Страница 156 из 349
I don’t want to fuck her again. I can’t. The thought of leaving her behind is hard enough without giving in to the addiction one more time.
“I’ll fix this,” she whispers.
I press my forehead to hers and close my eyes. “You can’t. If I stay, I’m dead.”
“I’ll protect you.”
I let out a breath of laughter. “Yeah? And how are you going to do that?”
Her hand weaves around my neck, her nails scraping my scalp. “I’ll do whatever necessary. Just like you did for me.” She leans in, her nose brushing mine, the splash of warm water trickling down our faces. “I’ve fallen for you, Sebastian. I can’t let you go.”
“That’s the adrenaline talking. It’s the fear.” It’s probably a case of Stockholm Syndrome, too.
“No, it’s not. I’ve felt this way since before the shooting.” She digs those nails deeper, demanding my attention. “I’m never scared when I’m with you. I feel safe. I’m home.” Her lips brush my jaw. My cheek. “I need this to work. I don’t care what it takes.”
What it takes could be her life. I refuse to be responsible for that.
I pull back, opening my eyes as I cup her face in both hands. “Listen. Hunter is going to come after me. And if he went through my house like I wanted him to, he’s going to find this place real fucking soon.”
“How? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“We’re in the middle of my brother’s house,” I confess. “I called in a few favors and asked him to disappear for a few days.”
Her eyes flare, the panic evident before being smothered with more of her determination. “Then we run. Together. We get out of here. We hide.”
“You don’t want to leave your family, beautiful. You couldn’t live without Layla or Stella. And you told me last night how close you are to Cole.”
“It will only be temporary.” She brushes her mouth over mine, slaughtering me with the sexual plea. “We can figure out—”
“This isn’t a negotiation.” I wish I could find a way to make this work, but the truth is, her optimism has no place here. Hunter will never forgive me, and Torian will take pleasure in putting a price on my head.
It’s over.
“I’m leaving here, Keira, and you’re not coming with me.”