“We haven’t known each other long enough to say things like that.”

“Look, the only reason I’ve gotten this far in my life is because I trust my gut. It’s never led me wrong. And my gut says that what we got here, this is some forever type of thing.”

My heart felt close to bursting at that.

“Besides, we’ve already survived two major secrets, a kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion,” he went on, pulling the plug on the waffle iron.

“Hey, you’re not done with that.”

“We’ll get back to that,” he said, grabbing my hips, picking me up, and dropping me down on the island.

He pressed into my knees until my legs parted for him.

“What I’m saying here is: I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”

My legs wrapped around him, and my hands danced up his arms to circle the back of his neck.

“I’ll take you. But not the nutmeg.”

“You drive a hard bargain,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “But I accept the terms of your proposal.”

And this little contract, we sealed it with a kiss.

Epilogue

Soren - 1 Day

“Where have you been?” Teresa asked, rushing to follow me into my office, her heels clicking across the floor.

“Had to make my way in from Brooklyn,” I told her. “Why? What’s the matter?”

“You haven’t seen the news then?”

“What news?” I asked, moving to sit behind my desk.

“This news,” she said, dropping her tablet down on the desk in front of me.

The screen was frozen.

With a grumble, Teresa tapped the screen to make it play.

A brunette newscaster filled the screen, face serious as she started speaking.

“Breaking news out of The Bronx tonight—NYPD officials have confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old man found in possession of a significant quantity of xylazine, the dangerous sedative commonly known on the street as 'Tranq.'"

The screen cut to B-roll of flashing lights, police tape, and a table covered in plastic baggies.

“Authorities say the suspect, Alen Hakobyan, was apprehended during a late-night raid in the Soundview neighborhood where over three kilos of drugs were seized.

“Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer, is not approved for human use, and is often cut with the dangerous drug fentanyl. Tranq has been linked to a sharp rise in overdose deaths across the city.

“This is a developing story. We will continue to bring you updates as the story progresses.”

“Holy shit,” I said as Teresa snatched back the tablet and silenced it as it ran to a commercial.

“I’m no expert or anything, but I’m pretty sure 3 kilos is enough to qualify for kingpin charges,” Teresa said. “He’s not getting out.”

Before I could even wrap my head around that, my phone was ringing in my pocket.

Saff.

“Fire the lawyer,” she said in my ear as soon as I answered.

“You heard?”