Страница 121 из 349
Decker
I’m staring at the sunrise creeping over the ceiling, hands behind my head, when Keira starts to stir beside me.
I didn’t sleep, and it wasn’t from lack of trying.
It took forever for me to come to terms with Luther’s death. I didn’t believe it. Didn’t want to. Then things started to make perfect sense—the drive-by, Richard’s assassination attempt, Cole’s demand for Keira to be taken out of town.
Someone else already knows.
The power struggle has started.
Which is fucking great. I signed on for a lot of fucked up shit when I began working for this family, but helping them win a war isn’t one of them.
Keira’s long, labored breaths fade and she groans as she snuggles closer. “Good morning.”
“Morning.”
I need to convince her to leave. To walk the fuck away from this life. This family.
Her brother will be too busy keeping himself alive to track us down. At least to start off with. He’ll have assholes from every direction attempting to kick him from his power pedestal. And by the time he does have the freedom to play hide-and-seek, we’ll be long gone.
It will take months, if not years, to re-assert control, if he’s even capable of holding onto it.
This is the perfect time to get out. To move on. To start over.
“How long have you been awake?” she murmurs. “You should’ve nudged me.”
I couldn’t have woken her even if I wanted to, probably not if my life depended on it. She’d been too peaceful. Too tempting with the covers below her waist, her cleavage gaping from her nightdress.
“I didn’t sleep much. I guess I didn’t need to after yesterday.”
She sits and runs a hand through her hair. “You must be starving. Give me a few minutes to freshen up, then we can go out for breakfast.”
“There’s no rush. I still need to get ready and call Hunter to see when he’s arriving.”
I’ve been thinking about calling him ever since I figured out the truth. I should’ve gotten in contact hours ago. As soon as I heard the news of the century.
Instead, I lay here staring at the same spot on the ceiling, torturing myself at the thought of betraying Keira. It’s too late now, though. My mind is made up. Telling Hunter isn’t betrayal. It’s taking the first step in an effort to keep her shielded from the violence about to rain down on us.
“I won’t be long.” She throws back the sheet and slides from the mattress, her seductive stride eating up the distance to the bathroom before she closes the door behind her.
I wait until the water turns on, then drag my ass from bed. Like last night, I walk into the back yard and co
“Now’s not a great time,” he greets.
“It’s not great here either. But what I’m going to tell you can’t wait.”
“Jesus. Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her.”
“That’s not why I’m calling.”
“But you’re not denying it either,” he snarls. “Fuck, Deck. One day you’re going to have to stop being the wild card and actually take responsibility. I swear to God, Torian will bend you over and fuck you so hard you’re tasting dick for months.”
“As delightful as that sounds, it’s not why I called.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes. Maybe if I squeeze hard enough I’ll have an aneurism and not have to deal with this shit. “Like I said, I’ve got news.”
There’s a pause, the briefest silent acknowledgement of the seriousness I’m about to share. “Go on, then,” he grates. “Tell me.”
“Keira and I got to talking last night, and she dropped a bomb I wasn’t expecting. It’s big, Hunt. Real big.”
“Do you want me to play Twenty-Questions, or are you pla
I drop my arm to my side and stare across the open expanse of the yard. There’s no life out here. No vibrancy. No feeling.
It could be considered beautiful with its sculpted statues and manicured gardens, but the property is devoid of warmth. Just like I’ve come to expect from anything the Torian name touches. Anything except the gorgeous woman waiting inside. “Luther is dead.”
Silence.
Hunter doesn’t respond.
Not in seconds. Not for long moments. Not even when I lower the cell to make sure the call is still co
“I heard,” he growls. “And Keira just gave you this information out of the blue?”
“Yeah. She’s starting to trust me.”
“Where are you?”
“Still at the safe house. We’re about to head out for a bite to eat, but I’m not sure what the fuck I should do about this. You realize what it means, right? We’re caught in the middle of a power struggle.”
“Who have you told?”
“Nobody.”
There’s another pause. The silence of thick, punishing contemplation. “We can’t discuss this over the phone. I’m coming to you. I’ll call when I’m close.”
“You’re still bringing a laptop, right?”
“Yeah.” There’s a rustle in the background. A jangle of keys. “I picked one up yesterday.”
“You didn’t happen to buy a phone charger, too, did you? My cell is going to die if it doesn’t get some juice soon.”
“I’ll bring one of my spares.”
The line disco
Remorse hits harder than I anticipate. And I’d expected that fucker to be punishing.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to face Keira now. Do I tell her? Should I explain?
No, I can’t.
She’s the type to run first and ask questions later, which will only put her in more danger.
My betrayal has to remain a secret for now.
Hunter will keep his mouth shut. I don’t doubt him in the slightest. And he had to be informed. I couldn’t live with his blood on my hands. There’s enough of that shit tainting my soul already.
The swish of an opening door hits my ears, and I turn to find Keira stepping onto the deck. The guilt increases with the soft smile she gives me. There’s trust in those eyes, the gentle affection clawing me from the inside out.
Fuck.
She’s a fucking sight, too. Her hair is braided over one shoulder. A white cardigan hangs loose on her shoulders, partially covering the top of her light blue sundress. The style is feminine. Laid back. Not a hint of filthy rich, drug-lord’s daughter in sight.
“Are you ready to leave?” she asks.
“Let me take a quick shower.” I head toward her, drowning in the need to drag her to some place far, far away from this bullshit. “Hunter is on his way. Hopefully he’ll meet us in town while we’re still eating breakfast. I don’t want to hang around in public any longer than necessary.”
“We can always bring the food back to the house. He could meet us here.”
“No. He doesn’t need to know the location of this place.”
She frowns. “You’d keep that from him?”
“It’s not my secret to tell.” The words burn my throat. I’m pretending my white-knight armor is shining when it’s tarnished as fuck.
Her eyes turn soft as she blinks back at me in unwarranted appreciation. “You’re a good man, Sebastian.”
Jesus.
I scoff. “Far from it, angel.”
Maybe I was at one time. Back when life was simple and contracted killings were in the movies, not my weekly schedule.
“It’s either jokes or deflected compliments,” she muses, inching toward me to wrap her arms around my waist. “Is that a technique to hide the real you?”
I fight to keep my muscles relaxed. “Yeah. I guess.” I kiss her forehead. “Deep down, I’m a sensitive guy who loves to write poetry and rescue injured wildlife.”