Chapter 60
The two guards hustled me out to their waiting SUV.
I hadn’t gotten out another word in the library.
Not a single one. Everything around me had a hazy quality to it, and as I climbed into the back seat, I realized that I’d gone numb.
My fingers had that pins-and-needles sensation that happened when you lost blood flow.
As the two guards got into the front of the SUV, the one in the passenger seat pulled out his phone.
“Don’t call them.” My words snapped out like a whip.
The guy froze, and the second guard pulled out of our parking space. “I need to let Mr. Carrington know what happened.”
“I’ll let him know what happened.”
The two of them shared a look.
My back teeth ground together. “You’re taking me back to The Nest, aren’t you?” I couldn’t bear to call it home, even though that was what I’d begun to think of it as. If what Chloe said was true, it had never been my home.
“Yes, ma’am,” the guard driving said.
“And the guys are there?” I pressed.
“Everyone but Declan. He’s meeting with his father,” the second guard said.
“Then they’ll know soon enough.”
They shared another look as the SUV pulled onto the two-lane highway. The guard in the passenger seat began typing on his phone.
“If you send that text message, I will throw myself from this vehicle, and you can explain to Colt why.”
It was a complete asshole move. The guy was just doing his job, but I was desperate. My only shot at the truth was if the guys weren’t prepared, then I could get their honest reactions.
The guard driving glanced at his compatriot. “Put your phone away, Mac. We’ll be there soon enough.”
Mac frowned. “He’s gonna be pissed.”
The driver shrugged. “Maybe he shouldn’t have kept so many secrets.”
I felt an instant kindredness with the man, but it was followed by a sickening dread coursing through me. Secrets. So many I was drowning in them.
At the speed we were going, it didn’t take long for us to reach The Nest. The moment the SUV slowed, I was out of the vehicle and striding toward the front door. Opening it, I stepped inside and listened. Voices came from down the hall in the direction of the lounge.
I headed that way just shy of a run. The moment I stormed into the room, four sets of eyes swung to me.
Colt was on his feet in a flash. “What happened?”
“Did you know where I was this whole time?” The tremble in my voice gave me away. My fury. My grief. My betrayal.
The guys froze.
“What do you mean?” Colt asked slowly.
His nonanswer made my hands fist, fingernails pricking at my palms. “It’s a simple question. Did you know where I was?”
My heart thudded against my ribs as I prayed for him to say no.
You didn’t leave someone with the mother you knew despised them if you loved that person.
If they were your mate, a part of your soul.
Not if you cared even the slightest bit.
You didn’t leave them alone when you knew their world had been ripped apart.
No one said a word.
The pressure behind my eyes built. “Don’t be a bunch of cowards.”
Ronan’s eyes flashed. “We knew where you were.”
His words sliced across my heart.
“Did you not come for me because I didn’t have the power you needed?” My voice was even, deceptively calm.
Colt held up a hand as if placating a child. “We wanted to protect you from this life. We were looking out for you—”
“If I had manifested, would you have come for me?”
Silence reigned. In each beat of the nothingness, memories assaulted me. Every beating and act of cruelty. Every time I went cold and hungry.
“Would you have come for me?” My voice was eerily quiet.
Grief etched itself into Colt’s face. “Yes.”
That single word was the death blow.
I couldn’t stop the tears that crested over my eyes and down my cheeks. They were like silent razor blades, leaving carnage in their wake.
Colt stepped forward, Dash on his heels, as if they were going to comfort me.
“Don’t touch me!” I threw up my hands as if I could ward them off. If they touched me, it would be agony.
The panic in my tone halted Colt and Dash in their tracks.
I let the tears fall, not bothering to brush them away. “I’m going to pack my stuff and go. If one of the guards could take me to the bus station, I’d appreciate it.”
Trace was on his feet in a flash, the first real panic I’d ever seen in his expression. “You can’t leave. You’ve been exposed to our world. People would come after you.”
“If I stayed here, that might be true. But I’m going to do what I do best…disappear.”
Ronan’s teeth ground together. “You can’t. They’d find you.”
Anger heated my blood, battling back some of the sadness. “Don’t pretend like you give a damn. You certainly didn’t when I was getting the shit beat out of me every single day. When I was terrified Maryanne’s boyfriend would escalate from disgusting comments to so much worse.”
They all looked as if they’d been slapped.
Dash stepped forward. “Leighton, please.”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “Just don’t. I’m not going to believe anything you say, so just…don’t.”
I was so tired. Of everything.
Colt’s face closed down. There was no emotion in it at all. “You’re not leaving.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. It’s too risky.”
Because I was a loose end to him, nothing more. “Good to know where you stand.”
His hazel eyes flashed gold. “Leighton…I’m trying to keep you safe.”
No. He was trying to protect himself.
I couldn’t stand to look at them anymore. I turned on my heel and stormed out of the lounge. Dash called my name, but I didn’t listen. I charged up the stairs and into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me.
Briar let out a growl from her cat tower at the disturbance.
I paced the length of the room, fury eating away at my grief. I knew the anger wouldn’t last. The truth of what I’d lost, of what I’d never had, would make its way back into my body, into my soul, and I’d be in agony again. I had to get out of here before that hit.
“I need a plan.” I muttered the words over and over, as I thought about all the security I’d have to get past. Coming to a stop in front of Briar, I sank my hands into her fur.
She was so happy here. Even if she tried attacking most of the guys, she loved her cat tower and special food that Baldwin got her.
“I can’t take you with me,” I whispered.
They’d never let me on the bus with her, and I was going to have to move quick.
“Once I’m settled, I’ll come back for you.
” Because once they realized I really could disappear, they’d let me go.
It would be easier for all of us. They could bond with Chloe and live happily ever after.
The thought had me running for the bathroom. I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I heaved over and over again until there was nothing left. Still, the retching continued. When it finally stopped, I was exhausted.
Pushing to my feet, I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I moved on autopilot, packing a couple changes of clothes and the memory keepsakes of my father into my backpack. Then I crossed to the window seat.
I studied the backyard. It was too open. Even if I didn’t break my neck jumping out the window, someone would spot me making a run for it. I headed for my closet. There was a skinny window at the back of it. I slid it open and peeked outside. Jackpot.
A gutter pipe ran down the side of the house, and there was far more tree coverage there. But I’d have to wait until dark. Until everyone was asleep.
Pain flared to life in my chest at the thought of leaving. It’s a lie. Everything you’re feeling is nothing but a manipulation. I chanted the words over and over until I could convince myself I believed them.
Crossing back to my bedroom, I lifted Briar and cuddled her to my chest. I held her as the sky went dark and the house became silent. I held her as I waited another two hours just to be safe. And then I kissed her head. “I love you.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dropped it on the bed. The guys would only use it to track me.
Forcing myself to keep moving, I picked up my backpack and headed for the closet. Getting through the window was a feat in itself. Grabbing hold of the gutter pipe, I lowered myself out of it. But then I made the mistake of looking down.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“One step at a time,” I whispered. So painfully slowly, I slid down the pipe. I landed with an oomph and froze, listening. Whistling sounded from around the house, and I ran for the trees.
Just as I ducked behind one, a guard appeared. His gaze roamed the area, but it glanced right past me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. This was my shot.
I ran through the trees, branches slapping at my skin. When I reached the dip in the land that I knew meant the end of the Carrington property, I breathed easier, deeper. I slid down the hillside until I reached a side road.
I was free. I just needed to get to the bus station. I had enough money for a ticket to wherever I wanted to go.
I took two steps before movement in the trees caught my eye. But it was too late. The first blow sent me stumbling back and light flickering in my vision. The second sent me crumpling to the ground. Darkness pulled at me as a voice sounded.
“Told you she’d run.”
I knew that voice. Knew it meant nothing good. But it was too late…
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