I held on to my juice as I watched our friends. Knowing this was the last time I would possibly see these people was sobering.
Damien and Allison had been incredible people. There had only been one night with them, but I knew we would have been good friends. Maybe someday I’d have that chance to get to know them better. Maybe.
Bane said they knew we were disappearing, but no idea as to the specifics. It was safer that way. Any contact would put them and us in danger. I was glad they knew we were going to get our happily ever after and Bane was too. They meant more to him than he let on. They were his family.
Prior to Bane, I’d isolated myself from everything and everyone. For the first time, I acutely felt the loss of what we were giving up. To keep our babies safe, we had no choice but to disappear. I knew the score and it was worth the sacrifice. However, it didn’t lessen how hard the situation was.
If Sarge or Eric told anyone about Bane ... If someone else got the idea to use Bane because of me or the kids … If Alex was behind Sarge getting Bane back … we would be in danger. There were too many what if’s that we weren’t totally sure about.
Bane and Hampton laughed about some good times they had while Felicia and I watched them. We’d talked a lot as we waited for Hampton to arrive. She’d given me advice about having children she’d learned from her friends through the years. I had no guidance as to what I was doing since my mom died at birth. Bane knew about this. My mom went into distress and her heart gave out. It terrified me that I wouldn’t be there for our kids. I knew it made Bane nervous also. It was why he was insistent on us being near a top-rated medical facility.
Taking a last sip of coffee, Bane spoke when he set the mug down. “We had some good times. I’ll never forget you guys.”
Standing, Hampton sat his mug down too. “We did. Who knows, maybe we’ll cross paths again someday in some country. Here’s to hoping that fate brings us together under a better circumstance.”
Bane nodded. “I hope to hell that’s in the cards for us.”
Hugging me, Hampton whispered in my ear. “Take care of him. You brought him back to life.”
“I will. I promise. He did the same for me.”
Tears formed in my eyes as I hugged Felicia. In a sense, she had been a mother-type figure for me. I hoped I had her soft-spoken ways with her strength. She was a survivor with unconditional love for Hampton. Through a small sob, I said, “I know we’ve just met, but I’ll never forget you guys. I’ll always consider you family.”
She squeezed me. “Forever connected. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. I’m a firm believer.”
I sniffled at her words.
Wrapping his arms around Felicia, Hampton guided her out of the room. We were leaving twelve hours apart. It had been decided Hampton and Felicia would leave first. Our first stop was the Caribbean before we made it to Switzerland. Closing the door, Bane walked across the room to me and wrapped his arms around me. “I know this is tough.”
“It is, but we’ll be safe this way. Our babies will be safe. The people we love will be safe. I have to believe we’ll see our loved ones again.”
Bane gave me a gentle kiss and all the love poured around us. “Are you ready to embrace our new life, angel?”
“I am.”
Bane led me to the fireplace and pulled out all of our documents that used our real names.
He tossed our driver’s licenses into the fire. The flames consumed our old identities. We would have new names, birthdates … everything.
The fire consumed our id’s as we closed out another chapter of our lives. There was no going back, only forward. As the flames ate away at the plastic, I felt the impact of all that happened—all those we loved.
First glances at Discrete Encounters.
Bane’s proposition.
Running.
Hiding.
Being captured.
Frankie dying.
Surviving.
Finding out I was pregnant.
Falling in love.