“Relax,” I mock. “Great idea. We’ve got all the time in the world for that, of course. Fortunately, all is well in the world. After all, I’m just about to go to my own house to enjoy a good glass of wine.” I rub my forehead. “Let’s go get that stuff first, since I’m apparently stuck here until you figure out who’s so eager to pluck me off the street. Are we going by truck?”
“Yeah, we can’t fit much on the bike.” He strides to the hall, where he grabs the keys from the tray that sits on the small table next to the door. Everything seems so homey and normal, but… I stare at the bowl.
“Lay?”
My whole world turned to shit in one go, and the one trying to fix it is Kyler.In which universe did I end up?
“Layne?”
I look up. He takes three steps back and puts two muscled arms around me. It’s like I’m being engulfed by him and before that happens, I push him away. I have to do this myself, without him.
“What’s wrong?” He puts a finger under my chin and demands I look up at him.
I shrug. “Everything’s turned to shit and you…” I point at him “…are trying to solve it.”
“Is that a bad thing?” He frowns.
Immediately I shake my head. “That’s not what I meant. My head kept telling me to leave, because being with you meant a lifetime of chaos and danger. And now…” My voice cracks, but by some miracle I keep it together.
“And now I’m the one who’s trying to break that so-called chain?”
I forgot how well he always understood me. With just a few words he knew what I wanted to say, something I always missed with Connor. With him I always had to explain what I meant, which regularly led to frustrations between us.
I nod, taking a step back. “Shall we go?”
“Layne, you were never in any danger with me. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel that way.” His voice sounds broken, his eyes on the floor.
I’m such a bitch. “No, it’s not…” Sighing, I rub my forehead. “Can we talk about this later? When we pick up my stuff and Rebel’s asleep in her own pajamas, and with her favorite stuffy, so she doesn’t feel as uprooted?”
He nods and opens the door for me.
The street is completely deserted when Kyler parks the truck in the driveway. The only sound is the roar of the engine. My house is illuminated by the headlights, and as soon as he turns off the engine and opens the door, it’s shrouded in darkness. The only glow comes from the streetlights along the road and the small outdoor light above the door, which barely gives off any light.
“Let’s quickly gather your stuff and go.”
After he gets out, he closes the driver’s side door as softly as he can and strides to my front door. As fast as I can, I run after him and undo the lock, then we go inside. Before I even get to the hallway, he’s already practically sprinting up the stairs.
“Grab a bag for Rebel’s clothes. Does she have a favorite stuffy?”
I go into the hallway closet and take out three large shopping bags, with which I follow Kyler. “By the headboard, in the corner against the wall,” I call out to him.
“A dragon?”
“Yeah.” I set the bags down and rummage through the closet for random clothes. I hand Kyler the third bag and say, “Do you want to fill it with my underwear and some clothes?”
He disappears with a nod.
I load up as much as possible into the first bag, then I just throw the rest in the second one because I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone. Just as we come down the stairs with the bags, there’s a knock on the door.
Stiffening, I look wide-eyed at Kyler, who presses his index finger to his lips.
“Mrs. Hayes, I know you’re here.”
I recognize the voice as that of the soldier from earlier and a shiver slides down my spine. No, no, no. “It’s your truck,” I whisper to Kyler. “That guy knows nothing.”
“It’s better if you come with me, then we can sort this out,” someone says from behind the door.
“Sorting out as in put a bullet through your head, you mean, jerk.” Kyler’s words send even more chills down my spine. When his hand slides to his waistband, I close my eyes to make sure I don’t puke up my guts.
