34. ~Skylar~

I wasn't accustomed to this.

Being on the sidelines.

Sitting out the fight.

Worse than that—having other people handle things that I should be out there seeing to, that I was more than capable of seeing to.

But when Caspian had gotten a lock on Bastian's location, I hadn't argued my case any further. Not since he'd told me about the real stakes involved. Taking out Jett would cause him and the boys a great deal of grief. It would hurt them. Not only would it compromise their deliverance of justice and vengeance upon the older Bane brother, it could also put them in severe jeopardy too with the way Elijah would retaliate should his sibling be taken out by King or those within his inner circle.

Because I'd known in that moment when there'd been an opening to Jett that I wouldn't have been able to keep that promise if I'd taken it and gone along with Caspian and his people.

I would've put him down hard.

I would've ended it once and for all.

I would've killed him.

It didn't mean that it had been easy to see beyond that intense need to rip that bastard apart and deliver punishment that had been so long coming.

And that was why I'd had Caspian drop me back at my home, instead of staying at King Manor. I'd needed to ground myself by being back here in our family home, around my family.

Well, my mom, anyway.

My dad was working late tonight with Jeremy at the private security firm.

Fortunately, that was all that they were doing. My dad was no longer trying to hunt down the perpetrator behind the release of that sex tape nightmare, because I'd made a deal with Caspian just before he'd headed out. In exchange for me staying out of the mission to deal with Jett, he'd fed my dad false intel, claiming the perpetrator was already being dealt with and punished. Thank fuck, it would keep him far away from that maniac and Elijah Bane by extension.

Bastian's kidnapping was also being kept to King's people and just the boys and me. I hadn't told my dad in case he'd made the connection and then gotten involved, which would've likely had him doing much worse than merely tracking, and actually entering the field instead.

It hadn't been easy to keep it from my demeanor, to not show how incredibly on edge I was about Bastian's safety and wellbeing. Hours had gone by since he'd been taken and even though Caspian and his men were out there now to bring Bastian back, I wouldn't be at ease again until I got confirmation that he was free and that things were really okay.

Fortunately, now my mom and I were not only on speaking terms, but in a really good place as well, we'd spent the entire evening together, first having dinner, then watching Rocky IV, one of my favorite 80's action movies. It had been really nice to connect with her like that and to just talk without any heavy career or life discussions marring things.

But then she'd gone to bed a couple of hours ago—at midnight, which was late for her. So I'd been stuck in my own head ever since.

There was no way I could sleep until I knew Bastian was safe, so I'd tried to sketch, but that hadn't panned out. I'd ended up drawing him, Caleb, and Caspian.

And for the last twenty minutes, I'd been pacing non-stop.

I snatched my phone off my bedspread and checked my messages again.

I hadn't heard a notification, but I was so fucking tired, maybe I'd missed it.

The moment I swiped my screen open, it was clear that I hadn't.

I scrolled to the last message that had come in, one from my dad just before I'd begun my erratic pacing.

Dad: Be home in an hour. Hope neither of you are actually seeing this and that you're already sound asleep, not waiting up for me.

He'd sent that to our family chat, to the both of us.

I hadn't responded, because I didn't want him to know I was up, or he'd come looking for me once he got home and then he'd know, he'd just damn well know something was up.

Actually, thinking of that, I only had a little while to grab my fondant balls from the kitchen before he got back. I needed the sugar kick to help me stay lucid. While I could stay awake and this restlessness and nervousness for Bastian and Caspian was gonna keep me from sleeping, I still needed to be with it while I was up and about.

I'd thought about calling Caleb to talk it all out, with him being benched too. But with the way he'd stormed out, I'd decided against it, realizing he needed time to cool off, and me referencing it all could just make it all the worse for him.

Isn't that what your presence does? Makes things hell for everybody around you?

I gritted my teeth at that biting thought, then headed out of my bedroom and tiptoed down the stairs, not wanting to wake my mom. It was hard enough for her to fall asleep without my dad being here as it was. It was the three glasses of wine that she'd knocked back while we'd watched that movie that had really been the only thing that had made it possible for tonight.

I turned the corner into the kitchen, enjoying the calm blanket of darkness throughout the house. I tried to focus on the serenity of that, rather than my own thoughts.

But as I approached the fridge, a wave of awareness washed over me.

Like ice in my veins.

I sucked in a breath, then spun around toward what I was sensing.

And there, in the far corner of the kitchen, in the darkest part of the space, I saw a figure shrouded in blackness.

"Nicely done, sugar. And here I thought you'd lost that edge."

"Jett," I choked.

He stepped from the concealment, into the middle of the room, stopping just before the breakfast bar, the marble counter the only thing between us.

My eyes darted to the security monitor on the wall.

"Ah, wondering how I bypassed the ace security system encompassing this place? Let's just say that King has got some sweet tech. I might've swung by one of his warehouses on my way here. I needed to throw him off for a bit, divert his attention and resources, so I could see my girl."

Oh my God. "Not your girl."

"After all this effort I've gone to, what I'm risking here?"

"Wasted effort. Get the hell out."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

He frowned. "You're prepared to let me walk? No violence? No revenge for my perceived slights?"

Perceived slights? He was beyond delusional.

And that just made him all the more dangerous.

Not only couldn't you reason with crazy, but you also couldn't predict it either.

I glared at him, seething, "Get. The. Fuck. Out."

"Let me guess, King forbade you from coming at me?"

When I merely continued glaring, he went on, "Damn, never thought anybody would be able to tame you, sugar. Not even King. Figured even Elijah didn't have a shot either, and that's saying something."

"You don't know what you're talking about." As usual.

"Yeah?" he said, inching around the counter, making me tense. "You know what I do know?"

"What?" I ground out.

"I know that I'm not leaving here without you. Now, the way that happens is up to you. I can be a real gentleman about it. I mean, at first. Then I'll take you back to my place, punish you for all your transgressions—fucking King, Thorn, and Rowland being major ones—and then we can start with a clean slate, you and me against the world. Or I'll have to take much more drastic measures, which I guarantee you won't like."

"Your threats mean as much to me as you do, Jett. Fucking nothing," I spat.

He sneered. "Remember, you asked for this." I watched as he tapped his earpiece, then barked down the line, "Plan B is a go."

"What was that?" I demanded.

"You'll find out soon enough. Although, it does mean we need to relocate."

"How are you not hearing this? I'm not going anywhere with you. Ever. Under any circumstances in this life or the next, or the next after that."

My phone buzzed in the back pocket of my black jeans.

Our eyes locked.

Shit.

I took the chance and pulled it out, keeping an eye on him in my peripheral vision.

I opened the text that had come in quickly.

Caspian: Bastian is with us. But Jett is in the city. Sending my people to escort you and your family to King Manor until he's apprehended.

Then I rapidly dialed Caspian.

The second it picked up, I yelled down the line, "Jett's here in my home!"

I hung up before I lost concentration on Jett.

That was when I saw him smiling.

And he hadn't even made a move to try to stop me from calling for help either.

Reading my surprise, he told me, "I want them to know. I want them to come." He took another step toward me. "And I want them to watch as I rip you from them, to feel that fucking pain down deep just like I did when you ran from me."

"You demented shit, there was never anything between us! You stalked me, assaulted me in the most heinous ways, you fucking tormented me!"

"Exactly how you needed it. We'll get into all that later. For now, though, we're out of time."

He burst toward me then.

I reacted, spinning and yanking out the first blade I could reach from the knife block near me—a paring knife—but that split second cost me the ability to dodge him. I'd made the decision to take the hit in order to gain a weapon.

And a fucking hit it was, as he slammed into me, then hauled me over the counter.

I choked as I landed on my back on the hard tile.

I kept my fingers tightened to a white-knuckle grip around the knife.

He was there in the next second, dragging me through the back door and into the backyard before I could even get to my feet. I grunted as my body smacked against step after step, before landing on soft grass.

And then he abruptly let me go.

I scrambled to my feet, assuming a fighting stance, my knife at the ready.

He held up his hand. "Wait for it, gorgeous."

What? What was he talking about?

My eyes darted around erratically, searching for whatever he was talking about, something untoward, out of place.

And then it happened.

Something that eclipsed every deranged thing he'd done so far.

Thunder rolled through the house just a few feet away as a series of consecutive explosions tore through the structure, glass, brick, and debris hurtling from within, flames erupting in a violent lightshow, ripping through the house with no mercy.

"Mom!" I screamed. "Mom!"

I bolted forward, but Jett shoved me back with a hand to my chest.

In my state, I didn't take the hit well, and I stumbled, losing my balance and ending up on my knees.

He stalked to me, telling me, "That was Plan B. I warned you that you wouldn't like it. You left me no choice. I've gotta take everything from you, cut all the ties holding you here to this life, and keeping you from me. Burn it all to ash." He smirked. "Literally, in this case."

I lurched up and fisted my hand in his tank, then jerked him to me as I rolled backward, sending him over my head. He grunted as he smacked face-first into a tree trunk.

I reacted quickly while he was reeling, bolting back toward the house.

Two figures in black sweats came running from around the other sides of the house, but I paid it little mind, nothing more than background noise, because all that mattered was getting to my mom and getting her out.

I leapt over what was left of the kitchen door, then pushed my way through into the corridor.

I spun to the left to see flames licking up the stairs and heavy smoke filling the space that would make it hard to see the further up I went.

I had to try.

I tugged the bust of my tank up over my mouth and just above my nostrils to minimize at least some of the smoke inhalation.

And then I bolted up the steps.

I was halfway up, having to dodge the flames every couple of steps, when an awful creaking sounded.

The integrity of the staircase was compromised and it started to give way under the assault of the raging flames. I lunged forward, bypassing the rest of the steps, and ducked and rolled onto the landing, then came up to my feet with the rolling momentum.

It pulled my tank from my face and I started choking in seconds as the heavy smoke burned my throat and lungs.

I staggered to my parents' bedroom, then shoved open the door.

And then I was forced to jump back as raging flames greeted me at the threshold.

I could just about make out my mom prone on the bed, fire inching closer and closer to her. The smoke must've had her passing out.

"Mom!" I screamed. "Mom, wake up! Please!" She could still get out through the bedroom window. Even though it was on the second floor, her love of trellises would make it possible. They led down from both of our bedrooms.

A crash sounded and I strained to see something bright-red and metal being used to break the bedroom window glass.

A fire extinguisher.

A moment later, my dad came into view, climbing the trellis.

Oh my God. Thank you! Thank you!

As he made it into the room and finagled the fire extinguisher, he caught sight of me.

"Go! Go, Sky!" he yelled, his naked fear for me clear.

As he started to put out the flames barring his way to my mom, the ones at the threshold raged higher, forcing me back.

And then my arm was snagged and I was being tossed down the stairs.

I landed on my back and looked up to see Jett vaulting over them, then landing just a few feet from me.

"Gonna get yourself killed, sugar."

Tears were streaming down my face, a pain so acute that I could barely endure it at the sight of the house being ripped apart with my mom asleep and defenseless within and now my dad inside too and risking his life as well.

But as I took in Jett standing over me looking so viciously victorious and I saw the absolute insanity bleeding from him, something else so pure and raw transcended everything.

White-hot rage.

I couldn't contain in.

Something in me fucking well snapped.

And then I was lunging at him and driving him into the kitchen.

As he stumbled, I roundhoused him into the debris of the counter.

Then I was there in the next second, slicing my blade still clutched in my hand across his cheek.

He hissed as blood seeped over his skin quickly.

First blood wasn't near enough.

I went for his gut.

His hand shot out, snagging my wrist and stopping the blade just an inch from puncturing his skin.

I slammed my knee up, breaking his grip and yanking my hand free, but he slammed his boot into my gut before I could go in for another stab.

It send me stumbling back and I screamed as I hit the flames, the intensity burning through my tank and into my lower back so quickly, melting my flesh.

Jett grabbed me and hauled me through what was left of the backdoor. I hit the grass and rolled, putting the flames out, but cursing as the motions abraded my fresh burns.

Panting, I dug my knife into the ground and used it as leverage to drag myself to my knees.

I wasn't fast enough and Jett was there in the next second, smashing his fist into my face like a freaking cement block that was his boxer blows. My head snapped back and I hit the grass again, tasting blood on my lips.

And then he was scrambling up my body.

I twisted beneath him, kicking and clawing, but he only relished the damage like always, and allowed the hits and abuse so that he could achieve his objective of pinning me beneath him, his knees bearing down on my legs, his hands trapping my arms down by my sides.

"Calm down, Sky. You know this is for the best. It's the only way we can be together."

"You're a fucking maniac! Stop! Just stop this! Stop it all!"

"Happy to. Once you agree to be mine and drop these fucking infuriating walls of yours."

God, he was out of his mind. Absolutely out of his mind.

I jerked my head up and spat a mouthful of blood in his face.

He jolted, his grip loosening involuntarily.

Just a little, but it was enough for me to work with.

I yanked my hands further out to the sides, taking him with me, and making him smack down on top of me, wherein I smashed my forehead into his face.

Blood exploded over me as the blow broke his nose.

He cursed and fell back and I used the opportunity to yank one of my legs free, then kick him off me all the way.

"Fuck! Give it up already!" he bellowed, coming at me with another one of his brutal blows.

I brought my arm down, deflecting it, then I leapt up into a spinning kick that sent him careening into a tree. I bolted for my knife still buried in the ground.

I managed to snatch it up just as he roared and lunged at me.

I shifted position and let him hit, using his momentum to throw him over my back, my burns screaming in agony in the process.

Thankfully, adrenaline and rage were helping me out in a big way and I was able to shove it down—for now.

He came up in a primed crouch. "Love it when you hurt me, gorgeous. Fucking hard for you right now." He flashed his teeth that were bloody from his messed-up nose dripping into his mouth and all over his face. "Let's remedy that, yeah?"

A shudder rolled through me.

And then he charged.

Just before he hit, I twisted to the side, then thrust my knife. I felt it connect, driving deep into his side. He choked and skidded to his knees, slapping his hand to the blade.

I was there in the next second, ripping it out, then kicking him in the face, sending him sprawling out in a heap, as he pressed his hand to his wound, trying to ebb the blood flow.

He was wheezing and spluttering.

All good signs that I'd done some serious damage.

Sirens sounded then and I swung my head to see the accompanying flashing lights. I scanned the area and also picked up on some of Caspian's men now arriving on scene.

"Skylar!"

I strained to see Caspian and Caleb rushing toward me, a good couple of hundred feet out.

Just as that was happening, my dad staggered out from the kitchen, a haunted look on his face.

Our gazes clashed and he shook his head, his expression absolutely wretched.

Oh my God.

He meant… he meant, Mom. She was… she was gone.

Jett staggered to his feet as I was caught in a haze, so many conflicting emotions inundating me that I couldn't focus.

It felt so loud, like it was all screaming.

"Time to go," I was vaguely aware of Jett saying.

And then I felt his movement.

He was coming at me again.

Just like he kept doing.

Over and over.

He wouldn't stop.

I couldn't allow it to continue.

I looked out at Caspian and Caleb and saw Caspian shaking his head.

In that moment, I knew.

I had to break my promise.

I had to break us.

Just as Jett was upon me, I spun and yanked him to me by his tank, then drove my knife through his chest.

He stilled, his eyes shooting wide.

And then he collapsed, wheezing.

Fucking well dying.

I looked out to see that the guys had pulled up short.

Caleb looked stunned.

But Caspian… he was a whole lot more than that.

Before I could do another thing, or watch Jett take his final few breaths, my dad was there, wrapping his arms around me and dragging me away into the woods.

"Skylar! Wait, Sky!" Caleb called out over the sirens growing ever closer.

"Don't. Don't look back," my dad urged me, turning my head away for me.

"Dad," I choked. "Mom… she…."

"I know, baby girl. I know." He stroked my hair as he continued helping me along. "Keep your focus on the immediate, okay? I know it's hard. It's just until we get clear."

"Clear? Where are we… what's…"

I had to be in shock, or everything was finally catching up to me, because I couldn't think straight.

Everything was a whirlwind all around me, within me.

My dad's voice carried through the night air as he said, "We're going to disappear."