Will my plan even work? I have no clue. Ha! Let’s be serious. Probably not.
I’d spent so much time building an escape plan and a Plan B. But honestly, all those plans went out the window with me when I jumped. That’s what my fury gets me. An overreaction on my part that could very well lead to my demise.
The north-east garden wall comes into view. My salvation. One of only three weak points across the whole estate. Every inch is covered by CCTV, but this spot lacks security patrols. A guard walks by every twenty-three minutes; that’s a big window to get across the garden and over the wall. The wall initially posed another obstacle, but I had figured that out a year ago.
Approaching, I circle around the nearest tree that serves as my trusty ladder. I scale up the trunk, crawl along the branch and launch my body at the wall. Unfortunately, my branch isn’t high enough to get me over the towering wall, but near enough to the top that I can climb the rest.
I suppose if the branches were any closer to the top of the wall, they would have drawn attention, the tree would have been trimmed - if not cut down entirely.
My arms shake as I haul my ass up to the top. I swing one leg over, then the other, while bracing myself for the pain of climbing down the other side. My fingers are sore, and my knees are scraped. A noise behind me jolts me, causing my weakening grip to slip. My entire body collides with the rough brick, and I feel the texture rip against my skin.
Deciding my own fate, I let go of the wall and freefall.
The moment I land against the wet ground, the wind is sucked out of me. Everything hurts. I don’t know what damage I’ve done except for the fact that I’m still alive. Not for long, though, if anyone finds me.
That thought scares me enough to move. I’m barely able to catch my breath before a shadow steps over me. Kaden drops to a crouch, rainwater streaming from his hair, eyes fixed on me with an infuriating calm.
“I don’t even know what to say,” he says, his voice low but not unkind. My heart thunders in my chest as the sinking realisation settles within. I’ve been caught. I’m done, it’s all over.
My fists clench in anger or fear; I’m not sure. “Good.”
“What the fuck were you thinking? You jumped out of a window.”
I don’t answer. I look away, refusing to give in. I won’t let him see the truth in my eyes - the panic, the fear, the anger that roars relentlessly within me.
Kaden shrugs, reaches for me and throws me over his shoulder. “You don’t wanna talk, that’s fine.”
“What are you doing?” I try to squirm my way out of his grip, “Don’t take me back. You can’t take me back!”
“And why not?”
Hmph. “He’ll kill me. He’ll kill you too... for letting me get away. He won’t trust you to look after me anymore.”
My words seem to be the right ones. They make him pause for a moment before my hope shrinks and he continues carrying me through the woods. It’s minutes later when we stop again. Thank God, because I’m going to be sick if I'm upside down any longer.
Beep.
Kaden moves and tosses me into the backseat of a car. I sit up and try to crawl back out immediately, but he’s there, almost waiting for me. Hands on my shoulders, I'm pushed back. The door then slams before I can try to escape again.
The door to the front seat opens, and Kaden slides in. He’s soaked. I smooth my hair back from my face and realise I am too. A chill creeps up my spine, causing gooseflesh along my barearms. I wasn’t really thinking rationally when I jumped out of the window. In my rage, I didn’t stop to check the weather report or grab a jacket. I just had to go, to get out of that room, out of the house that had no air.
Again, if I had just stuck to my original plan, I would have been better prepared for any situation.
“Where are you taking me? Are we going to my father?”
“No,” Kaden answers simply, offering no other explanation. Maybe he did see reason.
“What?” My shock rings loud and clear in the small space of the car.
9
Kaden
“Where are we?” Ashleigh asks as soon as I bring the car to a stop. The drive here was tense—her silence thick and watchful, the only sound the wipers slashing at sleet and the engine’s low growl. She’d been unusually quiet for most of the journey, arms folded protectively across her chest, gaze locked out the window. I hadn’t expected that. For all her fire, tonight she’s a fortress, every emotion hidden behind a wall I can’t scale.
I climb out and open her door, boots crunching against the snow. The wind bites at my face, swirling flakes stinging my skin as I watch her carefully. I’m trying to read her, foresee what she’ll do next, but I’m hitting wall after wall. Her chin lifts, defiant, but there’s a rawness in her eyes—a flicker of fear or hope, I can’t tell which.
For someone who has worked with criminals, cops, and military, she is the one who stumps me. I can’t seem to get any read on her, unless she wants me to. Her mask is so well placed—glued and bolted, not going anywhere. How long has she had to shield herself so thoroughly from the rest of the world? Whatwas really going on behind those closed doors of the Burke estate?
