“Yeah.”
I gripped the book tightly, not sure what was going through his head.
“How did you find me?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“Kiara Jones.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Kiara?”
“I convinced her I was helping you, and she gave me the address you’d given her of the house up north. I guess it was a good thing that you told someone about me. Or I never would have found you.”
“How did you—”
“I went through your phone the night we found you. At the motel when I got your bags. Saw her name and number and kept it in case I ever needed it.”
I didn’t say anything as I absorbed what he’d just said.
He continued, “I understand why you kept her such a secret. If they found out you were working with the police—”
“She didn’t have anything to go on. I didn’t want her to get involved until I had enough.”
“With that book, you have more than enough. They’re going to realize it’s gone real quick.”
“Maybe. I found a book that had an identical cover and switched it out. If there’s no reason for them to look at it, then we may have some time before they figure it out.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You really did think of everything.”
“I texted Kiara. She’s driving up here from Chicago.”
“I’m pretty sure she started driving after she gave me the address.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “I have to do this, Niko. I can’t let them keep killing when I have a way to stop them.”
“Sage, I know.” His gaze softened. “We talked about this before. Quit looking like I’m about to rip the book from your arms. After everything, you think I’d try to stop you?”
“I don’t want you to go down with them.” I cried as he wrapped his arms around me. “Maybe we can talk to Kiara about a plea deal—”
“After the things I’ve been a part of, a plea deal won’t be enough. I’d still get time,” he said quietly.
How could something so right be burdening my mind so badly? The society needed to be stopped. I only wished it didn’t include him. Niko sat on the small couch and pulled me down next to him. He reached over and brushed my hair out of my face.
“You look exhausted. Did you get any sleep in the last four days?”
“Barely.”
“Kiara won’t be here for a while. Go up in the loft and sleep a little. I’ll wake you up in a couple of hours, and we can talk some more.”
A bit of suspicion hit me at how he ended the conversation. He leaned over and brushed a kiss over my lips.
“I don’t care what happens to me,” he murmured. “As long as you’re safe. And you will be.”
Ignoring my protests, he lifted me in his arms and carried me up the stairs.
“Get some sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.” He gave me another kiss before going back downstairs.
My body was still hurting from being cuffed to the bed the whole night before. Relaxing into the pillow, I turned onto my side with the book next to me on the bed. My fear of being found was nonexistent. I trusted Niko to keep me safe. My eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a deep sleep.