How the Hitman Stole Christmas - Sam Mariano Page 0,106

Stillwater keychain I bought him. There’s a key dangling from the ring.

“A key? A key to what?”

“Remember that house you liked in Stillwater? The big one on that street right before my mom’s with the Christmas tree in the window?”

My heart stalls. “Yes,” I say tentatively.

“I bought it for you.”

Shock.

“For us,” he amends.

“What?” I say breathlessly, unable to comprehend.

I mean, I hear what he’s saying, but there’s no way we could afford that house, not even saving every penny we’ve made between us these past three years living in the servants’ quarters of Mateo’s mansion. Jasper does okay, but my pay is a pittance.

“Jasper, how? We can’t… we can’t afford that.”

“We can,” he assures me. “I cashed in every favor I’ve ever been owed, and I’m lucky to have good friends who were happy to help out a bit as a sort of severance package.”

My gaze lifts to his, my eyes wide. “Severance package.”

Jasper shrugs, almost bashful—a look I’ve definitely never seen on him. “I told you we’d move to Stillwater if I ever retired.”

I’m too stunned to move, but joy swells up inside me. “You’re retiring?”

I’ve never had a problem with Jasper doing what he does for work—he was in it when I met him and that was the life that suited him.

Deep down, though, it’s hard not to feel afraid sometimes when the man you love is routinely putting himself in immensely dangerous situations. I may not know every detail of Jasper’s work, but I know enough to know it’s not safe.

That got even harder after Livy was born.

I would have never asked him to change, to stop, but my fear of losing him did grow after that. He assured me that if anything ever happened to him, Mateo would make sure Livy and I made it back on our feet, but that wasn’t what I was worried about.

It was him I was afraid of losing. Maybe the people he works for can replace Jasper if something happens to him, but I can’t. He’s the man I want to grow old with, and I could never love an ordinary man after knowing what it’s like to be loved by him.

He ruined me, just like I knew he would.

And I’m so glad he did.

“I’m retiring,” he verifies softly.

I sigh, pushing out a breath I had no idea I’ve been holding for the last three years. The relief flooding my system is so dizzying, it makes me unsteady. I throw my arms around his neck and hold him tight. “Thank you,” I whisper, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

He may not have said he’s doing it for me, but I know he is. Jasper enjoys the work he does, he enjoys the people he works with and for. It’s the only life he really knows, and some part of me thinks he might miss it once he’s out, but he’s getting out, anyway—for me. For Livy.

He’d do anything for me and Livy.

Jasper’s strong hand settles on my back, the other going to my waist.

It’s a long time before I let go. When I finally do, I pull back to look at him. “When?”

“In the new year. Probably January, maybe February. I still have some stuff to handle, loose ends to clip and tie up, plus I have to deal with the financial shit on the house. I already put in the offer and they accepted it, but I wanted to wait before we moved forward with everything. They knew I was giving it to you as a Christmas gift, so they agreed to wait. I didn’t want to be finished with the process already, just in case you reacted differently than I expected and didn’t want to move anymore.”

A teasing smile graces my lips. “I mean, I do find my work deeply fulfilling. I’m not sure I can leave it.”

Jasper rolls his eyes. “Sure you do.”

“If I’m not here, who will wash the high maintenance silk bedding that keeps the Morelli ladies so beautiful? Who will ensure that the household never runs out of dried cranberries for Mateo’s dinner salad?”

“These are the important things in life,” he says, playing along.

I nod. “I’m glad you understand.”

Jasper snatches the keyring out of my hand. “I guess I’ll just have to give this big, beautiful house to someone else.”

“Hey, give that back,” I say, giving up the game and tackling him so I can get my new house key back.

“Technically, this key is for theatrical purposes only.” He holds it