Chapter 28
Killian
I wake up feeling disoriented for a brief moment before the previous night comes flooding back to me like a tidal wave.
My meeting with Lucian replays through my mind, and I remember the rage that fueled me to assemble my team immediately afterwards to get a plan together.
When I’m dressed, I pull out the last few things I had in my drawers and put them into the duffel bag I have on the floor. There’s a knock on the door and when I open it Asher stands on the other side, already dressed in our black uniform.
“The house is ready, boss,” he says, looking past me to the two bags sitting on the floor. He meets my gaze again. “Are you ready for this?”
“I’ve been ready,” I respond without hesitation. “Is everyone packed?”
“Yes,” he says, stepping inside the room with me. “Everyone is good to go. You know we can pack and be ready like it’s nothing.”
“Good,” I say, moving to put on my boots. I feel his eyes still on me and I look up. “What is it?”
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” He asks not needing to clarify who he is mentioning. “I’ve never seen you this serious about a woman since..shit. Ever.”
I focus back on lacing up my boots and then get up and walk over to him.
“She’s it for me, Asher. And we are going to get her out of this. Then I’m going to figure out a way to have a life with her once the dust settles. I’m going to give her the things she really wants in life that have nothing to do with money.”
The corner of his mouth lifts and he comes dangerously close to actually smiling. “If you want my opinion you should have just kidnapped her weeks ago. But I can respect your patience,” he says.
I shake my head at him and we walk out of the room together towards the front door. “You going up to the house to tell her?” He asks.
“I have to,” I answer, the words leaving a rough feeling in my gut.
Asher frowns and nods. “Good luck, boss,” he says, heading back to the bedrooms.
Even though Celani knew about us looking for a safe house in case things took a bad turn, I don’t think she fully expected that they would. I’m sure a part of her was hoping that this was all a big misunderstanding, and she could finally end things with Pierce amicably, and leave.
Now that we know for sure that this definitely isn’t a misunderstanding, I’m not sure how she will really take the news.
The plan is for all of us to help her pack up and then we will move out this morning. We will then reconvene at the safe house to get our next steps in order. By the time Pierce gets home tonight, Celani will be long gone. No one will be on the property except for Malakai and me.
Malakai has already left to take Pierce to work for the day to make sure he stays out of our way, and to keep up appearances. We need to act like this is just another normal Friday, and we aren’t about to turn his life upside down.
I find Davi and Floyd in the pool house with all of the surveillance equipment already put away. The cameras around the house are on a timer to shut down tonight, and their computer monitors that were lined up on the tables in the bedrooms are all gone.
Davi slaps hands with me as I look around at their black duffle bags, and equipment on the floor.
“Did you get the burner phone?” I ask Floyd as he walks up front with us.
He reaches into his back pocket. “Right here boss,” he says, handing it to me.
I look it over before pocketing it. “Thanks. Everything good here?”
“We’re good to go when you are, Kill,” Davi says.
My phone rings and I nod to them before stepping outside to answer.
“Yes?” I ask, closing the door behind me.
“Kill. It’s me.”
The familiar voice brings me the last bit of relief that I needed to move forward.
“Thanks for getting back to me man.”
“Of course, Kill. What can I help you with?” He asks.
“I know this is short notice, but I need your services for someone.”
I explain the details to him as I walk up to the main house, wrapping up the call before I go upstairs to meet Celani. When I get to the bedroom she has been staying in, I knock on the door, and it’s only a few moments before it swings open.
She smiles brightly at me, already dressed for the day and holding Shadow in her arms. “Good morning!” She chirps, but her sweet smile melts away seeing the serious expression on my face.
Her back straightens and she steps closer to me.
“Kill? What is it? Did something really bad happen at your meeting?” She asks quietly.
I take in a breath, feeling an even deeper resentment for Pierce than I have ever had before. He’s made this mess, and now I have to clean it up.
“We need to sit down and talk,” I respond, taking her hand in mine, and guiding her back into the bedroom.