Read Novel Full Chapter 743: Claire’s Daughters
Chapter 743: Claire’s Daughters
Natalya and the others were already there, leaning against the vehicles with the kind of exhausted satisfaction that comes after a battle well fought. Claire’s grip on my hand was almost painfully tight, her knuckles white as she turned to Natalya, her voice low but laced with an unmistakable edge.
"I’ll let you go today," Claire said, her gaze locked onto Natalya, her tone carrying a quiet threat. "But next time we meet... it won’t be easy."
Natalya let out a low, knowing chuckle, her eyes gleaming with amusement. I understood why—she knew, just as I did, that it wouldn’t be long before Claire would be lying between us, her body tangled with ours in the kind of intimacy that left no room for secrets. The thought sent a thrill through me, but I kept my expression carefully neutral, my fingers tightening around Claire’s.
"Hee... I guess we’ll find out," Natalya purred, her smirk sharp and teasing. "Once we meet again."
She turned to Polina and the others, her voice all business now. "Let’s go." The group moved without question, though I caught the way Polina and the others glanced at me, their expressions curious, almost wary. Natalya hadn’t revealed my identity to them—they still thought I was Viper, some undercover operative sent to deal with Claire or the FBI. For now, that was fine. Let them wonder. Let them assume. It only made things easier.
Yelena slid into the driver’s seat, but Claire didn’t hesitate. She pushed me into the backseat before climbing in after me, her body pressing close to mine as she shut the door. "Let’s get out of here before the police show up," she said, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
Yelena scoffed, glancing back at us through the rearview mirror. "I’m not your driver," she muttered, her tone dry. "Come sit in front."
Claire didn’t move an inch. "What’s the problem?" she shot back, her voice sharp. "I’m sitting with my boyfriend. Just drive. It’s the least you can do after the stunt you pulled back there."
Yelena’s jaw clenched, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel. For a second, I thought she might argue, but then she just shook her head and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and she shifted into gear, peeling out of the area with a speed that pressed Claire and me back into the seat.
Claire’s fingers laced through mine, her grip tight, almost desperate. "Yelena, instead of going to the safe house, let’s go to a motel," she said, her voice calm but firm. "The safe house might be compromised."
Yelena didn’t argue. She just nodded, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror again. "Fine by me."
Claire turned to me, her voice softer now, but her fingers still trembling slightly. "We’ll go back tomorrow by flight," she said, her voice steady, though I could hear the undercurrent of nerves. "And I’ll quit my job."
I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I squeezed her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles in slow, reassuring circles. She took a deep breath, her voice suddenly nervous, almost vulnerable.
"That... Jack..." she started, her fingers tightening around mine. "I... have two daughters. They’re 14 years old."
I could hear the hesitation in her voice, the fear that this might change something. That I might change my mind. That the reality of her life—her responsibilities, her past—might be too much.
But it wasn’t.
I turned to her, my voice firm and certain, my free hand reaching up to cup her cheek. "They’re not your daughters," I said, my thumb brushing over her skin. "They’re our daughters."
Claire’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock. For a second, she just stared at me, her lips parted, her grip on my hand trembling. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face, her voice trembling with emotion. "Jack..." she whispered, her eyes glistening.
I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, my lips lingering against her skin. "I mean it," I murmured, my voice low and steady.
Yelena, who had been listening to the exchange, let out a dramatic sigh from the front seat. "Ugh, you two are disgusting," she muttered, though there was no real bite in her voice. "Can we please focus on not getting arrested right now?"
Claire ignored her, her eyes never leaving mine. "Jack..." she whispered again, her voice filled with something raw and real, something that made my chest tighten. "I love you."
I smiled, pulling her closer, my arm wrapping around her shoulders. "I love you too, Agent Claire," I said, my voice soft but certain.
She leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder, her breath steadying. For a moment, there was silence in the car, the only sound the hum of the engine and the distant wail of sirens fading into the night.
Then, quietly, Claire spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "They’re good kids," she said, her fingers tightening around mine. "Smart. Strong. They’ve been through a lot..."
I pressed another kiss to her temple, my voice gentle. "We’ll make sure they’re taken care of," I said. "All of us."
Claire let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing against mine, her grip on my hand loosening just slightly. "Jack..." she whispered, her voice filled with something like wonder, like she still couldn’t believe this was real. "I never thought I’d have this."
I smiled, my hand squeezing hers, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You do now."
Yelena, who had been driving with increasing irritation at our "dog feeding" —as she put it—finally slammed the car to a stop in front of a run-down motel. She had booked only one room, her voice sharp as she tossed the key onto the dashboard. "Easier to protect everyone this way," she muttered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Claire didn’t question it. She just nodded, her mind already elsewhere.
As we stepped into the dimly lit motel room, the weight of the night settled over us—the smoke, the gunfire, the confessions. Claire barely glanced around before turning toward the bathroom. "I’m going to take a shower," she said, her voice quiet, and disappeared behind the door, the sound of the water turning on soon after.