“Don’t you fucking dare.”
“Excuse me?”
I growled, seething. My grip threatened to break the phone in half. “Don’t you fucking dare say her name to me.”
Another sigh. My reaction earned nothing more, even after what she’d done. “This isn’t why I called. So, if you can stop acting like achildand listen, we can move forward.”
“What now?”
“She’s not doing well. They think?—”
“I got it.” I snapped. “Call me when there’s actual news.”
I hung up the phone before throwing it across the room.Then I stomped over to make sure I hadn’t broken the damn thing.
It couldn’t happen now. I needed more time.
I needed my?—
But did it matter? Had it ever?
No.
My past failures were slowly catching up with me.
What happened last year—what I’dallowedto happen—because of fear. I couldn’t escape it. Confronted by the ticking clock, it constantly reminded me that time was running out. Athreat, darker than the rest, would be arriving soon, demanding what I’d agreed to before I knew...
Beforeher.
Back when I’d thought hope had completely run out.
Now, the price of refusing—the price of a single word—would cost as much as holding up my end of the deal.
I wanted to tell her.
I wanted to admit what I’d done and ask for?—
But had that gotten me anywhere so far?
No.
So, could I risk letting Quinn pay for my mistakes?
Not if my life depended on it.
Chapter Seven
Doing something that should’ve terrified me didn’t feel quite as scary in Kingston’s presence.
With my arms wrapped tightly around his middle, I held on for dear life as he wound through the mountains. Even though he drove slowly—most likely due to my nails in his gut, a clear sign of my anxiety—and took each turn with well-thought-out and carefully precise movements, the experience scared the ever-living shit out of me.
It also made me feel alive.
Each winding turn exhilarated me, and the wind on my face—even as it brought tears to my eyes—made me feel impossibly light. I understood what he loved about it right away. And while I clutched him dearly, I trusted he’d see me safely to the end of our ride together.
At one point, I even lifted my hand into the air, letting the wind rush through my splayed fingers before quickly returning them to his stomach.
A laugh rumbled through his chest, and I pressed my cheek against his back. Closing my eyes. Enjoying the experience.
