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 glanced over, but Kai wasn’t next to me. The bathroom door was closed, so I couldn’t see to his side. I decided not to think about where he might’ve gone.
I sat up and texted back.
Me: Where?
Blade: 44, 93
They were coordinates. I plugged them in and stared a moment.
I felt a burn starting in my gut.
The train went to Winnipeg. It made sense for her to go south on 29, then take 94 all the way to Minneapolis in Minnesota. It was a seven-hour drive. Seven. Hours. The train might’ve been longer from Edmonton to Winnipeg. How had no one considered this?
Me: How was she missed?
Blade: She stayed to the corners, like you instructed. Switched trains walking with an elderly man. She had a full disguise.
The disguise wasn’t from me. The elderly man hadn’t been either, but it was perfect. The elderly were overlooked so easily.
Me: I have my Raven passport. Can you book me on a flight…
I stopped typing. What was I doing? I didn’t know where I was in New York. Turning on GPS could get me an Uber, but I had to be serious. Kai would know about these texts—maybe even knew already—and the chances of me sneaking away, getting a ride to the airport, getting on a flight to Minneapolis before Kai did were slim to none.
I’d gone into Hider mode.
It was a relief to know I still had it in me. It hadn’t left me, like so much of my resistance had.
Instead, I texted:
Me: Can you narrow it down? House, apartment?
Blade: I did better. She’s in a basement.
And he gave me the actual address. We only needed to drive up and knock on the door.
Me: Is she using a phone?
Blade: Working on that. If I get all this, and she’s safe when the big bad brother finds her, does that mean you come back?
Me: If 411 will have me.
That was the truth. I wanted to go back. I wanted that normalcy again. Everything made sense as a Hider. I knew right from wrong, top from bottom, and I knew which side I stood on: the right side. If I stayed…
Me: Thank you, Blade.
Blade: Just be safe and come home.
I didn’t respond, instead sliding out of bed and going to wash and change. My old clothes went back into the bag. I had it over my shoulder, sneakers on, a hat pulled low on my forehead when I left the room.
I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe a small part of me just wanted to run from what was happening to me.
I turned down the hallway, moving briskly, and headed down the stairs. As I approached the front door, I didn’t look behind me to see who was in the kitchen. Some of Kai’s guards were likely awake; that was to be expected.
I wasn’t expecting to see the entire group already in the driveway, throwing bags into the SUVs.
Kai stood next to the one we’d ridden in, his arms folded over his chest as he listened to one of the guards. They were looking at a map and a phone. Kai nodded before looking up. His eyes found me immediately.
I should’ve been used to feeling singed every time that gaze found me. I wasn’t. The burn spread inside of me.
He didn’t seem surprised at the sight of me, and I firmed my mouth. He already knew. They already knew.
They’d been expecting me.
I let out a sigh, coming down the steps and meeting him at the door of the SUV.
He reached for the door handle before I could, but didn’t open it. He moved to stand close, his body heat warming me. “You and your pal had a nice chat.”
I looked away. Most of the men were in their SUVs already. Only a few were waiting for us. One came behind me from the house. I could only assume he had locked up.
“What do you expect? I hide people, not find them. It’s not a good feeling.”
He still didn’t open the door, and I looked up, meeting his eyes.
There were a myriad of emotions there.
After a moment he opened the door. I got in, and he shut it behind me, walking around to the other side. As the guard opened Kai’s door, he sat beside me.
After we’d driven for a half hour in silence, I remembered something. “What about Brooke’s boyfriend?”
Kai had been reading on his phone, and he lifted his head. “He’s not a problem.”
I frowned. “Kai—”
“Don’t, okay?” His tone stopped me. “You hate me. I get that. And I get why, but your body doesn’t.” His eyes trailed down, warming said body even further as he went to my feet and back up. “As long as you remain in my company, can you shove the indignation? I am a Bennett. This is what my family does. You know this, and you stayed. Deal with your decision.”