Chapter 25
I bolted upright in bed, he
in bed, heart pounding, the image of that distant camera lens catching moonlight burned into my retinas.
Someone had been watching us from the mountainside last night. The knowledge crawled across my skin like ice water.
My ankle throbbed as I pushed myself upright, scanning the unfamiliar hotel room before remembering where I was. That’s when I noticed the soft snoring
Caspian was folded awkwardly on the too–small sofa, his large frame contorted in what had to be an uncomfortable position.
The door alarm hed given me sat by the entrance, and his phone remained clutched in his hand–he’d been watching for more texts from Rachel
“You re up,” he mumbled, eyes blinking open as he stretched, joints popping in protest.
“You stayed all night
“Promised I wouldn’t leave, remember?”
r? He worked out a kink in his neck
“I didn’t tell you to sleep on that tiny couch,” I said, looking away.
Ive slept in worse places. Those cheap motels during away games? Absolute nightmares.”
Something warm and unfamiliar unfurled in my chest–a feeling I immediately tried to squash. I didn’t need anyone’s protection, especially not his.
“Hungry?” he asked,
My stomach answered with an embarrassing growl before I could respond.
His smile reached his eyes. Til take that as a yes.”
The resort restaurant was obscenely luxurious, making me acutely aware of my rumpled appearance.
Caspian moved through the space with practiced ease while I followed tentatively, eventually settling at a window table overlooking the mountains where wed nearly become mountain lion dinner.
“That text message last night,” Caspian said after taking a sip of coffee. “Rachel’s getting bolder with her threats. She must be desperate now that Robert’s in custody
My fingers tightened around my cup. “She was always smarter than Robert. More patient. Better at mind games.”
“Your panic attack…….. when did they start?”
stiffened. “Why are you asking?”
“Because I want to understand you, Sage. You’ve been learning about me, digging into my past. Now it’s my tum”
It my fork down carefully. “The night of high school graduation. After I ran from that house.”
‘After I hurt you,” he said, his expression darkening
His hands clenched then relaxed. Im sorry I wasn’t there to protect you then.”
Ive been doing fine on my own for six yea..”
Hia qırılan was gentle but penetrating.
the truth ton painful tu acknowledge
interrupted me at I parked. Through the peephole, I saw Carpian,
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rity chart,” he said, stepping into the room Rachel never actually leh New York Shew.courdinating with Victoria chila having komeone else watch us here. They in munching mety many from your past
powerful family and my prahutu stepsister joining becek –
Chapter 25
“My apartment has top–level security. You can stay there when we get back
I stepped back. “No. Absolutely not.
“Don t be stupid, Sage. Your apartment isn’t safe”
“I am not your responsibility, Drake!” 1 xploded. This isn’t some goddamn American football game where you can just charge in and take over!?
“Why can’t you just accept help?” His hands balled into fists.
“Because the last time I trusted someone, he fucked me for a five hundred dollar bet!”
The silence that followed was deafening. Caspian stood completely still, the muscle in his jaw working.
*I deserved that,” he finally said, voice low, “But this isn’t about the past, Sage. This is about keeping you safe now.”
“I’ve kept myself safe for six years, 1 replied, the fire gone from my voice, “I don’t need you to start now.”
201
In the airport waiting area, Diana excused herself for a business call, leaving Caspian and me alone with our unresolved tension.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you,” I finally offered
“I shouldn’t have pushed,” he replied. “It’s your decision.
“I’m not some damsel who needs rescuing. I can’t be that person.”
“I know you don’t need rescuing,” Caspian said, meeting my eyes. “You’re the strongest person I know. That’s why I want to fight for you. Not instead of you, but with you.”
“Why This is just a case-
“You know it’s more than that,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.
Diana’s return interrupted us. “Change of plans. Palmer knows we have evidence of Rachel working with them. He wants to settle.”
We exchanged suspicious glances. Diana raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but whatever it is, it’s created something that’s making Palmer nervous,”
On the plane, Caspian moved to the seat beside me and handed me his phone
The screen displayed dozens of text messages from Victoria Palmer–ranging from pleading to threatening to blackmail.
“These are every text Victoria has sent me,” he explained quietly. “Proof that Palmer is using his daughter as a control mechanism.”
I scrolled through, my face paling
My grip tightened on the phone. “This is enough to make Palmer pay,” I said, my voice unsteady.
“Not just that. I v all of them to pay.”
This fingers lightly covered mi To my surprise, I didn’t pull away. Something was shifting between us, a crack forming in the walls I’d built over six years.
“That bet might have been the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” Caspian said quietly. “But Lawear, Sage, I’m going to make it right.”
the airport, his designer clothes immaculate as always. Caspians expression darkened when Marcus embraced me.
Take pulfriend,” Manus whispered “holdes being followed. She a hiding at my apartment.”
he stepsister showed up at her building”
on? Exspian aiked, mowing close
- Kesitated only briefly. “Rachel (
“You’re coming to my apartment tonight,” Caspian said immediately. “Marcus, bring Isolde there. My security team will keep you all saf
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Wow, that’s quite a shift. What happened between you two up in those mountains?”
“The fight is coming.” I replied. “We need allies.”
Diana joined us. “Palmer wants to meet at nine tomorrow morning.
“Good,” I said, determination hardening inside me. “It’s time to end this game.”
As we headed for the exit, an airport employee approached Caspian
“Mr. Drake.” he said quietly. “There’s a woman waiting by the main exit. Blonde, designer clothes. Been there two hours.”
“Victoria.” Caspian muttered. “Any other way out?”
“Staff entrance through baggage claim.”
As we followed him through service corridors, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:
Running to your quarterback won’t save you, little girl. Some debts can only be paid in blood. Give my regards to Isalde.
I froze, showing the screen to Caspian. His jaw tightened as he read Rachel’s latest threat.
“She’s tracking our movements,” he muttered, eyes scanning the airport crowd. “Someone close to us is feeding her information in real–time
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Chapter
This is a great story, but it jumps all over the place, one minute they’re eating in a restaurant, next they’re in a room, then they’re airport- please either make some obvious seperation lines or give a bit more background to the changes it is currently confusing and f.
Mike De Vries
how did they all get her number in the first place and why hasnt she ditched her phone(or tumed it off) and got a burner phone???
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