Trance (42 page)

No going back.

“What did you have in mind, Ember?” I asked, using her code name on purpose.

She smiled. “I have access to some money. A lot of money, actually, and I think this would be a very good use for it.”

“How much money are we talking about?”

“Three million.”

“Dollars?” If I hadn’t been sitting down, I’d have fallen over. I couldn’t wrap my head around that kind of number.

“I know it’s not a lot,” she said, and I blanched at the comment, “and it will probably spend fast. I mean, we need a place to live and security measures and transportation—”

“Whose money is it?”

“Mine. It’s been in trust for a while, and I never wanted it until now.” Something burned in her eyes—determination, intent, and a little bit of excitement. “I just wanted to make sure you were on board with going freelance before I did anything.”

I was more than on board with the idea. It was something we needed to do and, while part of me wanted to interrogate Dahlia about the source of this trust fund, most of me didn’t want to jinx her insanely generous offer.

We would have a purpose again—of that I had no doubt. Joy bubbled up inside me like a fountain, frothing out in a gale of giggles. It hurt to laugh, so I sobered quickly. The euphoria, however, remained close to the surface.

“I take it you like the idea,” Dahlia said.

“Sweetheart, I love the idea, and if this works out, then, I think I love you.”

A grunt—not from me, and not from her. I looked at the bed. Gage had peeled one eye open, and was staring at me through the slit. The eye blinked, and the corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile.

Dahlia made a discreet exit.

Gage worked his other eye open. My heart swelled under the intensity of his silver-flecked gaze—eyes I’d seen closed by the slice of a blade and feared would never look at me again. I slid onto the bed next to him. Tears welled and I didn’t fight them.

“Hey,” I whispered.

He licked dry lips. I brushed an ice chip over the rough, chapped surface, offering him a small measure of relief.

“You hit me with a car,” he said, low and tired.

“That’s what you get for standing in the middle of the road.”

“I tried to fight. He was so strong.”

“It’s okay, Gage. We won.” I bent my head and brushed my lips across his. The kiss electrified me and sent my heart galloping. Maybe we still had a few personal kinks to work out of our relationship, but I wanted our touches to feel like this always. I slid down next to him and rested my head on his shoulder.

“We’re okay?” he asked.

“We’re okay. We’re all okay.”

And who knows? I might even learn to like this whole leadership thing.