Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 135958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
I swallowed over a hard knot. “What are you talking about? Who’d get killed?”
He shrugged. “Take your pick. Brooke. Kai. Brooke’s man—and Brooke will then blame herself or Kai.” He pushed off the doorframe, turned, and slid his hands into his pockets. “You should go, my two cents, but what do I know?” He strolled away, whistling once he got to the hallway.
The woman was done. My bag was packed and in her hand. She waited beside the bed.
I was going to regret this. I knew I would. “Put that in the vehicle Kai is leaving in. I’m going with him.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’ll notify him now since they’re leaving the driveway already.”
“What?”
But she was gone, hurrying out.
I blanked a second, then went into overdrive. I couldn’t travel in my pajamas…or maybe I should? No. That was ludicrous.
I grabbed a pair of black leggings, an oversized black hoodie, a black tank top, a pair of underwear, and a bra. I went to the bathroom, changed, and washed.
What am I doing?
I slipped on a pair of black flats.
I have no idea.
Oh God.
My throat constricted. Panic clawed at my chest.
Grabbing a hair tie, I piled my hair into a messy bun and left my wing.
It took a second to figure out what was wrong.
I blinked, and it hit me. There were no guards.
I was completely alone.
Shit.
I didn’t have a phone. I wanted a phone. I needed music when I flew. I hated not having music. Or a book? Maybe I should’ve grabbed a few from their library, but I was already off and weaving toward the front entryway.
Was I making a mistake?
After what we did—my body instantly warmed, and I bit back a groan.
It was going to happen again. More. More would happen.
But Brooke. Kai. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Brooke would listen to me. She would. Tanner was right about that. She’d talk first, before doing something rash. Right?
Was this all a calculated move? Had Tanner been supposed to come in, lay on a guilt trip, and send me running after Kai? Because, fuck. That’s what happened.
I stopped at the bottom step, the entryway beckoning me. A pair of headlights shone outside. They were waiting for me.
“He won’t come in for you.”
This time Jonah stood behind me, a drink in hand. He was dressed much like me, in a sweatshirt, but with sweats on the bottom.
“You’ll have to go to him. He’s been notified that you changed your mind, but the decision has to be yours. Totally. He’ll wait, but not for long. He’ll go without you, so decide quick. Otherwise, the next vehicles will be leaving in six hours. We’ll take you back to your other life.”
My other life.
He was right. If I went with Kai, somehow, in some way, I would be returning to my old life. But if I stayed, even if I went back to Blade and Carol, could I really return to that world?
I’d broken my vow.
I was still breaking my vow, now actually going with the person the hider wanted away from.
But…my eyes were glued to those headlights.
I knew my decision. I felt it deep down.
I went outside.
I hadn’t ever really considered not going. I’d been fooling myself.
The door to the SUV opened. Kai sat to one side, and I got in.
The inside was warm, a slight trace of bourbon in the air.
I sat back, not meeting Kai’s gaze, and smoothed my sweaty palms down my legs.
Had I just made a mistake?
Then he placed a phone in my hand. “For you to use.”
I choked up.
I turned on the screen, saw the WiFi connected already, and knew what this really meant.
He’d just offered me real freedom.
Next he placed a pair of headphones on my lap.
Without another word, I plugged them in, put them on, and found some music. I slid down beside him, and it wasn’t long before I fell asleep.
I felt… I didn’t want to think about how I felt.
It was a way I shouldn’t have. I knew that much.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kai traveled via private jet.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. Privacy and security were so important to them. It made sense.
We rolled up to the plane in a private hangar and got out. There was a slight drizzle in the air, a faint smell of manure underneath. I shivered, ducking my head as we went up the ramp.
“Welcome, miss.”
The flight attendant gave me a professional smile, indicating for me to take a seat. I was surprised how big the plane was—ten people could fly with us.
I took one of the seats in the back, and one by one, the others filled with Kai’s security guards. I wondered if more guards were coming, flying separately, or if he had a whole fleet to meet us when we landed. They kept the seat across from me open.