Chapter 22
Sean
Chapter Twenty-Two
I do choose Lina, and I will over and over.
After I spank her until my hand hurts, then spank her for making it hurt.
We watch Lucy crumple to the floor as Lina lets go. If I hadn’t seen the result of this kind of gunshot wound to the head, it would make me puke. It did the first few times. I watch Lina. She appears completely unaffected. She turns to me.
“I’m not a sociopath, Sean. Don’t look at me like that. It’s not that I’m unmoved by killing someone. She just isn’t the first person I have. She isn’t the first person I’ve seen die that way, either.”
I put the safety back on the gun after I take it from Lina and drop it onto the sofa. Then she’s in my arms. We collide, then cling to one another. I hear my brothers, but I’m not paying attention to them or my cousins. I have my cailín back in my arms where she belongs. We turn our heads to face each other, and our lips meet. I can’t get enough of her. The way her plump lips feel against mine. The satin insides of her cheeks. The smoothness of her tongue as it tangles with mine. I lift her, and she wraps her legs around my waist.
I break the kiss long enough to look toward the hallway where two bedrooms must be. We say nothing as we walk past my family, who ignore us. I know they’re getting people over here to deal with the mess. I’m certain they’re making calls to find out Ewan’s role in this. I’ll ask Lina, but I’m sure she doesn’t know more than a sliver.
I kick the door shut and turn us until her back is against the wall. When I wrap my hand around her throat, it isn’t in a punishing grip like Lina had on Lucy. I just realized both names start with L. Start with the same sound. Yet they couldn’t be more different. Besides the kinky sex, they are nothing alike. They don’t look similar. They don’t sound similar. Taste, touch, scent. Not the same.
But it’s so much more than that. I never trusted Lucy completely. I’ve trusted Lina since the beginning. Moments of doubt have cropped up—like finding out she’d run from my parents’ home. But her loyalty to me is everything. She did this to protect me.
She came to learn things she knew none of us would get from Lucy because our means to coerce her weren’t the same. She knew none of us would inflict pain on Lucy, but she also knew Lucy had a threshold for pain that wouldn’t make her easy to persuade. The gun surely helped, but Lina’s intelligence made Lucy talk.
“Little one, my heart stopped when I found out you were gone.”
“Like mine did when I found out someone took you.”
“I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”
“And I couldn’t find out how to end this fast enough. I didn’t run from you. You know that, right?”
“I do. You couldn’t have known I got free before you left my parents’.”
“I didn’t. If I’d known you were on the way, I would have stayed. But I don’t regret coming here.”
“I know. But fecking hell. I’m glad to hold you.”
“Daddy, I knew everything was going to be all right when you arrived. I don’t know how, but the moment I heard a hand on the doorknob, I knew it was you. Your cologne isn’t that strong, but I recognized it when the door opened. I knew I had more I needed to get out of her, but knowing you were safe and here—I wanted to shoot her and fling myself at you.”
“Fling?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“My arms will always be open and ready for that, cailín.”
I slide my arm beneath her arse, so my free hand can touch every part of her I can reach. She watches me as her hands run over my face, hair, shoulders, chest, arms, and upper back. These aren’t quite loving caresses even though she’s gentle.
“I’m not hurt, little one.”
“I’d see bandages if it was bad enough. But did they do anything else?”
“No. I woke up in a school gym in the Bronx. I had a needle in my arm, but I’m pretty certain it was just sedatives to knock me out. I think they dosed me more than once and expected to do it again.”
“How’d you get free?”
“Slowly. I hobbled my way to the door with the plastic chair bound to my legs. Scraped the zip ties on the bricks until they snapped, then got rid of the Duct tape at my ankles. I recognized where I was, so I headed to a liquor store I know.”
“You don’t have your watch or your belt.”
“I know. The guy who took me knew to get rid of them. I don’t know if he took both because he wasn’t sure if my tracker was in my belt or watch, or he knew about the watch and didn’t want to leave the belt as a weapon.”
“Was it this Mikhail guy? Did your family find him?”
“I did. He was at the liquor store. Turns out the owner helped him get into the school after Lucy helped him get into the club.”
“He’s dead.”
It’s not a question, so I don’t need to answer.
She rests her head on my shoulder as she kisses my neck. I tighten my arms around her. Our need resurfaces, and we’re back to kissing. God, how I want to be inside her. How I want to hear her moan my name as I make her come. It’s almost like that’s the only way I’ll truly believe she’s all right. When I can feel my body inside hers. When I’m part of her.
“Are they going to assume we’re having sex?”
“Maybe?”
“Then can we? I need you closer. I need to know you’re truly okay. I need to give you control over me while everything else feels completely out of control.”
“I want to take care of you, Lina. Always. Whatever you need. And you understand me. What’s going on outside this room isn’t under my control yet, and it’s silently driving me crazy. You get that. I can breathe for a moment if I can be in charge.”
“I need you inside me, Sean. And I need you to decide how.”
I lower her to her feet. I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up a group text. Lina can see what I’m doing. She reaches for my phone, frantic.
Me
I need time to talk to Lina. Do not interrupt. If you need me, figure it out on your own.
Her eyes are so wide, I think I can see every millimeter of white. She shakes her head as she looks past me. Her voice hisses.
“They’ll know.”
“Then you’ll have to be quiet.”
I take her hand and lead her to the bed in the corner. It’s as far from the door as we can get. I sit, and she tries to move beside me.
“No, cailín. I’m proud of you for getting the information we needed. I’m proud of you for being brave enough to follow this through. I’m proud of you for your resourcefulness. It pissed me off you left without protection. I’m not angry anymore. I will never punish you while angry. I never want to risk my temper making me careless. But your arse is going to be sore for a week. You could have died. That wouldn’t even be the worst that could have happened. You didn’t know who was here. You didn’t know if someone might come over. You didn’t know you were safe just getting here. I know you had freedom in Boston, but I doubt your grandfather allowed you to do things this reckless in Montreal.”
“I’ve never been in this situation before. I’m sorry for scaring you and your family. I’m sorry for being deceptive. I’m sorry for dragging your family away from whatever else they should be doing. But I am not sorry for finding out who did this to you. I am not sorry for killing one of the people involved. I am not sorry that I will kill anyone else involved. I will repent for the first part, but I will sin with a clear conscience for the second part.”
“I’m not upset about the second part. I’m unhappy about the first part. I get why you did it. You didn’t think anyone would bring you here. And they probably wouldn’t. But this information—this vengeance—none of it is as valuable as your life, your wellbeing, your safety. There were other ways. Maybe not as efficient, but effective. I need to know that you won’t do something like this again, Lina. I thought I’d been terrified in the past. But nothing prepared me for my mom telling me you were gone. That is a degree of fear I pray I never feel again. If finding you weren’t so urgent, it would have paralyzed me.”
“Then you know how I felt. The longer I sat with your mom in your room, the calmer I felt. But that was physically. My heart didn’t race. I didn’t feel like I was going to vomit. I didn’t think I would sob until I couldn’t breathe. It did nothing to cease the terror I felt because I would never see you again. I will obey your rules, Sean. But only to a point. I will not promise I won’t do something like this again. I don’t plan to. I don’t want to. But if it’s your life or our children’s, then you will never be able to stop me. I promise you that. I will find a way.”
“Children?” I love the sound of that.
“Yes. Children. If we can have them, then we will. Do you not want kids?”
“I only want kids with you. But that’s binding our lives together forever. Are you ready to think about something like that?”
“Yes. Or rather, I’m ready to talk about what that would look like. What we want. How we could make what we both want work. If we agree our future is together, then I stand by what I just said. I will obey your rules. I will take the precautions to protect myself and our family. I won’t disregard your men’s welfare. But I have a limit to that. You will never convince me not to do any and everything I can to protect you and our family. You are not the only one able and allowed to make that pledge.”
I stare at Lina as she speaks. I never imagined someone outside my family would speak this way about me. My men are loyal because it’s their duty. My family is loyal because we’re blood. Lina is loyal because she chooses to be.
“I get to decide when the situation warrants you breaking my rules.” I grin.
“I believe you want to spank me. I want my spanking. Should I strip?”
I hesitate. “No. Just pull your dress up.”
I know she’s confused. I can’t blame her. I never suggest she stay clothed. Just the opposite.
“Lina, if you’re naked, I will get distracted. This isn’t to arouse you. It isn’t to edge you. That’s not part of this. This is a real and true consequence for you risking your life.”
“Do you think we can find a belt?”
“What? No. Absolutely not. No.”
I have a visceral reaction to that idea. I don’t mind the idea of a belt or something else when we’re doing this for pleasure. I don’t like the idea of taking anything to her but my hand as part of a punishment. It’s already going to test my fortitude to trust I won’t hurt her. I don’t think I will. I don’t believe I’ll lose control. I won’t be in the headspace I am when I’m at the station. But it is a different mindset from kink, and I fear I’ll inadvertently hurt her.
“Daddy, tell me what you’re thinking. Or let me say what I think it is.”
“I don’t like the idea of using something on your for a punishment that we could also use for pleasure. I don’t want to associate the two. I also fear being too rough with you if I use anything but my hand when I punish you. I won’t confuse being with my girlfriend with being with—I just don’t want to make a mistake.”
She cups my jaw. “You are the sweetest man I’ve ever met, nounours. I wouldn’t consent if I didn’t know you’ll always do your best for me. My trust is unconditional just like the rest of my feelings.”
She gathers her dress and lays across my lap. She’s not wearing panties and hasn’t for days. I palm her arse and squeeze until she squirms. I do that to both sides. Then I bring my hand down heavily. The sound of flesh on flesh fills the room.
“Lina?”
“That fucking hurts, nounours. Keep going.”
I land a second.
“Ten, cailín. Can you do that?”
“That’s all?”
“I will never just spank you over and over until I get too tired or get bored or fear more will harm you. Ten, little one. You’ve already had two.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
My hand crashes down again.
“Three. Thank you, Daddy.”
Smack.
“Four. Thank you, Daddy.”
Smack.
“You don’t have to thank me, Lina. I didn’t demand you ask for a punishment. I doubt you’re feeling grateful for the way your arse already feels and what you guess it will feel like. I won’t make you promise false gratitude.”
“I’m thankful you care enough to punish me.”
I land the sixth, and she kicks her feet. She says nothing, and I hear her labored breathing.
Seven and eight are in quick succession. She clings to my ankle to keep from reaching back. I aim number nine at her horizontal crack. She howls. I glance at the door. She turns her head to do the same before looking up sheepishly at me.
My guess is they’ve figured out I’m spanking her not fucking her. I’m ninety-nine-point-nine-recurring sure Dillan and Finn would do this to their wives.
“Ten.”
The last one covers the top of her thighs and horizontal crack. She lays limply across my lap. I help her stand, and her knees are shaky. I ease the dress over her head, then guide her to straddle my legs while standing. I unfasten my pants and pull down my boxer briefs. This isn’t about pleasure.
She slides down my cock and clings to me. She bursts into tears. I hold her as she sobs. This isn’t the burning skin from her spanking. This is her fear finally finding an outlet. She’s tucked her head against my chest, and I’m looking across the room. I’m fighting not to cry, too. My fear hasn’t dissipated completely.
“Daddy, your heart is racing, and it wasn’t a moment ago. You’re breathing heavier, too. What’s wrong?”
She sits back. Her face crumples when she sees mine. Her anguish mirrors mine.
“I thought you were dead, Lina. I thought someone took you. Or that you’d run, and someone got you. I came here to beat the truth out of Lucy if I had to. I’ve never killed a woman before, but I would have if it meant I found you. I was calm when I spotted you for the sake of you finishing what you started. I didn’t want the risk to be for nothing. But fecking hell, Lina. I thought you were dead.”
I did. I didn’t admit it to anyone, though I think the guys knew how I felt. I think they might have believed the same thing. My fear is why I need to be inside her. It’s not just to comfort her right now, to show her we’ve reconciled everything between us. It’s for me to know she’s truly alive and well.
“Daddy, I’m so sorry I made you that scared. I feel like I’m feeling your fear now, and it’s greater than I imagined. But it’s the same as mine.”
“I know, little one. Let me hold you.”
“Always.”
We sit together for a long time. Until it grows quiet in the living room. We could hear the cleaners moving around. I’m certain they want to get in here and make sure we’ve left no evidence behind.
“We need to go, don’t we?”
“Yeah.”
“I know my punishment doesn’t come with pleasure. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy it. Let me?—”
“No, Lina. Forgiveness is given with no expectation of something in return. My feelings are unconditional.”
“I don’t offer as penance. I offer it because I want to comfort you.”
“Later. Right now, just don’t get beyond my reach. I will panic.”
She nods slowly before she presses a kiss to my forehead. We stand and fix our clothes. I lead her out to the living room. It’s only the cleaners.
“They’re in the SUV.”
I nod to the guy who lets me know where my family went. I figured as much. One man walks over with Lina’s gun. He’s about to hand it to me when I tilt my head toward her. Once we’re in the hallway, I watch her pull up her dress and slide it into the thigh holster I saw but didn’t comment about.
We go out to the vehicle in silence. It’s not until we’re two blocks from Lucy’s apartment that any of us speak.
“Justin did this.”
I suspected that was a possibility, but I didn’t expect it. I suspected he’d find a way to fuck me over because he loves her. But I didn’t expect him to take it this far. There has to be another reason than just a tantrum over not getting the toy he wanted.
I watched Lina as she said those three words. I wonder if there’s a twinge of sadness that her friend put her in the middle, and now that friendship is over.
There’s not.
It’s calm anger.
As in, she won’t explode. But after what I saw with Lucy, Justin’s fate is sealed. She will do something far worse, given the chance. I don’t want her anywhere near that. I know she said she’s killed before, and that’s something I need to hear about. But I don’t want her to have a childhood friend’s death on her conscience. When she reflects on this with time, I don’t want that to be a memory.
She turns to look at me. We read each other’s minds at times, and this is one of them when I wish she couldn’t.
“You will not convince me to go home and wait for you. You don’t know Justin like I do. You don’t know how he’ll act when cornered. He won’t lash out, but neither will he give up. He threatened your life, but he betrayed me.”
Loyalty is as important to her as it is to me and the rest of my family. That is the bedrock of a syndicate’s survival. Loyalty to the organization above all else. Loyalty within my family before anyone else keeps our syndicate strong. Betraying Lina was the worst crime Justin could commit in her eyes. It’s a betrayal of Rowan and Ewan. She might not care about either of them as a father and a brother, but she cares that Justin betrayed their family, their branch’s bosses.
“Ewan was on the phone with me since I left your parents’ house. He heard all of it. He will send men for Justin. If Ewan gets to Justin first, he won’t turn him over to you. But he knows me well enough to understand if he kills Justin on my behalf—or claims it’s on my behalf—things will be irrevocably severed. Justin’s betrayal of me is one of several to Ewan and my dad as his bosses. But they trusted him with my life. I trusted him with my life. Ewan knows Justin is mine. Sean, you have no more chance of convincing me otherwise than Ewan. He did this, at least partly because of me.”
I lean to whisper in her ear even though this isn’t something so private the rest of my family won’t hear me say at least once more.
“I don’t want this for you, cailín. I don’t want you to have another death on your hands. In your memory. I need you to trust that I’ll handle this. You’ve already been sucked in too far. You were born into this world, but this is a part of it you were never meant to join. Let us take him to our place. Let me get justice. I will never let you see what I’m capable of. But he deserves all of it.”
“That’s all true. But physical pain won’t break him. Justin was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder several years ago and has been under medical care for it ever since. It’s well managed and not as severe as for some people, but one characteristic of BPD is a high tolerance for pain. I think it stems from the disassociation that can be part of the condition. It’s not that he has no threshold for pain. He does. But he’s been a thrill-seeker since we were kids. He injured himself all the time, but it didn’t deter him. He got used to being in pain and has a high tolerance. When things came to a head, and he sought treatment, it was because he’d started harming himself. In some ways, he believes he deserves the pain. I’m telling you, stringing him up and beating him won’t get him to talk. I know what will.”
“Tell me what to say to him.”
We’re not whispering, but we’re speaking quietly. I know the others can hear. It saves me having to repeat it, but it gives a sense of privacy at the same time.
“It’s not that simple. There are things only a handful of us would know, and it would only affect him hearing it from us. Ewan, Colt, and I are among the people who’ve known Justin the longest. Ewan and Colt know him better than I do, but Justin has guarded me since we were in high school. If you want Justin before Ewan gets to him, then it’ll only be worth it if I’m there, too.”
Could Lina be spinning me a tale just so she can have her pound of flesh? Is revenge that important to her? I think it is important, but I don’t think she’d lie. It makes me wonder what the fuck she has on him. What could be so traumatic or triggering that only a handful of people could talk about it, and only that would make him crack? Would it bother him if other people found out, or would he still stay silent? Would my knowing whatever this is do nothing at all?
I’ve worked over plenty of people able to disassociate themselves from the situation without having any mental health challenges. Hell, every bratva member fits that description. What is it about Justin that makes his disassociation so different? From what I know about BPD, people who have it often fear abandonment. Is that part of what Lina knows from Justin’s past? Is this what spurred Justin into attacking me? He fears Lina abandoning him?
“Where’s he likely to be if he’s in New York?”
“I don’t know. As far as I know, he doesn’t have that many connections down here. He followed me here the last time, and he’s traveled with my family and me when I came here with Dad and Ewan. But I never asked or was told if he came to the city on his own.”
“Would he answer if you called?”
“He knows I know, so probably not.”
“Texts?”
“Maybe. I can try.”
Lina pulls out her phone and taps her contacts, scrolling until she gets to his name. She taps the screen again and pauses as she considers what to say.
Lina
I could have been hurt if I’d been at the club with Sean. I’ve been there before.
She looks up at me. She’s holding her phone so I can easily see the screen. We wait. We’re entering my parents’ neighborhood when a response comes in.
Justin
No you haven’t. That’s why it had to be there. Somewhere you couldn’t get involved.
Lina
Involved. Not hurt.
Her face shows her disgust. I can practically hear her saying fuck you.
Justin
Obviously you can defend yourself better than the little bitch you think you’re with.
Lina
Think?
Justin
You can’t fuck someone when they’re dead. At least that’s not what you’ve been into.
Lina
Gross. I am with Sean.
Justin
For now. You can’t be everywhere. You won’t find everyone. Lucy was too obvious. I’ll do better next time.
Lina
And if I really am with Sean next time? You’d let me be a casualty?
Justin
You’ll be home the next time.
Lina
All the more reason I’d be with him if we’re home.
Justin
Don’t be stupid. Boston
Lina
Boston isn’t home and never will be. Sean’s home. Montreal’s home.
My hand’s been resting on her thigh. I squeeze it when I read she considers me home. Not the city. Not my place. Not even a place we share. Me. Like being with me—being in my arms—me inside her—that’s what feels like home. I get that with a soul deep understanding I never imagined I’d experience. I knew it was possible from the other couples in my family. I just didn’t think I’d have that too.
Justin
Whatever. Stay away Nikki. This is happening.
Lina
Why?
She looks up at me. I wanted her to get to the point sooner, but now I realize she purposely strung this out. She wanted to get him chatting and slide in the question.
Justin
I told you how I feel. Not only isn’t he good enough he’s likely to get you arrested or killed. Ask him what happened to Dillan’s wife. Go on. He’s sitting right there.
Is he assuming? I glance out the windows in front and beside me. I don’t want to look over my shoulder in case he really can see us. I don’t want him to know that unnerves me.
Lina
You know what happens when you assume
Justin
Where else would he be? You’re probably sitting on his lap with his dick in you.
Lina turns a horrified face to me. How the hell does he know what we do in our place? No one comes into my place besides my family. I don’t have a housekeeper because my mother would never let that “laziness and entitlement” fly. Deliveries are dropped off at the desk and searched, then x-rayed for bugs and any other threat.
Justin
You should keep the curtains closed even if you aren’t on the ground floor. You know flying things fascinate me.
Drones.
Lina
You’ve watched me before but you asked. Do you think invading my privacy is winning me over?
What the ever-loving fuck?!
Justin
I don’t have to win you over.
Lina
Punishing me?
Justin
Punishing him. He endangers you. He doesn’t even know you. I do
Lina
Punishing Sean and wanting me away from him isn’t enough for you to do all this. Did Ewan put you up to this?
Justin
Don’t think I came up with this all on my own?
Lina
You couldn’t
I nudge her shoulder. If she pushes too hard…
The answer is immediate.
Justin
Someone approached me. I decided how it would go.
Lina
Why couldn’t you just talk to me?
Justin
You wouldn’t have listened.
Lina
You WERE one of my oldest friends. Sean or any other guy-- doesn’t matter. You say you didn’t do this to punish me. You did it to hurt me. Same difference
I want this conversation to move along. It seems like we’re going around in circles. She senses my impatience because she puts her hand on my thigh.
Justin
Come back to Boston.
Lina
No
Justin
Leave him and come here. This ends when you aren’t there.
Lina
Because you kill him. That’s what you think is going to happen. FFS you cannot believe that will happen. You aren’t the first person to try. He’s still alive. I promise you those people aren’t. Lucy’s not.
Justin
Fuck Lucy. I don’t give a shit about her. She did what I needed her to do. I would have killed her anyway.
That makes Lina tense. She glances up at me. She didn’t expect that.
Lina
If you’d kill a woman how am I supposed to believe you wouldn’t hurt me?
Justin
Because you’re you.
Lina
You really care that much?
Justin
I love you
Lina
Will you kill me if I stay here? What are you going to do to me if I go to Boston?
Justin
You keep saying I’ll hurt you. You know I would never lay a hand on you. You know you’re not that serious about Sean. You’ve known him a minute. You can be with someone who loves you. You love me. You’ve said as much.
Lina’s eyes close for a moment.
Lina
As the brother I should have had. I’ve told you that for years. That I love you as a close friend and that you’re the brother I wish I had. You know that’s not the same. You know it’ll never grow into something different. You don’t want someone else to have what you want. If you can’t have me no one can.
Justin
High opinion of yourself. No. Sean is a threat to you. Find someone who won’t put your life in danger. Even if it isn’t me.
Lina
This is getting too hard to text. We’re going to go around in circles. Meet me. Talk to me Justin. Don’t terrify me. Don’t manipulate me. Talk to me
Justin
So you can manipulate me?
Lina
I don’t manipulate you. I tell you flat out what I do or don’t want you to do. If it doesn’t match what I want then oh well. I don’t trick you. That’s the shit everyone does to me. Fuck you if you think you can manipulate me. That’s what you’re trying to do. Don’t turn this shit on me. Either you talk to me in person like a grown ass man or don’t talk to me ever again. I won’t care what the fuck happens to you. You can fuck all the way off.
It’s my turn to tense.
She raises her right hand and pats the air, telling me to hold on.
Justin
Come alone
Lina
You know there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that’s happening. I don’t trust you and Sean will go fucking ape shit. We meet somewhere neutral. You can have your knife, and I’ll have mine. No guns for either of us. My guard stays where he can see me and get to me but neither of you have a clear shot. Our backs to walls facing the doors and windows.
Justin
Fine where?
Lina
The restaurant at the hotel I stayed at. Crowded but won’t make my guard twitch.
Justin
When?
She glances at her watch.
Lina
An hour
Justin
Fine. Cross me Nik and he’ll still pay. I don’t work alone.
Lina
I know. You better tell me enough that if this shit really goes sideways and I need to get out I know who not to run to.
Justin
Run to me.
Lina
One hour be there. I have no patience left.
Justin
I know what that means. See you there
She sighs before she looks up at me. Then she closes her eyes and sags against my shoulder.
“I know that went back and forth way longer than you wanted. But the first step to breaking Justin is to whip up his fear of abandonment. He knows what I’m like when my patience is gone. He’s seen it with Ewan and Colt. He saw it when we were teenagers. I directed it at a few guys who worked for my father. He’ll change course to placate me. He’ll be more conciliatory because he thinks he has to win me back over to his side.”
“The abandonment—is that the BPD?”
“Yes. There are things from his past, like I said, only Ewan, Colt, and I, along with a few other people know. That’s what I need to use in person. I know you don’t want me to see him. You’re practically vibrating with anger that I suggested it. Trust me on this, Sean. I can’t be absolute about anything someone else will do. But I know Justin, and I know how he’s predictable. He said he wants me back in Boston, but he only disagreed with New York being my home because of you. He didn’t disagree that Montreal is home. He said nothing about my grandfather, which makes me think he believes Montreal is safe for him. He knows Boston won’t be because of Ewan. Unless he put a hit on Ewan too, he can’t stay.”
“How do you know he’s here?”
“The drones. If he got photos of us somehow, it had to be that way. He has the kind that can take photos, and he’s an expert at using them. He does surveillance for Colt.”
That reminds me of something. I clench my jaw. She kisses it where the muscle sticks out and puts her lips to my ear.
“I will explain what happened when he watched me once you and I are somewhere we can really talk. We need to head back to Manhattan.”
We’ve been sitting in my parents’ garage, alone in the car since the others already went inside. She slides her phone back into her pocket and climbs out on her own since the garage door is shut.
No one’s said anything about what happens next, so I have to fill them in. Her arrangement to meet Justin won’t go over well. If anyone is going to stop her, it’ll be my mom.