“Evie, Dr. Janet said…”
“I don’t care what she said, I need to remember,” I choke out, my voice shattering at the last word.
“Fine.” Caden grabs my shoulder, and only then do I realize I’m shaking. My fingers curl around the wheel like it’s the only thing holding me together. “We’ll tell you everything. But how are we getting out?” Caden asks.
“Remember when Jonathan came to fetch me after I went rogue that night.”
“Yes…” Grace drawls, not liking where this is going one bit.
“Jack had a backup plan in place for a scenario like that.” I motion toward the circular compound ahead, the helicopter visible from a long distance. “I made the call half an hour ago. The pilot will be here shortly.”
“Um—” Grace starts fumbling with her fingers. She’s terrified of flying.
“It’s the quickest way out of here,” I cut her off before she can complain.
She makes a face but doesn’t argue as I drive through the metal black gates of the helipad marked “Private Property of Etheridge Enterprises.”
As soon as I’m past the threshold, a thunderous growl radiates through the asphalt, and a black shadow appears in the side mirror. One I know a little too well.
My head snaps to the back window. Mason storms in on his Ducati, two Range Rovers following close behind.
“Fuck!” I shriek and hit the accelerator instead of the brakes. “The keys are in the security box,” I fire at them. “Code is Mum’s birthday. Go, I’m going to be slower.”
“Shit, you are barefoot,” Grace yelps.“Take mine.”
“Stilettoes? I will have better luck with no legs,” I huff, even as the pedal makes dents in my feet.I brake hard, as close to the helicopter as I can get without climbing the raised concrete.
Both of them jump out of the car. I lean over to open the glove compartment on the passenger side and take out Mason’s gun. I was going to leave it there. But that was before he decided to hunt me down.
Caden is the fastest, heading straight for the box as Grace shouts the code at him.
The cars fan out, grinding to a halt around us. Only the cars. Not Mason. He twists the throttle, picking up speed as he tries to mow us down.
Not us.Them.He is aiming for Grace.
Adrenaline drains from my veins, my steps faltering as I let Grace go, and come to a dead stop behind her, then turn around.
The metal horse comes screaming toward me.
Mason rides at me at full speed, unstoppable and roaring.
I close my eyes.
36
MASON
It’s happening.
She’s running away from me.Again.
Of course she is.
Testing my patience is her favorite sport. There is no line she won’t make me cross. No vow she won’t make me break. Not one bond she’ll let me uphold.
Everything must be sacrificed at her fucking altar.
So here I am, chasing after her again. Because to love—real love—is not to let go. Not when they’re leaping straight into the fire. It is staying. Even when they scream. Even when they hate you for holding them together.
