"You didn't tell me."
"No."
"You let me sleep in your bed while you walked straight into the pits of hell."
His eyes snap to mine. "I would do it again."
"That's not fucking romantic!" I scream. "That's terrifying!"
He reaches out his hand for me, but doesn't touch me. Like he is scared I might shatter.
"I know," he says. "But letting him think you're unguarded? Letting him believe you might be running? That's buying us time."
"I know, but you should have told me you were leaving."
"I wanted to give you one last night of sleeping soundly. One more morning where you woke up feeling safe."
I look up at him, tears running down my cheeks. "And now? What's the next step?"
"Now, we move... fast." His voice is rough and determined.
The balcony door slides open behind Kai, and we step back in. You can feel the tension in him as he walks up to me. "He still hasn't made a move," he says. "Which means he's biding his time and watching."
"Then let him," I say.
Both of them turn to me.
"I have spent my whole life being controlled by fear of him," I continue, but feel my voice getting steadier by the word. "It's time I fight back and get my freedom for good this time."
Chapter 27
Mikey
"Alright, well, we need to go to practice, but you are coming with us," I say to Julia.
She turns slowly, eyes narrowing like she is preparing to argue. With how many beatings I've taken recently, I don't think I have the patience for attitude right now.
"Why?" She crosses her arms over her chest, tipping her chin up in challenge.
"Because I don't trust your father," I answer flatly. "And because you're safer with us, at the arena with the team. Not here alone.
“Well, yes, that. But why the fuck are you going to practice with everything going on?” You can see the complete confusion in her eyes.
“Because we have to pretend nothing is out of the ordinary for us, princess. If we do, your father will catch on,” I reply.
She studies my face, searching for a weakness that she can slip through, but there isn't one.
I've already decided. If she pushes this, I will physically carry her out of here, and she knows it.
When realization flashes through her eyes, she crosses her arms. "Fine." She huffs. "Let me get dressed. How long do I have?"
She looks to Kai first, then back to me. "We have an hour," Kai says.
I step closer to her before she can protest. I reach out and lift her chin with two fingers, forcing her gaze to mine.
"You're not leaving my sight," I say quietly. "Not for a second."
"Is that an order?" she asks.
