I open my mouth to argue. There’s no way Mass would ever let me go. He’d chase me forever if it meant keeping me. Running isn’t really an option.
But this is my brother.
It’s not some random guy sneaking around the Fortress.
This is Gabe.
There are so few people I trust more than I trust myself, and my oldest brother happens to be one of them.
“I don’t know if I can make it. I mean, there are so many people watching?—”
“Just get moving. The window’s closing. Western side, halfway down, right on the beach. Cardone and his people are distracted, so you have to move. Do you understand? Get going.”
I try to argue, but the line goes dead.
I stare at the phone. I’m tempted to call that number back.
If he gets caught trying to sneak me out of here, Mass will kill him without hesitation.
But this is my chance at freedom.
“Shit,” I whisper, hurrying into the bedroom. I find a duffel bag in the closet and start shoving clothing into it. “Shit, shit, shit.” I don’t want to do this. No part of me thinks this is a good idea.
There are a thousand reasons to run away.
But none of them seem to matter.
Still, I run into Rosie’s room and grab her diaper bag. There should be enough supplies in there for a few days, but I grabsome extra things. She stirs as I make noise, and eventually, I pluck her from the crib. “Shush, baby, I’ve got you. We’re just going for a walk, alright?”
She glares at me blearily.
But she doesn’t start crying. Instead, she curls up against me as I hurry from her room and down to the elevator.
Stupid. So stupid. So, so, so stupid.
I need to stay and give Mass a chance to explain himself.
I’ve been making a life for myself here. I’m starting to feel like the Fortress could be our home.
And Grandfather’s here too. I want to get to know him and maybe let him know Rosie while he can.
The elevator doors open and I step out onto the bottom floor.
I get some looks from the staff, but nobody stops me. I’m the Dragon’s wife, after all. So what if I’m carrying bags and looking suspicious as hell?
I practically run through the halls and find one of the doors that leads out toward the gardens. The paths out here are twisty and dark. I nearly stumble a few times but manage to keep my footing. There’s a strip of jungle between the main building and the beach, and I eventually find a sandy path that leads toward the water. I smell and hear it before I see the ocean.
I should turn back. It isn’t too late. Gabe will wait, and when I don’t show up, he’ll assume something happened.
But what if that means he tries something even stupider?
My oldest brother isn’t emotional. He doesn’t rush into bad situations without at least thinking about them first.
But he’s also extremely loyal.
I hate this. I hate being put in this situation. I want to go back inside, but I also don’t want Gabe to get hurt.
And a part of me wants to go home to New York.
