“My beautiful life.” He slides in gently, then picks me up. My legs wrap around his waist. He takes two steps. “I’m not going to make it upstairs.”

I laugh. Still inside me, he drops to the floor and fucks me there. Slowly, kissing my face and shoulders. Hitching my dress over my breasts, he kisses them with reverence and a lust too deep to be rushed.

We move as one, our individual defenses merging from separate shells into a single envelope of security and desire. I’m slowly overtaken by the intensity of our surrender. We are everything in the world.

His desires are mine. What he wants in the world is what I want. We are nothing without each other.

When I come, I say his name, and it’s my name too.

We’re dressed, cleaning up the plates. Such a simple, everyday chore while we make plans to deliver a couple dozen humans from slavery.

“First thing,” he says, “we have to go into the city and see if Connor’s still hanging around. If he is, he has to have seen something. If he did, we’ll know where to plan our attack.”

“And if he didn’t?”

“Then we’ll probably see your family on the airfield in St. Maarten. There will be a fight. We’ll be in a foreign country.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” He kicks the dishwasher closed. “If he’s not there, we’ll wait. See if he shows up.”

“Check by the Murray Hill apartment too.”

He nods but won’t make eye contact.

“Anyplace else?” He punches the button to start the wash.

“Remo was early morning and late night. Connor was usually watching in the day. His arm’s in a sling.”

Tapping on the counter, he stands with his head bowed.

“They shot him that night. Probably his collarbone. Shit.”

“Dario?”

“This isn’t a plan.”

“Not yet. But it will be.”

“It’s not ever going to be a plan!” He’s frustrated. “After what I did, I’m responsible for those women, and I don’t know if keeping you safe is keeping you with me or keeping you safe is leaving you behind.”

“After all this, you don’t get it.” Now I’m frustrated. “I can take care of myself.”

“You’re not getting it. I don’t want you to. I left the job to Connor because all I want is to take care of you. He’s supposed to take care of the cargo ship coming into Red Hook. He’s supposed to stay with Colonia escapees. My only job is supposed to be you and our family, and I fucked it up.”

From behind, I wrap my arms around him, pressing my hands to his heart. I feel the pounding of its rhythm.

“You’re worried I may be pregnant.”

“You are.”

“And if something happens to me, we lose that.”