Exposed (MAC Security 2)

“No.” I held my hand up, turning to face her. “Not now. I just need some time to think.”

She frowned, staring at me. I could see that she wanted to say something else but, instead, she nodded and said. “Right, okay.”

Luke jumped up into the van next to me, slamming the door and grunting at Kitty to go. She pressed down on the gas pedal and sped off down the main road that led into the country club. Leaning back in the seat, I folded my arms around my waist and looked down at my feet.

Neither of them said anything on the way back to the compound, the entire ride was spent in silence. They didn’t even have any music on, which was unusual for Kitty, she always had something on when she drove.

My mind whirled with thoughts that I couldn’t stop, no matter how hard I clenched my eyes shut. All I could think about was her. Why hadn’t Ty pulled away from her?

Was she really his wife?

My gut told me that she was, because if she wasn’t, then Ty wouldn’t have had that look on his face and he would’ve denied it. I didn’t know what the look on his face meant, but I knew that he was shocked. Shocked because she’d turned up or shocked because I’d found out that he had a wife? Either way, I didn’t doubt that she was telling the truth.

Did that mean that I was a home wrecker now?

I held my head in my hands at all the thoughts whirling around in my head. As we went through the compound gates, all I wanted to do was jump out of the van and go straight to bed.

Then I saw the house, his house.

Eli and Miss Maggie were in there along with Henry but I couldn’t face walking through those doors. Thinking of sleeping in the same bed that I’d slept in with Ty made my stomach roll. I wouldn’t be able to keep it together being around all of his things. Every single thing on this compound reminded me of him.

Kitty pulled up outside the warehouse, turned the van off and we all sat there, just staring out of the window. We were meant to be going back inside the warehouse to debrief, but there was no way I could go in there and wait for Ty to turn up.

I needed space. From everything. It was all too much.

Kitty cleared her throat and pulled open her door. “See you inside, chica,” she said jumping out of the van.

I swallowed, not being able to move out of the van. I could easily climb over the drivers’ seat, but I didn’t want to. I could feel Luke’s eyes on me as I took a deep breath.

“I…I…” My hands twisted in my lap as my eyes looked everywhere but the house and the warehouse.

“Kay?” Luke asked, placing his hand over mine. “What’s up?” I looked down at my hands, they were almost white with how hard I was gripping them.

Pulling them apart, Luke’s hand slid off mine and I looked up at him. “I…don’t think I can go in there, not tonight.”

“In where?” He frowned.

“Ty’s house, the warehouse,” I murmured. “I just need some time and space.”

He would understand that right? There had been so many changes recently, getting out of my relationship with Max moving onto the compound. Then there was whatever was going on with Ty. What that was now, I wasn’t sure of.

A couple of hours ago, I was sure of what we were. Together, the real thing. At least that’s what it had felt like, but listening to my gut hadn’t worked. I didn’t have a clue where we stood now, with his wife back. What did that mean?

Would she move onto the compound? Would me and Eli have to move out?

My head was spinning and it was late, I was over thinking things. What I needed was to take a deep breath and a night away from it all.

Luke huffed out a breath and pushed his door open. “Stay at mine tonight, you can have my bed and I’ll take the couch.”

He jumped down, holding his hand out for me. Looking from his hand to his face and then to his eyes, I scanned them. Looking for…what?

I didn’t know how I felt about staying at Luke’s, sure I had been there with Eli. Never overnight though. I didn’t want to cause any trouble but, at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to stay at Ty’s. Not tonight.

“Things will look better in the morning.” He moved closer to me, shaking his hand in the air to get my attention.

“Erm…if you’re sure?” I said, biting my lip.

“Yeah, come on.” He smiled.