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Torian
I didn’t sleep.
Caffeine, the threat of my father, and the fact I stayed in bed until lunch had me powering through until the early morning hours.
I spend my time trying to ignore what has to be done—I have to say goodbye to Nissa.
She needs to return to Portland while I stay to finish what I started, and secure Pe
Problem is, I don’t want to say goodbye.
For starters, Anissa needs to be watched. For her protection as well as mine.
Secondly, I’m not ready to let her go.
I need more time to… I don’t know. I just need more time.
But I don’t have any. The sun is about to rise, meaning the jet should be here soon.
“Why the hell didn’t you wake me?” Luca slinks into the living room in jeans and a T-shirt, squinting as he scratches the top of his head with the butt of his gun.
“I had no chance of sleeping. I thought you might as well get the rest.”
“What about Anissa? Is she still knocked out?”
“Yeah. I’ve checked on her a few times, but the sedatives are working wonders.” I push from the dining table and head for the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Fuck, yes. Make it strong.” He slides onto a stool at the island counter, placing his gun in front of him. “Any word from Luther?”
“Nope. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to figure out a plan to get him back here.”
His brows tighten. “So, we’re staying?”
“Yeah.”
“And Anissa?”
I grab two mugs from the dishwasher and start the coffee machine. “I’m sending her home.”
He doesn’t respond.
I don’t look to him for answers. I don’t need his opinion. I don’t want the questioning stare he gives me when I slide his steaming mug of java across the counter.
“I’ve already packed her things. They’re in a duffel at the door. All I have to do is get her to the airport.”
“When are we doing that?”
“Soon.” I check my watch. “I called the pilot for an update a few hours ago. They shouldn’t be too far away. But once I finish my coffee I’ll call again to confirm.”
“What’s the plan after that?” He palms his mug and takes a sip. “Did you decide what to do about Pe
I pretend not to notice his invested interest.
One conversation and a slap across the face, and the guy is fully absorbed in her rescue.
“Once Hunt and Deck arrive, we’ll chat it out together. Like you said, if it were my sister, I’d kill anyone who didn’t put their life on the line to save her. So, for the sake of Keira and her bad taste in men, I’m going to have an open discussion about the options.”
“That’s more than fair.”
“And if Decker can’t keep a cool head, I’ll contain him however necessary. But at least I’ll have given him the choice.”
He nods. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Good, because that’s the extent of my generosity.
Decker will be a fucking nightmare once he finds out his sister is alive, but I can admit he deserves to know.
“On second thought, I’m going to make the call now and speak to Hunt.” I push from the cupboards. “It will be better if one of them isn’t blindsided.”
I snatch my cell from the counter and walk outside into the barely dawning light, not wanting to wake Anissa.
Like yesterday, my call isn’t answered. I’m left to listen to the ongoing dial tone.
I try again and this time something else accompanies the ringing.
There’s a faint hint of added noise. A hum.
I disco
It’s almost negligible. But it’s there. Approaching.
I stalk back to the door and shove my head inside. “Luc, come out here for a sec.”
He slides from his stool and strides toward me. “What is it?”
“Listen.”
He cocks his head. “Do you think it’s a boat?”
“I’m sure it is.”
“Keira?”
“I doubt it.” Something uncomfortable builds in my chest. A bad feeling. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Or trying to delay sending Anissa home. But I don’t think so. I shouldn’t have tried to convince myself the passing hours were my first stroke of good luck. Luther always knows when to turn up at the worst possible moment.
“It could be a fishing boat, but I’ll check it out.” Luca jogs for the path, fast disappearing behind the vegetation.
I remain in place, contemplating whether to go after him.
I should wake Anissa. And I also shouldn’t leave Luc on the jetty without protection. It didn’t skip my attention he ran off without his fucking gun.
“Shit.” I slide my hand inside my jacket and touch my pistol for confirmation before I stalk for the path, striding out the distance as the noise approaches.
It isn’t hard to find the boat with its bright light illuminating the inky black water. I don’t divert my attention as I walk onto the pier, trying to determine who’s onboard.
“For confirmation, if this is Luther we’re ending this, right?” Luca turns to me. “And if it’s Keira, we’re taking Anissa straight to the airport?”
“Exactly.”
He nods. “Can you see who’s behind the wheel?”
“I can’t see a damn thing.” The slight glow from the approaching sunrise isn’t enough to dilute the headlight. The back of the boat remains hidden in differing shades of darkness.
“Look.” He shoots me a grin. “There’s a woman. Port-side.”
I squint, seeing the silhouette of a slim figure. Seconds later, I make out the long hair billowing in the breeze.
My bad vibe intensifies. The reality of saying goodbye to my little fox hits me with full force. This fun-filled adventure with her is over. Once she gets to Portland, I’ll be nothing but a bad memory.
“Go wake her.” I jerk my head toward the house. “Tell Anissa she’s got two minutes to get down here because she’s getting on this boat as soon as it stops.”
“You got it.”
“And next time, don’t go anywhere without your fucking gun.”
His brows snap tight. “Shit. I—”
“Never again,” I warn.
He nods and jogs for the house as I turn toward the approaching boat.
This is it. The end. The moment where I stop tormenting someone who turned out to be more than I expected.
More bright.
More determined and admirable.
More fucking woman.
I never should’ve brought her here. My excuses for the abduction were messed up to begin with, when in reality, I think I only dragged her here because of my addiction.
I spent so long following her it became impossible to stop.
But I risked her safety. I stole her freedom. And I deserve to fry for her injuries.
Maybe she’ll ensure I do.
I move to the end of the pier, preparing to help moor the boat in place opposite Amar’s when the outline of the woman’s silhouette becomes crisp.
Her frame is thi
I don’t drag my attention away. I don’t even blink as her features come into view—the shadowed face of misery, the eyes narrowed with spite.
It’s not Keira.
Shit.
It’s Pe
“Luca,” I shout toward the house. “Luc, it’s not her.”
I can’t hear a response over the approaching roar of the boat.
I’m stuck.
Fuck.
I won’t run and show my surprise. I refuse to let my father think he has the upper hand. All I can do is straighten my shoulders and face him head-on as Chris cuts the engine and the vessel bobs into place.
“What are you doing here?” I cross my arms over my chest, strategically nestling my fingers close to my holstered gun.