Stepbrother Thief(133)

“I was wondering why she hadn't called me back.” I feel my lips twitch with a small smile and then groan, pressing the fingers of my right hand against my face. It hurts too much to lift my left right now. At the very least, the bullet just barely missed a major artery of mine. I could very easily have bled out in Maxine's fancy ass safe house.

Bleh.

I don't want to think about it.

Right now, all I want to think about is Gilleon. He and Aveline are meeting with Maxine today. What about, I don't know yet, but I'm sure he'll tell me. It better be about his retirement though because I think what we just went through is a once in a lifetime situation. Not sure I could survive another.

With Karl dead, there's nobody around to give two shits about our hundred million dollar heist. Maxine can keep the diamonds, we can get our promised cut, and I'll get to start a new life here in Seattle. No, it's not as glamorous as Paris, but it rains a hundred and fifty plus days a year, and the people here buy reusable paper towels that other people here made from recycled hemp plants. What can I say, but that it's home?

“Anika misses you, Regi. Sometime soon, you guys should get together. Go there or bring her here.” I nod because I'd already planned on doing just that. The way things are going, I'll probably head down there, visit my grandma … get a dog off the reservation. I can't wait to tell them both about Solène. Finding out your sister actually has a nine year old daughter … priceless. Anika may very well kill me for not telling her sooner.

“Do you two need anything else?” Cliff asks from the direction of the kitchen, leaning around the archway to smile tightly at us. I know he's still mad at me although I think he's more pissed about my almost dying than about getting back together with Gill. Go figure. Cliff's as stubborn as his son, so maybe I should consider that a positive? As far as negatives go, I've been avoiding the main staircase and I keep waking up in the middle of the night.

But every time I do, I wake up next to Gilleon.

That makes it all worth it. So, so worth it.

“I can't … are you sure you're not making any of this up? Did you really shoot some semi-famous crime lord?” I smile at Leilani, but I don't have to answer. She can tell, I know she can. It's written all over my face.

I fought; I struggled; I survived.

I fell back in love with a second chance.

“Oh my God,” Leilani murmurs as she sits back with a slump and a sigh. “You are a special sort of crazy, you know that?”

“Now that I've told you everything, can we watch Supernatural now? I could use some Sam and Dean in my life.” Leilani raises her dark brows at me.

“With Gilleon? I think you have more than enough man cake to deal with.”

“Man cake?” I ask, trying to stifle a laugh. Laughing hurts ten times as much as breathing right now. “Did you just make that one up?” She grins at me and shrugs, a breeze from the window teasing her hair around her face.

“He's cute, I can agree to that. Everything else about him, eh.” Leilani shrugs her shoulders. “He'll have to prove himself again. Leaving you, that was bullshit, even if it was for the right reasons.” We exchange a look, the kind of look you can only get from people who know all your secrets.

Did I say I was sad about leaving Paris? I've got Leilani back. Kind of makes it all worth it.

We both pause as the front door opens and Gilleon appears, his eyes immediately straying to mine as he steps inside and closes it behind him. As soon as I see him, something bursts open inside of me, that font of love and admiration and tenderness that I feel towards him, that I've always felt, that I'm sure I always will. Okay, and maybe there's some relief in there, too. I have to keep reminding myself that he's safe, that we'll be okay.

“The meeting with Max …” I begin, but Gill's already smiling, nodding his chin at Leilani and moving around the couch towards me. I set aside my tea and lemon bar, abandoning them on the coffee table. With Gill around, who needs sugar?

“It went well,” he says and then, acknowledging Leilani, “I take it you two had a good afternoon together?” Leilani rolls her eyes and adjusts her Legend of Zelda T-shirt.

“Yeah, well, based on the story she just told me, I can tell Regi needs me in her life. I can be the voice of common sense.” Gilleon laughs, his gait just a little off from the wound in his thigh as he comes to sit next to me, sighing in relief as he takes the weight off his leg and sinks into the sofa.

“I can agree with that,” Gill says and then looks over at me, love filling his blue eyes. “You be her common sense, and she can be mine.”

I roll my eyes, but … he has a point. Gill needs me in his life. Today, tomorrow, forever.