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Things aren’t clear for us. I’m not sure they ever will be.
When we’re exiting the gate, Ariel says, “My sister and her family live pretty close to here. Actually, I was wondering if one of your men could take me by there tonight. I’d like to pick up a couple more things. I kind of left in a hurry this morning.”
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I say, “Why don’t we go now? I can just let the guys know.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
My stomach revolts. For a few seconds, I can’t do anything but clutch the handle of the car door. The happy bubble I was in just burst in my face like a nuclear bomb.
We can’t go to Nikki’s. Finn will be there.
God. Heart flopping, I flounder for anything I can do to change this disastrous turn.
Thank god, Ariel’s quick to say, “We don’t have to go right now. I just thought...”
Kieran casually says, “If it’s close, let’s do it. Carra has some appointment this evening, according to Eva. She threatened me if I didn’t have you back by four. You know Eva, so there will be hell to pay.”
Tongue glued to the top of my mouth, I try to hide the fact that I’m hyperventilating.
Feigning sickness? Only it wouldn't be fake. I can surely throw up right now. Right here in Kieran’s fancy Mercedes.
“You can just pull up to the curb and I’ll run in.”
I want to smack myself for not telling Ariel that Finn is Kieran’s child. She’d do anything to protect me and Finn, but she doesn’t even know that she needs to protect us from this threat.
“Sure,” Kieran says. Then he looks over at me. “You don’t mind, do you?”
My head does this weird, nod and shake. Half yes, half no. But my mouth manages to form the word ‘no.’ Rather stiffly, because inside, I’m screaming.
Behind me, Ariel starts talking about something. I can’t hear it for the roaring in my ears.
Please let Finn be busy. At a friend’s house. At ball practice. Taking a nap. Anywhere but in the yard.
Please, God, let me get away with this just a while longer.
It takes less than ten minutes to arrive. It’s a lifetime and a half. Of sheer torture.
The familiar two-story suburban house comes into view, giving me sweaty palms, a racing heart, and a stomach that’s quivering like bathtub water in an earthquake.
Kieran stops at the curb, the growl of the engine dying when he turns off the car. The other guards arrive as well.
I grip the seat with both shaking hands and try to breathe normally. Ariel’s out the door before I can say anything. She storms up the sidewalk with fire on her heels.
Kieran shifts in his seat. His clean, warm scent stirs around me. “You’ve been too quiet. What are you thinking inside that pretty head of yours?”
It’s not a total lie when I say, “Oh... just thinking about the house.”
“It’s a bit overwhelming, eh?”
“I guess. I really didn’t think of that. But I guess there’s a lot of things to take care of with a home like that. I hope you don’t expect me to know how to do any of that.”
He glances at Nikki’s house. It’s a nice place. Like a normal family would live in. Two cars in the drive. A garage full of kids’ toys and sporting goods. The normal things, I guess.
Kieran says, “You know, I always thought I’d have a house. I had a nice condo until I... Well, until seven years ago. But the truth is, I didn’t really fantasize about houses or homes or family because I didn’t know if I’d live. But now that I have the money, and someone to keep safe, the bigger, the better.”
He reaches over and loops his index finger around my pinky. “Your fingers are trembling.”
“Are they?” I ask in a nervous voice. “I didn’t realize. Maybe it’s too much caffeine.”
