Erasing Faith(106)

Chapter Fifty-Nine: FAITH


KRYPTONITE



He came back after a few minutes, that worried look still on his face whenever he glanced in my direction. I could tell he was anxious about me. He thought I was in shock, because I’d seen him kill Bordas, because I’d shot Benson.

I wasn’t.

Neither of those things gave me pause.

It wasn’t Benson’s actions that haunted my thoughts — not the way he’d looked as he casually threatened thousands of innocent lives, or the cavalier tone of his voice when he’d declared Istvan was going to kill me. Instead, it was his words that stalked me, echoing in my mind over and over until I thought I might explode.

Because of you, he didn’t realize what was happening until it was far too late.

You’re responsible for his death.

The one who killed him.

“Red.” Wes was in front of me, his palms warm on my cheeks again. “He can’t hurt you ever again. There are agents on their way here as we speak — they’ll take Benson into custody and this will finally be over. You’re safe, now.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But you aren’t.”

His eyebrows went up. “What?”

“He said I was your fatal flaw. Your kryptonite.” I could feel my eyes watering. “Maybe he’s right — you almost got killed because of me… Maybe it was silly to think we could do this, without one of us getting hurt. Maybe we shouldn’t…”

“Hey.” He cut me off and his eyes were suddenly stormy with emotion. “Don’t say that.”

“But—”

“I used to think like he does — that love is a weakness.” His words were low, full of passion. “You were the one who taught me it’s not. Faith — you aren’t my Achilles heel. You’re not a flaw or a defect or a shortcoming; you’re a salvation. A strength. A cure. A gift.”

A few tears escaped beneath my lashes and slipped down my cheeks.

“You gave my something to live for. Not just exist — live. And that’s not something he can take away from us with a few words of doubt. No one can take that away from us, Red. Not ever.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressed my body into his, and buried my face against his shoulder.

“I love you,” I said, my words adamant. “Then. Now. Always.”

His lips found mine and he breathed a single word just before his mouth crashed down in a kiss that reassured me, in every possible way, that our love was unshakeable. Immoveable. Unrelenting.

“Always.”





Chapter Sixty: FAITH


HAPPILY EVER AFTER



“Come on, Red.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I hate surprises.”

“I know.”

He was far too cheerful — something was going on, and I wanted to know what. I grumbled and groaned until we neared the promenade and, abruptly, I knew exactly where he was leading me.

“Our bridge?” I guessed, a smile stretching my lips.

He just grinned and tugged me along.

It was strange and wonderful to be back in Budapest, where it had all started — where we had started. We’d been here a week, retracing the steps we’d walked three years ago, repainting the lies and betrayals which had once clouded my image of this beautiful city with bright new memories — full of love and laughter and the promise of a new life together.

It all felt a little surreal, maybe because it had happened so fast. After I’d shot him, Benson had been airlifted from the cabin to a military hospital and then immediately transferred into agency custody. According to Wes, Benson folded before the interrogation even started, his cowardice unwavering as ever, especially since it was his ass on the line. With the intel he’d provided, the CIA raided Szekely’s underground facilities in Tokaj, as well as two smaller compounds in Romania and Turkey. The illegal arms they’d confiscated there would put Szekely — along with dozens of his men — away for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes, as I wandered the streets of Budapest, seeing it with new eyes, I found myself thinking back to before. Remembering the people I’d known then. Cranky Irenka, slutty Anna, brooding Marko. But, most often, I thought of Konrad. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to that smiling, scrappy teen I’d once known. Wes told me he hadn’t been in any of the compounds during the raid.

I hoped he’d made it out of that life. That he’d get a shot at being his own person.

Everyone deserves that chance, at the very least.

We had another few days in Budapest before we left for Sydney. It was the only part of the trip I’d insisted on. I needed to see the place Margot had loved enough to call home, even for a short time. I needed to lay flowers in that alley, and feel the salt on my cheeks on a windy day outside the opera house.

I needed to say goodbye to my friend.

From there, I had no idea where we’d go. I’d been practically nowhere; Wes had been pretty much everywhere. He was determined to show me the world; I was happy to let him.

The minute I heard Szekely was behind bars, I’d officially quit my job and given up the lease on my apartment in New York. That same day, Wes had terminated his contract with the agency. They weren’t happy to see him go, but they couldn’t hold him. Not after he’d given them Benson and Szekely on a silver platter.