AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s ok, Kai. I’m probably just seeing things. Let’s get onthe plane.” I say as I grab his arm and stop him from marching off in the direction I pointed.
He watches me, his eyes penetrating mine and searching. Eventually, he gives me a stiff nod and places his hand gently on the small of my back, helping to guide my trembling body up the stairs.
I plop down in a window seat, and I’m shocked when Kai plops down next to me.
“You don’t need to sit next to me.”
Kai looks at me and frowns. “I want to.”
I sigh. I’m tired and beyond frustrated. I just had a mini heart attack thinking I saw the man who abused me seconds ago. Now Kai is being nice to me. Maybe this is just a dream.
“I’m fucked up, Belle. I’m so fucked up, and I don’t want you to be dragged into it. But Maverick pointed out that Ezra would hate how I’m treating you. And he was right.” Kai looks at me, and I can see the pain Willa mentioned. It’s as clear as day in his eyes.
“You’re being nice to me for Ezra?” I ask, not sure how I feel about that.
“Yes. No. . . I don’t know. There’s no excuse for how I’ve treated you. I’m genuinely sorry for my behavior.” Kai looks at me, and all I see is pain and regret in his eyes. My instinct is to forgive him. I’m so desperate for him to be back in my life that I think I would forgive anything he asked of me. But I stop myself. If I’ve learned anything in the past few days, it’s respecting myself first. And he hasn’t shown me any respect.
“You don’t want to be my friend because of whatever is going on with you, but you’re fine staying friends with everyone else?” I ask him, my words deliberatelyslow.
“You’re the best of us,” he whispers.
“What does that even mean?” I ask, my voice hardening.
“I just. . . I can’t. I can’t,” he says, his voice turning into a whimper.
“Sit somewhere else, Kai. I think you need to figure out what you want. I’d like to be friends again, but I won’t force it on you. I don’t need pity friendship.”
“Belle, I —”
I watch him struggle to find words for a few seconds before putting on my headphones and turning away from him. I feel him get up from his seat, and then I let the tears fall.
seven
BRAD
I’m so fucked.I just watched Belle board a plane with the sorry excuse of a band her brother is in. She has no talent and is nothing but an inconvenience, but her brother must have wanted her with him.
Callahan hasn’t let Belle out of his sight since the moment she arrived at his house. I’ve been following them and there hasn’t been a single opportunity for me to get her alone and get her back home.
Now she’s on a fucking plane that’s leaving the damn country. What the fuck am I supposed to do about that? I chance a peek around the corner of the building and watch as the plane starts down the runway.
My phone starts ringing, and I already know who it is without looking. Maybe I should book myself a plane and get the fuck out of here.
No.
He’ll find me no matter where I go.
“Hi sir, I can explain —”
“Can you? You can explain how that meek girl hasevaded you and is now on a flight across the ocean? Please. Explain.” His voice has that calmness that is more dangerous than anything.
“Callahan hasn’t left her side, and you told me he’s too in the public eye to mess with. I had no choice but to not get involved.”
“That girl has information that could ruin me. You understand that, right? If I go down, so do you. And now you’ve let her get on a flight with my son.”
“Sir, if I may? I don’t think she knows anything, or she would have used that information already,” I argue.
He pauses before answering, no doubt to make me think he’s considering my words when I know he isn’t.
