the truth. Of course, bathroom and water it is, and maybe a coffee?” He gave her a wink and smiled at her.
Lila kissed him fervently, letting all the emotion run out of her system straight into him. It might have only lasted a few seconds, but he felt her completely relax in his arms while her lips moved with his. Her kiss didn’t feel lust-filled. Instead it felt tender. More like love.
Carson took down the security window and alerted the driver to the stop, and went right back to kissing Lila after putting it back up. As they held each other, he hoped their passion wasn’t only a promise of what they already knew worked between the sheets, but of togetherness. Something lasting that would bond the two of them forever.
He didn’t want to push the boundaries too far with all Lila had just been through. Realizing she was in an overly emotional state, he pulled back and settled her head back against his chest, while he gently rubbed his hands up and down her back to soothe her, stopping to massage her neck.
After a moment, Lila sat up and said, “Carson. I don’t know what to say. I’ve never had this kind of caring in my life, no one ever took care of me and I was always the caretaker. Back in Vegas, I wanted more than anything to have something like this with you, but I was sure I had to leave and let you go, because I was putting every one at risk. Then when I was taken, I worried that you were maybe behind it all. I’m so ashamed that I doubted you.”
Carson shook his head and said, “Don’t think about that, Li. It’s over. You don’t have to leave, you can have someone take care of you, and love you.”
“I know it’s over, I just don’t believe it,” was all Lila would say before they made a quick bathroom break.
SOON AFTER that, they pulled up in front of her parents’ house. Both her parents and another couple—the in-laws, he’d guess, based on Lila’s gasp—came rushing out the front door.