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I was no exception to that fire. And I burned because of it. I ran because it was too much.
I hope you find your peace. And that once this is done, you and I will become strangers for good.
My heart didn’t break. I’d lost my father the day he ran. This was just a message from a man who was at the end of his tether.
And that was a form of justice, too.
I sighed and rubbed my face wearily.
“Okay,” said Noah, who'd been watching me keenly. “I think we should all call it an early night. Rory, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“Nine. I’ll get ready at the hotel.”
One day to go.
38
Rory
Everything about The Four Seasons screamed elitist opulence. Getting here had been pretty uneventful, except for my heart feeling like it would collapse any second.
There weren’t enough books that wrote about how scared brawny heroes felt before they went out and got shit done. Because sitting here in this luxurious room, I could tell how they felt.
Like, I kept wanting to pee my pants. I was that terrified.
I looked around me at the room and inhaled the scent of musk roses wafting in the air. Spacious and elegant, it had large windows with a stunning view of the city’s skyline.
Soft, plush carpets covered the floor. A king-sized bed took up most of the space, adorned with silk sheets and fluffy pillows.
It was so hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I’d been rushing through crowded streets and dodging mad traffic to get here.
My stomach let out a loud grumble. Oof. If this were the lobby, it’d echo across the podium, drowning out anything else I had to say.
But this was more than hunger. Fear gripped my insides and made me shiver the way I had before my high school finals.
Of course, I’d been high on Red Bull and coffee at the time. No wonder I’d thought I could conquer the world and felt like dying in the same breath.
I kept thinking I could feel Emory behind me like a ghost. Like he’d tap my shoulder and whisper in my ear, making me jump out of my skin.
But this was a ride I’d chosen to get on. And I refused to get off until I had my money's worth.
I looked at the half-eaten energy bar on the counter and sighed. Just fifteen minutes ago, I’d been sent a whole tray of little delicacies.
A tiny bowl full of rich, creamy soup. Cucumber sandwiches. Nibble-sized pastries that were still looking at me with puppy eyes that could compete with Rain’s.
Ugh. I hated that I couldn’t eat any of it. I scowled heavily at the tray.
The almond bar, in comparison, felt like a brick in my mouth. Sure, chocolate-coated bricks, but in what world could you compare bricks to real cake?
As I contemplated the misery of my present life, a persistent scratching from inside the bathroom caught my attention.
What the hell was Abbot trying to do? Was he planning to make a grand backdoor entry?
I moved the bowl of soup aside and took a last, loving look at the sandwiches and cake before carefully depositing it on a plate. This was all evidence.
Then, I picked up the tray and began tiptoeing toward the bathroom.
Hell, if someone was going to attack me from the en suite, I wouldn’t be unprepared. I’d whack the shit out of their skulls with the damn snack tray if I had to.
