Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“I have to go to the office. I’m taking Drake with me. We need backup and logistics from my uncle. You’ll stay here until it’s time to go to the airport. Taylor’s going to drive you there, and we’ll meet up after we’re done with the briefing,” Kyle explained like she was a piece he was moving around the board. “We’ll fly to London with you and from there a guard will escort you to Loa Mali. Damon Knight’s men will handle that part of the journey. I’ll come for you when I can.”
“No need. Just give me a call when I can have a life again.” She turned away to go back into her room. She needed to change and figure out how hard it was going to be to get away from Taylor Cline.
The good news was she knew the club far better than the other woman.
Kyle reached out, grabbing her elbow and turning her around. “I’m not doing this to hurt you. I’m doing this because I love you.”
“Then let me come on your op. Let me decide for myself what I’m willing to risk. Value me as something more than a romantic partner.”
He hesitated and she realized if he said yes, she would try again. If he could change, she would give him a shot, and that was such a dumb thing to do. But deep down, she loved this man.
Again, not an emotion she was able to tap, but if he said yes, maybe the wall would crumble and she would be able to feel again.
“I can’t. I do value you, but I can’t risk it.” His face had fallen as though he realized he’d lost it all.
She moved to the door. “Then when the op is done, don’t come for me. Give me a call and let me know it’s safe. I don’t want to see you again.”
His expression went tight as though he could feel in a way she couldn’t, and he was having a hard time containing his emotions. “This is exactly what Julia wants.”
“I don’t care. This isn’t about giving Julia something or taking something away from her. It’s about you and me, and we’re done. Don’t try to track me online again. I’ll give up games. I’ll give up whatever it takes to be free of whatever this is.”
“You make me sound like the bad guy.”
She simply walked into the room and locked the door behind her. She got dressed and ready to deal with whatever happened next.
If she went to Loa Mali, she might be able to continue the work she needed to do. Or the king would want nothing to do with it and she might put the whole royal family at risk.
She walked down the stairs, bag in hand as she worked her way through the problem because there were definite downsides to running away on her own.
If she did run, would Ian use valuable time and resources to track her down? Probably. Would she be putting more people in danger if she walked away? Probably.
Would Kyle come after her or let her go? That was a question she could likely answer. He would come after her—if only out of pride—and that put the entire op at risk.
Finding Julia Ennis was important, and so was bringing down The Consortium.
Why was she the only one who seemed called on to sacrifice? She’d sacrificed the most important relationship of her life, her freedom, her naïveté. She would likely have to give up her job and her friends because she wouldn’t be able to work with Kyle when he returned. And no matter what he said, he wouldn’t leave his family forever. She would have to give up Sanctum.
She’d had to become a different person. She wasn’t sure she liked the person she’d become.
“So, the guys are expecting us at the airport at noon.” Taylor stood in the lounge section of the club, working the coffeemaker.
How many times had she fantasized about sitting in the lounge with Kyle? She’d dreamed of long nights spent in the club, and they would come here after they’d played. She would sit on his lap and let her head rest on his shoulder while he talked to his friends, and she would feel so safe. “All right.”
She had some time to decide what she wanted to do. Could she take Taylor in a fight if she decided to run?
Taylor pushed the button to start the coffee. “So the guys told me I’m supposed to take you to the airport. Do you want to go to the airport?”
MaeBe hesitated. Was this some kind of a trick? “No.”
“Okay,” Taylor replied like they were talking about whether to go shopping or not. “Where do you want to go?”
“I want to go to the office.”
“Cool. Should we have breakfast first? I’m always cranky until I’ve fueled up,” Taylor admitted. “I saw a pancake place a couple of blocks back. If someone tries to assassinate us, at least we had pancakes, you know?”