Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
The discussion about school brought back memories of the previous discussion I’d had with Dr. Tanner about the same subject. “Last time you told me to go back to school, you were helping Santori get rid of me. How do I know I can trust you now?”
Her face went hard, and she shot a menacing look toward Santori’s apartment. “That bastard is the last person I would ever help. After what we learned here yesterday, do you actually think I would have any loyalty left? I would kill him dead if I thought I could get away with it. As it is, I’m going to confront him and see what he has to say for himself. His reign of terror over Michael is over as far as I’m concerned.”
“You’re really going to confront him?” I asked. “That’s either really brave or really stupid.”
She laughed. “A little of both, I’m sure. But don’t you worry. You go back to school and do your thing. I want to watch Michael for a couple of weeks before you see him again. I think it’s important for me to help him work through all of this first. But I promise, this is only going to be good for the two of you. As soon as I think he’s settled enough to see you, he’ll order a plane ticket and fly you back out for the weekend.”
“A couple of weeks?”
“A couple of weeks. Three at the most.”
I left reluctantly, but I knew Dr. Tanner was right. Kage needed her more than he needed me right now. And as soon as he was ready, I would be on a plane to see him. Then we could put into effect his two day plan and live happily ever after.
Chapter 12
(KAGE)
I slammed the phone down on the bed, resisting the urge to follow up with a fist through the wall. A quick phone call to the airport had just confirmed what I’d already suspected. No delays. The fucking plane had made it on time, and still no Jamie.
Dr. Tanner and I had been talking for three weeks, and she’d helped me come to terms with the death of my brother. It was strange, but the memory of how my brother died had brought with it a certain peace I hadn’t had before. Dr. Tanner felt like it was because I’d known the truth all along, but my mind just hadn’t wanted to admit it.
I hadn’t seen my therapist in days, but I felt strong on my own now. She still didn’t think I should see Santori if I could help it, and I had to agree with her on that. As much as I felt I had made progress, I still wasn’t ready to face him. I was, however, ready to see Jamie. More than ready, in fact. He’d called every day to check on me, and after a week Dr. Tanner had let me start talking to him again. Now he was supposed to be coming to visit, and I should have been overjoyed, not wondering where the hell he was.
I paced to the balcony and stepped outside, dragging in a deep breath and staring out over the city I called home. The view did nothing to settle my nerves, because I knew better than most what darkness lurked beneath the jaunty veneer. My uncle had built an empire on it.
Jamie was not safe. I knew it in my gut, yet I’d gone ahead with the plan to bring him out for the weekend. The rationalization that he’d be just as safe here as anywhere felt faulty now, and I was kicking myself. He and I could be holed up in his bedroom in Georgia right now, working out a plan to extract ourselves from my uncle’s web of crazy. I was convinced more than ever that throwing myself a big coming out party and inviting the media was the best course of action, because without the secret of my sexuality to protect, my uncle had no motivation to do anything bad to Jamie.
Well, none except meanness, and I wasn’t naive enough to discount that at all.
I went back into the room and picked up my phone, trying to figure out who I could call to find out if Jamie had even gotten on the plane. Braden would probably know. I scrolled through what few contacts I had programmed in and selected Braden’s name, hoping he’d even recognize my number and pick up.
“Hello?” he asked tentatively on the third ring.
“Braden, so glad I got you. Did Jamie get on the plane today? He was supposed to come visit me.”
“Kage?” His voice was excited.
“Yeah, man. I don’t have time to talk. I’m worried about Jamie. Did he get on the plane?”
“I think so. He said he was going to Vegas. His SUV is gone, so I’m assuming he left it in airport parking.”