Page 107 of Everything We Found

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

A physical tingle spread through her body followed by an overwhelming urge to hold him tightly. “No more lies either.”

“No more lies,” he agreed as something profound passed behind his eyes.

“What is it?”

“When I was out there on that airstrip…” He took a breath and he reached up to touch the hair that had fallen over her shoulder. “When I thought it was the end, it became so clear.”

Nadia stayed quiet, leaving him space to find the words.

“All these years… decades. I lied to protect people. James, my mother, you…” His eyes sought hers, searching. “I was convinced they were necessary, that the truth was too dangerous. But facing death…” He let out a hollow laugh, wincing at the pain it caused. “Nothing like staring into the barrel of a gun to strip away those illusions.”

“Ihavestared into the barrel of a gun.” It almost shocked the soul from her.

“Right. Wrong analogy.” He looked chagrined again.

“I’m saying I think I understand. I’ve been there. It makes you reprioritize things.” She smiled softly. “What did you see?”

“Remember that cage you described to me once about your guilt? It was a long time ago.”

“I think so. Yeah, I remember.” She’d told him that eight or so years ago.

His eyes grew distant. “I realized that every lie I told became a prison for me.” His hand fell to his chest. “I thought I was in control. Figured I could manage the consequences, keep everyone safe in these little boxes I’d created. But the truth is, the lies controlled me.”

She smoothed her hand over his. “You did what you thought was right.”

“I did what was easiest. Keeping secrets meant I didn’t have to face the mess. I’ve been a coward.”

Nadia pressed a finger to his lips. “You are the least cowardly man I know.” And she’d known a few. Her dad headed up that line. But there was something beautiful in his self-awareness that made her love him more deeply.

“How could you love me after all I’ve done?”

She looked at him, incredulous. How could she not?

“You are the bravest. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. But mostly, I fell for you because I see who you truly are, even behind your wall of lies. I know your heart, Thomas,” she said simply. All those years of watching him sacrifice himself for others, of the burdens he carried. It had drawn her to him even as she’d tried to resist. “Remember that night at Joe’s when you pushed half your sandwich across the table because you knew I was too proud to admit how hungry I was? It’s those kinds of things, no matter how little you think they are, that make me love you. You showed up for me without me ever having to ask. You changed your life for me just so I had a bed to go to sleep in at night.”

Thomas looked away, but she gently turned his face back to hers.

“I fell in love with you because of who you are beneath the lies and manipulation. You’re the boy who risked everything to save his brother. The man who lives by a code of loyalty so fierce it consumes him.” Her voice trembled. “People mostly lie because they’re afraid of… something. Your lies came out of love.”

“That doesn’t excuse what I’ve done,” he said quietly.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But it shows me who you could be—who we could be together—if we find the courage to live in the truth.”

Thomas’s hand tightened around hers. “I want to be that man for you. I want to be worthy of your trust, Nadia.” A fierceness underlined his conviction. “No more… what did you call it—unilateral decisions? No more lies by omission. No more secrets between us. I’m done with all that.”

“I believe you.” She brought his hand to her lips, kissed his palm. Nothing like a near-death experience to give one a whole new outlook on life.

“I’ve lost so much but losing you would be unbearable.”

“You haven’t lost me. Even when I was trying to hate you, I’ve loved you since that first hot fudge sundae at Joe’s.”

“I want to build something real and honest with you, Nadia.” His gaze found hers, his steady and clear. “Would that be all right with you?”

His declaration lit her up. Her entire body sparkled, her skin tingling.