“Good girl. Where?”
She points to her cheek and makes a long line. She’s vicious when she needs to be.
I hate that her fighting back almost cost her her life. But I know she’s truly healed if she was able to fight instead of locking herself inside.
“You are so incredible.” I stroke her forehead and hair. Even though we are stopped outside the house, none of us are in any hurry to go inside. All eyes in the car are on Kai, soaking up everything she tells us with her body.
She looks to Langston in the driver seat and points to his shoulder.
He smiles at her. “You got the driver in the shoulder?”
She nods.
“That’s my girl,” Langston says.
I shoot him a look when Langston says my girl. But he simply raises his eyebrows as if to say Kai’s as much his as she is mine. She may be calm and understanding right now, but the second she gets her strength back, she will be fucking ready to kill me for getting her into this mess in the first place. Even though I ensured her safe return, it doesn’t matter. I fucked up in the worst possible way.
The absolute worst way. And I deserve every bit of her revenge coming my way later.
She looks around the car smiling at each of us, showing her thanks and gratitude for getting back. When her eyes arrive back on mine, she smiles for a split second before letting it drop. And I know that’s the last smile I will be getting.
“I promise you—never again. I will die before I let another man hurt you. I will die before I let another man take you. I will give up everything to you if that will save you. I don’t care how you hurt or betray me in the future. You have my allegiance. If you win the empire, I will spend my life serving you and protecting you. I’ll even give up the empire to you now, if that’s what you want. I’ll lose every round until you are Black. And I will spend the rest of my life keeping you safe.”
She bites her lip as she studies my distraught face, and I know what she’s asking me. She doesn’t want to be Black. She wants what she’s always wanted. The one thing I’m desperate to give her and not sure I can. She wants her freedom.
“What?” Zeke asks, looking from her to me, not understanding.
“Kai wants me to set her free.”
Zeke’s face falls heavy. “You can’t. It’s not safe. Definitely not now that Milo will be doing everything possible, including burning this city down, to get Kai back.”
My eyes cut to Zeke, silencing him and the rest of the car. Because his words aren’t helpful even though they are the truth.
“You will be free as soon as it’s safe. I will take you wherever you want to go. I will give you the ten million Milo paid me in the sale. I will give you everything you want. I just can’t let you go yet. I’m sorry. I won’t let you get hurt again. But I’ll give you as much freedom as I can while you’re here. I hope it’s enough.”
She sucks in a breath and looks around at all of the eyes on her, and I know it will never be enough.
“So I’m trapped here until you can determine it’s safe for me?” she asks, her voice weak.
“Yes,” I say, my heart breaking.
“Then I’ll be trapped here forever because I’ll never be sa
fe.”
5
KAI
IT HURTS TO THINK. The muscles twinge every time I make my neck move, but hopefully, the pain medications will kick in soon, because I have a lot to say to Enzo, and it can’t wait.
I’m trapped here. That much I know. Enzo will never let me go until he can ensure my protection, something he will never be able to do. Milo will start hunting me as soon as he tends to his wounds. All of Enzo’s enemies have now become mine. Whether the news of our fake marriage spread, or realizing I’m the daughter of a Miller and I have as much right to the empire as Enzo does. The world knows of my existence and will be coming for me.
Enzo continues to stroke my hair, looking down at me like he’s terrified of living if I were to die. I’ve seen something close to this on his face before, but never this.
Something changed when Milo took me. Enzo felt pain when I was taken. Maybe Enzo does have a heart?
How can I be happy and pissed at someone at the same time? I feel both emotions in equal measures. I’m livid Enzo sold me and got me into this situation in the first place. And I’m elated he saved me. I’m happy he’s scared to lose me. I’m thrilled he offered to give everything to me in payment.