Chapter 14

This was not going at all the way I'd anticipated. Though, to be fair, my original plan had flown out the door days ago. Everything was a clusterfuck.

Lily stood stock-still, those pretty wide eyes trained on me like I'd just sprouted a second head. It wasn't entirely unexpected. I just hoped she wouldn't make a scene. I already suspected that Ara?a's men had followed me to Pine Ridge. The last thing I needed was to draw more attention to us here.

I watched as, by increments, the fire in her eyes grew until I knew it was ready to explode. "Are you kidding me?" she hissed. "I can't believe you!"

The man's gaze jumped from Lily to me, then back again, confusion marring his brow. "Uh… Everything good?"

She didn't even register the man's words as she spun out of my arms and away from me, steam practically rolling off her small body. Just as quickly she whirled back to me and struck out, her fist connecting with my gut. "The whole time. The whole time!"

Her voice increased several octaves, and I reached for her. "Lily…"

"Don't you dare use that tone of voice with me! Like I'm the one in the wrong," she scoffed.

I could feel the man's eyes on us, and a twitchy sensation took up residence between my shoulder blades. "Not here," I ground out.

"Oh, yes," she emphasized, planting her hands on her hips. "We are most definitely discussing this here. You've lied to me this whole damn—Hey!" she protested, fighting against me as I picked her up and strode toward the closest room.

Her fists battered my back and ribs, and I grimaced as she pummeled the healing wounds. Shoving open the bathroom door, I hustled her inside and flipped the lock. A quick scan of the small room told me we were alone, and I moved to set her down. Her legs tangled with mine as she fought like a wildcat, and I nearly dropped her as I bumped into the counter.

"Goddamn it, woman, watch it!"

She stumbled as I released her, and I shot out a hand to balance her. She smacked me away, unintelligible oaths falling from her lips as she stomped toward the opposite side of the room. As if just realizing she had nowhere to go, she spun back to me. "You asshole! All this time you've been playing games, laughing at how stupid I've been."

"That's not true," I ground out. "I?—"

"You lied to me! How many times did I ask you for the truth?" she pressed, sparks in her eyes. "But you refused to tell me. Instead you let me believe you were mute. But you're just an asshole."

I stormed forward. "You want the truth?"

"Yes!"

I closed the distance between us, and she backpedaled until she hit the wall. "You want to know how I was taken captive? Held in a tiny cell smaller than this stall?"

I pressed my hands to the wall, caging her in. "You want to know how I was treated like an animal? Tortured and abused for weeks. Deprived of food and sunlight and water. Beaten within an inch of my life and left for dead, over and over. That they were going to kill me unless I escaped. Is that what you want to know?"

Her eyes glistened with tears, and my stomach pitched violently at the sight. "Fuck!"

I abruptly shoved off the wall and stepped away from her, furious with myself. I had to get the hell out of here, had to get away from Lily and?—

A string of oaths jumped to the tip of my tongue as I remembered the man from this morning. I couldn't leave her alone; not now. It wasn't safe.

A laugh fell from my lips. The fucking irony. She wasn't safe with me, and she wasn't safe without me.

I propped my hands on my hips and stared at the ceiling. How had it come to this?

A small hand slid tentatively over my bicep, and I dropped my arms to my sides, drawing in a deep breath before turning toward Lily. The tears were gone, thank God, her expression of pity replaced by concern. "Are you okay?"

No. I was the furthest thing from okay. But she didn't need to know that. I managed a nod. "I'm fine. But I think we should get out of here. Everyone will be asking questions after the scene we made, so you'll need to tell them something."

Her teeth dug into her lower lip and she nodded once. I unlocked the door and held it for Lily, who swept past me as regally as a queen. Her head was held high as she marched over to her friend, Jules.

Seeing her here was jarring. I'd seen her only once before, several months ago, but what a difference the time had made. Instead of defeated and scared, she now looked happy and healthy. Her gaze slid my way, raking over me, but I doubted she would recognize me. I'd changed quite a bit recently, and she'd been far too occupied before to notice me.

Her bright green eyes swiveled back to Lily, and her brow creased with concern as she spoke. Lily settled a hand on her arm in reassurance. I couldn't hear her words but whatever she said must have appeased Jules, because she glanced back to me with a small smile.

Lily separated with a little wave, then made her way back to me. She didn't speak a single word as we left the building, then climbed into the van and headed back to Pine Ridge. But instead of pulling in at the shop, she continued down Main Street. Her plans soon became evident as she drove toward her house.

Her hands clenched the wheel tightly, and I could feel the tension vibrating off her small frame. I wanted to speak, yet I didn't want to make things worse. Surely she would tell me to leave. I had to convince her to let me stay.

My thoughts turned to earlier as I stared out the window. The man had taken off the moment he'd spied Lily's van pulling into the parking lot. Had I been in better shape, he never would have made it out of the alley.

Aside from the navy jacket he wore, I hadn't gotten a good look at him. I couldn't tell if it was one of Ara?a's men or not. He didn't seem familiar, but Ara?as power knew no bounds. Hundreds of people worked for the infamous criminal.

Honestly, I was a little surprised he hadn't arrived sooner. But that made it all the more imperative to make sure Lily was okay. I couldn't tell how long the men had been following us. He obviously knew where her shop was; it was only a matter of time before they found her house.

Lily pulled to a stop in the driveway, then parked. She reached for the door handle, but I stopped her with a hand on her arm. She threw a look at me over her shoulder, a myriad of emotions flashing across her face.

Confusion. Anger. Resentment.

I retracted my hand. It felt so natural to continue the silent communication that we'd adopted over the past week, but she deserved more. I cleared my throat. "I'm going to check the house. Stay here."

Just as I had for the past few days, I canvassed the house, making sure that no one was waiting inside or hovering near the woods. Once I was sure it was safe, I returned to the driveway.

Lily stared straight ahead, hands wrapped around the wheel, seemingly lost in thought. She started a little when I rapped softly on the driver window. Her face turned to me, expression now blank. I couldn't help but wonder exactly what she was thinking.

She moved slowly as she climbed from the car, then headed toward the front door. Inside the house, she set her things on the kitchen table and stood there, looking lost and helpless. It tore at my heart. I knew I had no choice but to tell her the truth, but we weren't out of danger yet. Just because Ara?a's men hadn't shown up at her house yet didn't mean they wouldn't.

"Lily." Her gaze jerked to mine, and she visibly jumped at the sound of her name. "If the man I followed today is one of the men who held me captive, there's a good possibility he followed us back here."

She stared at me uncomprehendingly, and I cleared my throat. "We can't stay here."

She paled, her eyes going wide as I continued, "I need to you to pack some things. We're going to stay at the lodge tonight."

Her mouth dropped open in indignation. "What the hell for? We've stayed here the past week and everything was fine."

"That was before I saw him," I replied patiently. "Now that I know they're in town, I can't take the risk."

Her chin notched upward, her face set in a mulish expression. "You can't force me out of my own home. I won't let you."

"You will do exactly as I say." I advanced toward her. "Go pack your things, or I will do it for you. You're leaving this house if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out. "

Her eyes narrowed to slits, the irises practically shooting blue fire as she glared up at me. "Make me!"

I tipped my head as I studied her, one brow arched upward. "I strongly suggest you go pack. But if you would rather be naked, that's fine too."

Her eyes widened in shock, and her face twisted into a mask of disgust. "I despise you."

The insult stung, but I pushed it down. All that mattered was keeping her safe. "You have five minutes, then we're leaving."

"You asshole." She shoved at me, and I fell back a step.

"Better get moving. We're running out of time."

She pinned me with another glare, arms crossed over her chest. I regarded her calmly, but my heart raced in my chest. I shrugged. "You've seen me naked. It's only fair that you return the favor."

My cheek stung as her palm whipped out and connected with my flesh. "You're disgusting."

I didn't look at her, but the rushing of blood in my ears mingled with the sound of her footsteps as she stomped out of the room. It was better this way. Let her hate me.

If we kept some distance between us, there was a chance we might both escape unscathed.