I stumbled at Dakota’s shout, and a choked sob clawed at my throat.
But I didn’t stop.
I turned down the hall and found myself in the ballroom again. There was a hushed silence as thick as tar, and the first person who saw me gasped and backed away. More followed suit, murmuring started, and I didn’t wait around to watch them all stand there and stare at me.
I ran past all the guests, stumbled out of the room, down another corridor, and somehow made it to the front hall. I wasmoving too fast and couldn’t stop myself before I crashed into the door. I took a deep breath, gripped the handle, and pulled the door open.
The cool air was like a slap in the face, and I almost tripped down the stairs but somehow stayed on my feet. I staggered toward the driveway, weaving my way through all the cars parked in the front roundabout, ignoring the pinch in my toes, the sharp pain in my side.
“Reese!”
No, no, no. Dakota’s shout echoed around me, the desperation in it almost enough to make me stop because I could make that go away, I could take away all his pain if I just stopped.
But I was the reason for all his hurt, I couldn’t stop.
The drive was lined with little lights that helped guide my way, and I really wasn’t sure how far I’d gone or how far I still had to go when I tripped on one of my laces that had come undone.
I fell hard, all the air rushing from my lungs as my face smacked into the gravel, tiny rocks digging into my cheek.
I groaned as more tears spilled from my eyes. I wanted to lie there in my pain and never get up. Let it swallow me whole.
I never should’ve come here.
To the manor.
To Ashbrook.
To New York.
“Reese!”
I pushed to a sitting position, able to do that much at least. My neck ached as I turned to see Dakota sprinting toward me.
I didn’t have the strength to get up and run. Not from him.
30
I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN
DAKOTA
“Reese!”
I sprinted after him down the front steps.
Reese slowed down, and my heart stopped beating when he fell and didn’t get up again.
“Reese!”
I wanted to kill Everett.
He’d completely ruined this family. I always thought I’d be happy if that ever happened, but I just felt…nothing. They’d brought this on themselves.
Reese slowly pushed himself up until he was sitting, and when I made it to him, I sat down and wrapped myself around him from behind. He was crying so hard he retched.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay. It’s okay.” I bracketed his legs between mine, wound my arms around his torso, and lowered my head until our cheeks were touching.
“Dakota,” he wailed, clutching at my arms.
