we speak. Should be here within the hour.”
“Helicopter?” Selene said, not bothering to hide her alarm. “But there’s at least a foot and a half of snow on the ground.”
Oscar shrugged, though it was obvious he wasn’t any happier about their so-called approaching rescue. “Sebastian says the pilot is experienced, knows how to safely land and take off in deep snow. We’re supposed to make our way back up to the main road. There’s a clearing half a mile to the north, where the helicopter plans to pick us up. Now that the weather has cleared, Ju—they don’t want to leave us here in case anyone is still looking.”
“Me,” Luca said quietly. “If anyone is looking, they’re looking for me.” Luca had known this was coming. While the past few days had been the greatest of his life, he hadn’t allowed himself to forget it wasn’t going to last.
Regardless, he had hoped for at least another day or two.
“Doesn’t matter who they’re looking for…we’re in this together.” Oscar spoke with such authority, such confidence, that for a moment, Luca could almost imagine they were a team, a unit.
God knew there was nothing he wanted more.
And nothing he could have less.
“We all knew we were living on borrowed time here,” he said, proud—and somewhat shocked—by the strength in his voice. “I will never be able to express to the two of you how much these past few days—”
“Stop.” Selene put her hand up. “Stop right there. We’re not saying our goodbyes right now. This isn’t over yet, Luca. Not by a long shot.”
“As I have said before, tesoro, I have made peace with my decisions. I’m not afraid to die.”
“Whoa. Seriously, dude,” Oscar said loudly. “Enough of that. Selene is right. You’re going to speak to the Tr—Masters’ Admiralty, and you’re going to tell them your side of the story. We’re going to get your sister away from the psycho religious fuckers, figure out what to do with the bomb plans, now that we know it doesn’t work, and then you’re getting on with your life.”
Luca nodded, offering a weak facsimile of a smile, hoping it was enough to fool his lovers.
Dannazione…his lovers.
If only time could stop…right here…right now.
Selene narrowed her eyes. “He doesn’t believe us,” she said, speaking to Oscar, though her gaze was locked on Luca’s face.
“If there is anything I have learned these past few days, it is to trust you. Both of you. I do believe you will remain with me; however, you cannot predict the actions your society will take, nor would I…” He sighed heavily. “Nor would I allow you to place yourselves in the crosshairs of the Bellator Dei. If I was a good man, I would have left before—”
“Not gonna happen so you can save your breath,” Oscar interjected.
“Oscar—” Luca started.
“Doesn’t matter. This debate—that Tanaka and I are going to win—is going to have to wait until we get back to Boston,” Oscar said, glancing at the clock. “We don’t have long before the chopper arrives and we’re going to need every minute of it to slog through that fucking thigh-deep snow.”
Luca looked around the kitchen with all the crazy chicken stuff and smiled. He would think back on this odd, magical place every day for the rest of his life. A life that was probably only a few days long.
“What about the car?” Selene asked.
“Sebastian said they’d send someone to retrieve it once the roads were passable again. Get the feeling he’s also going to settle up our debts with the owner of this place—replace the window and pay him for the food we ate.”
“Might want to tell him we put a dent in the liquor,” Selene joked.
“I’m glad he will reimburse them,” Luca said. “This place provided us sanctuary. I’m not sure we would have survived outside in the car during this blizzard for so long.”
“I don’t know,” Oscar said. “Seems to me the three of us are pretty good at generating our own heat.”
They all took a few moments to get dressed, Selene looking around as if she was missing something. Then she laughed. “I keep forgetting we broke in here with nothing but the clothes on our backs.”
Oscar grimaced. “All I know is, I’m a few hours away from computers and cell phones and—”
Selene silenced him with a kiss. “I think it was good for you to unplug for a few days. You look less grumpy.”
“The fuck-fest is what made me less grumpy.”
Selene hummed. “Fair, and imagine how much