Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
The softness in his features vanishes and the cold façade returns.
He gets up from the bed without saying a word and walks to his dresser.
I slowly sit up and watch as he dresses himself.
“Kade?” I ask him. He can't leave me. I need him.
He looks at me as he pulls his pants up and zips and buttons them, but he doesn't say anything..
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, angel. Go to bed.” I can tell from his voice he’s not fine. A weight settles against my chest, threatening to suffocate me.
“Kade, please don’t leave me.” I pull the covers tight around me and up to my chest. I don’t want to be left alone.
He walks to the bed and gives me a look of sympathy mixed with something else… longing. It's a look of longing. He plants a soft kiss on my lips and I move my hand to the back of his head to deepen it, but he pulls away before I’m able to.
“I’m sorry, angel.” His thumb brushes along my cheek and then he leaves me.
I stare at the door, waiting for him to come back. Unable to sleep, and unable to stop seeing the longing in his eyes.
Kade
I sit across the desk from Gabriel. He’s at ease, and I’m tense.
I need to get her out of here. The text confirmed what my handler said two days ago. I'm fucked, and I can deal with those consequences. But not my angel. I need to get her safely away as soon as possible.
He picks up his glass and takes another sip. He cocks a brow at me as he sets the glass down and asks, “Are you sure you don’t want one? You look as though you need it.” His voice holds the same humor I see sparkling in his eyes.
I shake my head and clear my throat, finally spitting out the reason I'm here.
“I need you to take Olivia.” I have to leave. I have to go to this meeting tomorrow. But she can't come. She needs to be safe by noon tomorrow. And I need Gabriel's help. I fucking hate that I do, but I have no one else to ask. I've played my cards all wrong. And now I'm a dead man.
“You can’t be serious, Kade. You don’t want her?” he asks incredulously.
I’m quick to shake my head. Gabriel continues speaking as I try to find the right words without giving him too much information. He's going to find out sooner or later.
“I care for Olivia, but it would hurt my Talia. I know it would. I don’t understand why you don’t want her.”
I do want her. I want Olivia more than anything. I wish I could take her and run away with her. But I can’t. I can’t put her in danger. And I'm right in the middle of it.
I need to get her away from me. I need to know she’s safe.
“I have to leave tomorrow, and I don’t think it's safe to take her with me.” I tell him the truth. I wish I’d planned what to say to him. But I have no plan. Just the urgency to make sure she'll be alright.
I shake my head, trying to figure out how to tell him without giving him too much information. He’s going to find out sooner or later.
If I leave now, they could follow me. Intel is sure it’s just Ricky that knows. But I don’t trust him or anyone who works for him. He could have men here or others on the way. I can’t risk her getting caught in a shootout. I need protection while I get her to a safe place. Or for someone else to do it.
“You’re going to have to be more specific then, Kade.” Gabriel’s patience is waning.
“I need her to go home.” I hold his firm gaze. “I need her to be safe.” That’s all he needs to know.
Gabriel purses his lips for a moment and knocks his knuckles against the desk.
“You need to tell me what’s going on before I agree to anything.” Gabriel lowers his voice, and I see distrust in his eyes. Fuck, I don’t want to tell him. I need him to do this regardless. I trust him. I know him. I know he’ll do the right thing for her. He'll help her. Even if he slits my throat, I know he'll help her. He's done it before. I know he will. And I have no other choice.
“I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything. Just promise me that you’ll find a way for her to get home.”
“You’re going to leave her in that condition, Kade?” he sneers. “You broke her, and now you’re sending her back?” He sounds disgusted.
“She’s not broken,” I respond evenly.
“You’re delusional if you think that.”
“They’re going to kill me, Gabriel, I have no choice.” My body trembles with anger, but also fear for her. I can’t tell him the truth until he promises me. “You’ve done it before. You’ve given them their freedom before.”