Are you fucking kidding me—I launch to my feet while all three bodyguards bolt into action.
“Farrow!” Akara yells and points to the front door, then he captures his radio off a sleeping bag. “Akara to Alpha. Akara to Alpha.”
Farrow is already sprinting to the exit, and I’m not far behind with hot pinpointed eyes, seething inside-out.Someone broke my window with the intent to harm my family. Those could’ve been gunshots.It’s all I feel.
And I see red.
Farrow grabs the knob, but he suddenly whips around on me. He puts his hand to my bare chest, stopping me from reaching the door. Ire blisters his vigilant gaze in a way that I’ve never seen directed atme.
“Quinn, don’t near thewindow, there’s glass on the ground!” Akara yells. “Take the girls and Moffy upstairs to the bathroom and lock the door!”
My raging pulse hammers in the pit of my ears.
“Whatthe fuckare you doing?” Farrow sneers at me. “Youcan’tfollow me.” I spot the briefest flash of concern, of trepidation, before his gaze mortars hard and hot again.
I clench my teeth.I need to help. I have to fucking help.The intrinsic need bangs at my head, my ribcage, myheart, and I don’t know how to turn away.
I don’t know how to hide in a bathroom andwait.
“I see him!” Quinn suddenly yells. He charges towards us. Storming through Farrow and me to fling open the door, he runs urgently into the pitch-black night. Paparazzi who’ve been camping out on my street awaken like dormant fireflies and hornets.
Bright in the dark. And ready to sting.
Quickly, Farrow warns me, “Don’t. Follow.” Then he bolts outside, tracing Quinn’s hurried footsteps. Farrow’s caustic voice scalds my fucking ears.
He’s trying to protect me.It’s as simple as that.
My hands stay balled in fists, but I turn to find Jane and Sulli, to keep them safe?—
“CARPENTER!” Jane screams bloody-murder, the sound lancing my heart. Everything happens fast—she tears back downstairs and out of Sulli’s grasp.
“Jane!” Sulli yells, almost falling down the staircase after her, but Akara grabs Sulli by the waist. “KITS!”
“You have to stay here!” Akara shouts. “JANE!”
“MOFFY! CARPENTER!” Jane screams, alarmed tears already soaking her cheeks. I try to shut the door, keeping the cats inside, but she shrieks, “HE’S ALREADY OUTSIDE! HE’S OUTSIDE!”
Walrus, the other kitten darts past my ankles, and I reach to catch him, but he scampers into the night. I don’t waste time. I chase the fucking animal down.
Running outside.
These indoor cats are her babies, and we live in the city. Where cars constantly speed by. If one dies—she’ll be gutted. It’s all I think.
All I know.
I fucking run. Onto the sidewalk, towards the street parking. I see Walrus scampering beneath a parked car.
And then I’m swarmed by paparazzi. Cameras in every fucking direction.
“CARPENTER!” Jane calls out, panicked.She’s outside?My head swerves, squinting in the harsh flashes. I can hardly see in front of me.
“JANE!” I shout and then shove paparazzi to work my way towards where I think Jane went. I spot her wobbling and tripping over her bare feet but determinedly chasing after another calico kitten.She’s drunk.
She’s fucking drunk.
I forgot.
I’m the only sober one here.
