Dane

"Dane, we talked about this." John's voice was tense on the other end of the line. "The risk is far higher if you're trying to elude them! They can call on others—they'll have manpower you just won't have. Not to mention that it adds charges if the Police have warrants. With the financial resources you have at your disposal, the chances of being stuck in any cell for any length of time prior to conviction is so small—"

​​

"But I can't risk it at all. I'm serious, John."

"Why?"

Dane took a breath. He was going to figure it out anyway. "It looks like… like Lila's pregnant."

John hesitated. "I thought that was a ruse?"

"It was at first. But now… look, I need you to get a package delivered to her at the Penthouse—pregnancy tests, prenatal vitamins, and anything else a pregnant woman is supposed to have. Like, do your research."

"I can't courier you a doctor, Dane," John said flatly.

"No shit, Sherlock."

"She needs to see someone. I have people I can send who will be discreet—"

"Not discreet enough that my staff won't hear of it, and I'm still not certain how many moles we have. If it goes that far, I'll be in touch. But we… we aren't one hundred percent certain yet. Besides… trying to stay out of jail, remember?"

John sighed again. "I really thought once your father was gone your life would become so much easier. This is quite the pickle he's left you in."

"Well, let's just pray we can stay out of the juice."

He knew it was lame the moment it left his lips. Neither of them laughed. Not that John laughed often, anyway. "Okay, Dane. I'm on it," he said after an awkward moment.

"Thank you, John. I mean it."

"I know."

"For everything."

"I know. You're welcome."

"Bye."

"Goodnight, Dane. Give Lila my regards."

Dane stared in confusion at the phone as he heard the beep of John disconnecting.

How the hell had John known he and Lila were back together?

*****

Lila

She woke to the Penthouse bedroom lit by the city outside because the curtains hadn't been pulled, and smiled. Dane and his windows. Her heart swelled and she rolled over to lay on his chest… and found cold sheets and a pillow with an indentation where his head had been.

Her stomach clenched and adrenalin shot through her. Was he in the bathroom? "Dane?" she said, her voice shakier than she would have hoped.

But the bathroom door was open and there were no lights or sounds from it. "Dane?"

Her breath sped up. She pushed out of the bed, realized she was naked and hurriedly grabbed a robe from the closet, before walking to the bathroom to check, just to be safe. But he wasn't there.

Telling herself there was nothing to be worried about, that he was probably just unable to sleep and working in the other room, she stalked quickly out of the bedroom and into the living area. "Dane?"

But she was greeted by nothing but a cold, silent Penthouse.

She saw her sweatshirt on the couch and picked it up without thought, but then she blinked, and scanned the living area. She would have sworn Dane had shed his shirt on the dining table, and his pants on the floor last night as they rushed through here. But they weren't here. None of his things were here.

Had it all been a dream?

For a second, Lila closed her eyes and had to ask herself a very real question. Was it possible she'd dreamed all of that, that he wasn't back? That she hadn't found him? Was she losing her fucking mind?

With a whimper in her throat she first walked, then ran for the alcove and the fireplace at the end of the apartment.

He had to be there. He had to be.

That couldn't have been a dream… could it?

*****

Dane

He was still staring at the phone when a frantic knocking started at the door. He startled and pulled his gun before he realized it had to be Lila. She must have woken up. And he'd been gone. Shit.

He rushed across the room to the peephole in the door, his stomach clenching when he saw her face on the other side, lined with anxiety. He flipped the locks and threw the door open and she ran into his chest.

"You said you wouldn't leave! I woke up and you were gone! What are you doing over here!" she cried into his chest. Then, before he could answer, she pushed backwards out of his arms and put a finger in his face. "You said you wouldn't leave me alone again! You said—"

"Babe, calm down," he said with a small smile. "I had to get some stuff over here and I had to use the phone. I didn't want to wake you."

"I woke up and you were gone and for a minute I thought… I thought…" she swallowed hard and glared at him. "Please don't do that to me again," she said breathlessly.

He pulled her in and kissed her and she clutched desperately at his waist. "I won't. I'm not going anywhere, Lila. I promise. That's why I was on the phone. I'm making… arrangements."

"What kind of arrangements?" she said, her tone suspicious, but she still had her face buried in his chest.

"I'm setting up everything we need so we can get out from under the eyes here in the city. And I'm having John infiltrate Dad's hive and find out who's taking over. I want to make sure Felix—"

"You're WHAT?" she yelled, pushing out of his arms again and taking a step back, her face aghast.

Dane frowned. "I'm not going anywhere near the place, Lila. Don't worry. John has some… well, I guess you'd call them drones, and we're going to use them to confirm what's going on with Dad dead."

"Why would you have anything to do with those people? Why would you even risk it? What possible value comes from pissing them off—or worse—"

"Lila, babe, calm down. I'm not going to piss anyone off, okay? We just need to know who's in charge over there, because whoever it is changes what interest they'll have in me. It changes the risk—maybe even makes it less. But we need to know."

"I thought we talked about this last night? Didn't you hear anything I said?"

"About what?"

"About not looking for a fight!" she yelled, her eyes wide and angry.

"I'm not!"

Lila made a growl of frustration and clawed her hands into her hair.