Chapter 28
WHEELS UP
Lexi
This was insane. Absolutely, fucking insane. No, I take it back, Killian was insane.
I tossed a few tank tops and a tattered pair of jean shorts into my suitcase. Then I grabbed a bathing suit and a handful of socks. I was going through the motions without really seeing or feeling anything.
How could Killian order me to pack my bags and just leave like that? And more importantly, why was I doing it? I stared at my half-full suitcase and the mess of clothes strewn across my side of the dorm room.
What was wrong with me?
Oh right, meeting Satan’s spawn after all these years had clearly broken something inside. And the possibility of him realizing I was the girl in the mask that night was the fucking icing on the shitstorm cake.
Memories of the look on Sebastian’s face when he recognized me earlier sent an icy chill up my spine, like a corpse’s fingertips dancing along my back.
Probably that poor girl who Sebastian murdered and I didn’t do a thing about.
Dammit, Lexi, by staying quiet you were no better than an accomplice to the heinous act.
It’s not too late, I could still do something.
Yeah, if you want to join her six feet under.
I’d tried fighting back once, and it had gotten me nowhere. On the contrary, it had nearly ruined my life. Would I risk that again?
I slumped down onto the bed and buried my face in my hands. How had my life gotten so royally screwed? I never should have come to this damned university. I reached for my phone, tempted to call Papá. I’d been a terrible daughter, not staying in touch as much as I should have.
Ugh, I was failing left and right. Tossing the errant thought away, I vowed to call him later. He’d know something was wrong by the sound of my voice, and I hated to worry him when he was so far away.
My thigh brushed my battered old suitcase, and I stared at the mountain of outdated clothes. And now I was letting Killian whisk me away to who the hell knew where for who the hell knew how long. Cordelia was going to kill me.
Nah, who was I kidding? She’d be fucking ecstatic for me.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and shot her a quick text. I had to at least tell someone where I was going in case I mysteriously disappeared. Two seconds later my cell pinged.
Cordelia: Wait, wait, wait, GIRL. You cannot drop something like that on me without any explanation. What do you mean you’re leaving with Killian? Right now?
I huffed out a breath before organizing my thoughts enough to write a cohesive sentence.
Me: For the Geology project. This is the only time he can get away. So we’re leaving today.
I hated lying to my roommate and now likely only friend at Stonewall, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to drag her into my shit.
Cordelia: On a school day? How did he convince Ms. Pre-Med to do that?
Those had been my exact thoughts. Luckily, Endocrinology had been canceled, which for all I knew Killian and his Davenport name had something to do with, and I could watch my Genetics class online. So as long as we were back by Monday, I should be all good.
I typed out another quick response and promised I’d text her later with more details.
I wasn’t sure how a weekend away would save me from Sebastian’s wrath, but Killian was adamant.
In that moment of pure rage, I knew there was no talking him out of it.
I’d never seen him like that, so violent, so unhinged.
And still, hidden deep beneath the psycho, I saw him, my old best friend. He was just trying to protect me, in his own fucked-up way. Which was the real reason why I’d agreed, and why I was now sitting here packing my suitcase.
I wanted, no, I needed to believe the old Killian Briggs was still in there, buried deep beneath the facade of this new, seemingly perfect but profoundly twisted and disturbed version.
Sudden pounding at my door sent my heart smacking against my rib cage. Get a grip, Lexi! I crept toward the door, my breath caught in my throat.
“It’s me, Red, open up.” Killian’s deep voice slowed the erratic tempo of my pulse, which was odd since it usually had the opposite effect.
I twisted the knob, and before I could get the door fully open, or even a word out, he barreled inside. His eyes were wide and wild, hair sticking up at all angles as if he’d been incessantly dragging his fingers through it.
His frenzied gaze chased from me to the open suitcase, and a tendon twitched in his jaw. “Why aren’t you ready? The jet is going wheels up in one hour.”
“The j-jet?” I stammered.
The deranged look in his eyes dissipated, replaced by a spark of amusement. “We’re flying to Santo Domingo in style, Red.”
“The Dominican Republic?”
“There’s my smart girl.” He leaned in and pinched my cheek, his entire presence invading my personal space.
“The northern shore of the Dominican Republic sits right along the Caribbean plate. A perfect place to study the fault lines for this bullshit project. While we’re there, we can hang out poolside and get some color on that pretty little face.
” He slapped my cheek, not so gently. “You look downright ghastly.”
I snorted on a laugh. Killian’s mood swings were giving me whiplash. “I didn’t think the great, uptight Killian Davenport knew how to relax.”
He pressed closer, pinning me against the mahogany footboard of the bed. “Oh, Red, that’s because you don’t know me at all.”
“I knew the old you.”
Darkness carved into his jaw, blotting out the light in his brilliant emerald eyes. They used to sparkle with mischief when we were young, but now, most of the time, an icy frost blanketed the light.
“The old Killian died a long time ago. You ripped his heart out and abandoned him.”
“Me?” I squealed. “You’re the one—”
His hand closed around my neck, thumb stroking my throat.
With each pass, the pressure increased. “Stop. I don’t want to talk about this right now.
I’m about a second from losing my shit, Red, and I don’t want to let the monster free on you—but if you insist on riling him up, I can’t be responsible for the consequences. ”
He’d really lost it. I pressed my lips together and nodded. I could hold my tongue for now, but once we were alone, I’d get the answers I deserved. How could he possibly think I bailed on him?
“Right now, I need to get you out of here. Do you understand that?”
My head dipped again, and the pressure on the column of my throat lessened.
“That’s my good girl.” He released me, and I staggered back, falling on my ass atop the mound of discarded clothes on the bed. “Now, finish packing, and bring some sexy lingerie.” He eyed my panties, and a wicked grin curled his lips. “That lacy shit drives me wild.”
“Fuck you, Kill. I’m the only one who will be enjoying my sexy underwear on this trip.”
He loomed over me, legs pressed against my knees and thick arms caging me against the bed. “Keep telling yourself that, little Red. You can deny it all you want, but I know you like this new Killian. The old one was too nice, too sweet. He never made you wet like I do.”
“You’re sick,” I gritted out.
His hand moved from the side of my hip, down to my thigh, then stopped. I sucked in a breath as his thumb brushed the frayed hem of my workout shorts. “I bet you’re drenched already. Should we check?”
He ran his thumb across my center over the thin material of my shorts, and I squirmed, a gasp escaping my lips.
A sinister chuckle echoed between us. “That’s what I thought. Now get ready, and if you’re a good girl, I’ll let you come in my mouth on the flight to Santo Domingo. Did you know that the high altitude and thinner atmosphere on an airplane enhance an orgasm?”
I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth because I did know that. And the idea of Killian’s dirty mouth between my legs mid-air sent heat racing to every dark corner of my being. I hated that he was right. I loved the old Killian. He was my best friend, he was my everything.
But I never wanted him to fuck me like I did this savage version.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” A smug smile flashed across his face. He offered me his hand, and I nearly died of shock as he lifted me off the bed. “The limo is parked just outside. Don’t make me wait too long, Red, or I’ll punish you.” He shot me a wink and whirled on his heel toward the door.
The moment the door slammed shut behind him, I collapsed back onto the mattress. What the hell had I gotten myself into? An entire weekend away with the devil himself on a tropical island... I’d never survive.
“Would you care for a pre-flight drink, Miss? Miss?”
The flight attendant held out a tray with two flutes of champagne, but I was too busy digging holes into the soft leather armrests with my nails to pay attention.
“Red, you okay?” A pair of familiar green eyes filled my vision, and I sucked in a breath. “You’re not still claustrophobic, are you?”
“Yes, you asshole. It’s not really something you just grow out of.”
He reached for the two glasses and placed them on the table in front of us. “We’ll save these for later, thank you,” he murmured.
The private jet dripped in luxury, from the plush leather seats and gold accents to the deep mahogany trims. I wasn’t sure what was worse, being stuck in this tin can or knowing that it belonged to the man who’d ruined me all those years ago.
“Then how did you get all the way across the country to Copper Cove?”
“Papá drove.”
“That old Chevy clunker?”
“Yes,” I gritted out.
“Damn. I didn’t think the old girl had it in her.”
Neither did I. But I wasn’t about to admit that.
Killian reached for the champagne and brought it up to my nose. The faint floral notes tickled my nostrils. “Have some. It’ll take the edge off.”
I threw him my best side-eye.
“I’m not trying to take advantage of you, Red. There will be plenty of time for that later.” He brought his own flute to his lips with a wink and gulped down the entire contents in one swig.
I couldn’t help but focus on those full lips wrapped around the crystal, the elegant column of his throat, that scruffy jaw line...
Nope, not going there. Never again.
The rumble of the engine had all the air fleeing my lungs.
He offered me the glass again. “Last chance, or I’ll have it.”
The jet rolled off the tarmac, and I snatched the flute from his hand. “Fine.” I tossed it back so fast, all the bubbles went straight to my head.
“That’s my good girl.”
The plane rumbled across the runway, and my heart kicked and punched at my ribs. My fingers tightened around the armrest, nails digging into the soft material. My chest heaved with the effort as I tried and failed to draw in full breaths. My lungs had completely stopped functioning.
Oh, hell, I was having a panic attack.
No! Not now.
I squeezed my eyes shut as darkness etched into the corners of my vision.
“Just relax and breathe, Red.” Killian’s voice somehow forced its way past the thunder of my pounding pulse. “Smell the flowers and blow out the candles.”
My eyes snapped open at the familiar phrase. He echoed the words I’d said to him when he was on the verge of a meltdown earlier. His gaze seared into the side of my face, a hint of the old Killian surging to the surface. His warm, calloused hand draped over mine, fingers tangling with my icy ones.
My breathing steadied, and I slowly inhaled a lungful of air.
With his free hand, he drew lazy circles up and down my forearm, gaze intent on mine. We sat there, neither speaking, neither moving, until the panic faded and sleep dragged me under.
And as my eyes slipped closed, one thought lingered…
I wasn’t sure if I should be afraid of Killian.
Or fear the part of me that felt safe with him.