“It’s Parkhurst rules. Abigail understands that.” His eyes rake me up and down. “Get dressed and grab your things. We need to hit the road before your father changes his mind.”
“She’s not leaving with you.” Kai’s tone is territorial in the extreme.
I place the gun down on the bed and turn around in his arms. “Babe.”
“No.” He shoots me down before I’ve said anything else. “No one is taking you from me again.” He pulls me in closer, flattening his palms on my back. “Especially not that asshole.” I can’t tell if he means my father or Charlie or both of them.
“He will kill you if we stay together.” My heart thumps painfully at the thought of separation, but it doesn’t seem like we have much choice. If I’m not in that car in the next few minutes, I’ve no doubt Maurio and Benjamin are under strict instructions to murder Kai and take me by force.
“I’ll take my chances.” His jaw sets in a stubborn line.
“I won’t let you. Your life means more.”
Anger flares in his eyes. “My life means jack shit without you in it.”
“Now he gets all romantic.” I roll my eyes, trying to lighten the horrid tense atmosphere, even though my heart is singing at his declaration.
“Abby.” That one word is a warning.
“Trust me,” I mouth. “You know it has to be like this,” I say out loud for Charlie’s benefit.
He slams his mouth down on mine without warning, devouring me with his lips and his tongue, conveying everything he can’t verbalize. I want to do this about as much as he wants me to do it. But we both know it’s the only way.
Charlie clears his throat. “We need to go now, Abby,” he says in a clipped tone, disapproval hovering in the air.
Reluctantly, I pull away from Kai, ignoring the panicked fluttering in my chest and pain in my heart. The torment in his eyes reflects how I’m feeling, and I’m sick to my stomach as I grab some clothes and run into the bathroom to change. I emerge two minutes later to discover the guys in a tense standoff.
“Keep your grabby hands to yourself,” Kai warns.
“She’s my fiancée,” Charlie says, doing little to disguise his smug smile. “And her father expects to see displays of affection. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.”
Kai rams his fist into Charlie’s face, landing a firm blow to his nose, and blood spurts from the wound. Charlie swings his fist, glancing the side of Kai’s jaw and they go at it, throwing vicious punches at one another in quick succession.
“Stop!” I snap out of my mini daze, forcing myself in between them. “This isn’t helping.”
“You’re not doing it,” Kai snarls, pulling me into his side while wiping blood off his upper lip. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t have a say,” Charlie replies, dabbing at his bloody nose. “If we aren’t on the road in the next few minutes, they will put a bullet in your skull. Is that what you want for Abby? To have that on her conscience?”
Kai pulls me back into his chest, wrapping his arms around me again. “I know what you’re doing, and I’ll be watching,” he threatens Charlie.
“Oh, I forgot to mention one important element of the deal,” Charlie adds, fighting a lip twitch. “Stay away from her, or it’s forfeit.”
I’m not shocked. I expect no less of my father. I twist around in his arms. “You need to let me go,” I whisper while my eyes articulate a different sentiment. “We always knew it would come to this.” Taking his hand, I plant it over my heart. “You’re the only one who owns my heart. Forever.”
He rests his forehead against mine, bundling me into his arms. “I love you,” he whispers over my mouth, his warm breath fanning my face, and it’s amazing how those three little words cause my heart to soar and deflate at the same time.
“I love you too,” I say, much louder, wanting Charlie to hear.
We pull apart, silently agreeing to the plan with our eyes. Kai pulls on his jeans, watching me with a tortured expression as I shove my toiletries and pajamas into my bag. I remove the box with my engagement ring from my bag, stuffing it in my pocket. Charlie slings my bag over his shoulder before taking my hand and leading me to the door.
I cast a glance over my shoulder at Kai.
“Stay safe,” he mouths, working hard to rein in his anger and frustration.
“You too.”
Charlie pulls me forward, ignoring Kai as he closes the door behind us, ushering me toward the car.
