Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Her voice was quiet. “I thought he’d come.”
I had, too. There was both relief and a feeling of dread about the fact he hadn’t. My gaze darted to the rearview mirror to check for a tail, but none of the cars behind us looked familiar.
“Will we be able to talk once I’m gone?” She sounded fearful of my answer.
“Yes. I worked it out with Shawn. He knows what needs to be done to make that possible. You two have a long flight where he can go over it.”
Mostly because I wasn’t sure I could keep talking. We lapsed into silence with so much to say. It was the car ride to the helicopter all over again, but much, much worse.
The orange lights of the city faded behind us when we curved onto the Stevenson Expressway.
“It’s safe to sit up now,” I said.
As soon as the statement was out of my mouth, she sat up, but she kept moving. She put her hands on the backs of the front seats, and her feet slid over the center console.
“What are you—” I started.
She pushed between the opening in the seats and slipped into the passenger side, moving as if it were easy for her. “I’m not spending the last few minutes we have together that far away from you.”
I exhaled and gripped the steering wheel tighter as she buckled herself in, and as soon as it was done, I reached for her. Her fingers twined with mine and our joined hands rested in her lap.
The first exit for Midway Airport came into view just as a new worry took shape in my head. What if I wasn’t able to make myself let go of her, like I hadn’t been able to that first day in the safe house?
“Once Shawn’s got the new passport,” I said, navigating the back roads to the private airfield, “you become that identity. Don’t ever use your real name, no matter what.”
She swallowed thickly. “Okay.”
It had been a few years since he’d had taken over as CEO, and apparently, he’d upgraded the corporate jet. I wasn’t happy about any aspect of this situation. Even though the plane was relatively big, she’d be trapped alone with him for a good ten to twelve hours.
I trusted my brother with her life, but that didn’t mean I trusted him not to hit on her.
She looked like she was going to be sick when I put the SUV into park, leaving the engine running. I’d have to do this fast and get it over with before I caved. Besides knowing she was finally safe, I owed it to Bill. To Derrick, and Hannah, and two federal judges.
Frey would be brought to justice, and I was goddamn sure I’d be the one to do it.
She stayed in the Explorer while I unloaded her suitcase. Shawn appeared at the top of the stairs leading to the open cabin door.
“Do you know all of the crew?” I asked.
“Yes. I trust them.”
“Good.”
A second after I had her car door open, she launched into my arms.
“Come with me.” She said it like she already knew my answer but couldn’t help herself. “Stay with me.”
“I’ll take care of what has to be done and then I’ll find you, L, believe me.”
We both went in for the kiss at the same moment, our lips colliding. Footsteps thumped down the nearby staircase, signaling Shawn’s steady approach.
“Are you ready?” he asked, seemingly unaware I was busy.
I pulled back from the kiss, leaving my hands on her so I could study her face. Memorize it. Remember the feel of her in my arms, because soon that memory was all I’d have.
He didn’t wait for my response, probably knowing I wasn’t capable of giving one. He took the suitcase and delivered it to the flight attendant who carried it onboard. I fought the desire to tell him to slow down, to stop rushing me, but every passing second on the tarmac in the freezing cold was one more second Frey could use to slip farther away.
More time spent chasing him meant more time apart.
So, my gaze went to my older brother, who’d agreed to do me an enormous favor. If anything, Shawn was thrilled to do it because the end result was I’d return to what he’d always declared as my home.
“Thank you,” I pushed out, “for all of your help, Shawn. I appreciate it.”
He understood this wasn’t easy for me and nodded. “Of course.”
Laurel’s breathing increased when my focus returned to her. I cupped a hand to her rosy cheek, tilting her anxious, beautiful face up to mine.
The words weren’t difficult but the emotion behind them was. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you, too.”
She tasted sweet, and I tried to memorize that, too. Last time I’d said goodbye to her at the helicopter, she hadn’t been prepared. But this time she was, and her kiss was ferocious and persuasive. It begged me to change my mind, and the pull to do so was a force stronger than anything I’d felt before.