by Ella Miles
I bend it slower this time, and it doesn’t break. “Okay. Now what?”
“Put the hooked one in the bottom and the slightly bent one on top.”
I do it.
“Then, slowly move the top one in to lift each barrel, keeping pressure on the bottom one. You have to lift each lever to get it to unlock.”
I begin thinking that this is never going to happen, that I’m never going to figure it out, but it unlocks easily with hardly any effort. I push the door open and see Killian standing on the other side of the door. His hands are tied firmly behind his back.
Tears streak down my face at the sight of him. I run over and throw my arms around him, and my lips go to his. Even though his hands are tied behind his back, he still sucks me in and holds me with his body, with his lips. It’s a feeling I never thought I would get again. Every emotion that I have been holding in every time I am around him comes flooding back as his lips kiss mine. Love, hunger, need. My desire overtakes my body and thoughts with each kiss. With each kiss, I forget more and more of why we are here. That we are in danger. That we have to stop.
All I can think about is, I need him. I need him filling me. I need him to keep devouring me like this. I need…
I hear a scream from the room next to us as the yacht rocks harder when we hit a rough patch. We are out of time.
“We have to go,” I say as I force my lips off of Killian’s.
Killian turns. “Untie me.”
I try to untie him, but I can’t. “There’s a knife upstairs. I can use it to cut the rope off.”
He nods. “Go. I’ll start working on talking to the kids.”
I run down the hallway, back to the stairs. I slow as I move my way up, trying to keep my steps quiet. When I get to the top, another wave hits just as I reach the door. I grab the handle to keep from falling over and to keep from squealing. The kids downstairs don’t hold back though. I can hear their squeals from here.
I slowly walk to the kitchen, being as quiet as I can be, as I pull a knife from a drawer. The whole time, I keep my eyes glued on the men in the room, hoping they will stay asleep. Another wave hits, and I swear, Nacio opens one of his eyes. I freeze, trying to come up with a reason I would be holding a knife. But I can’t come up with one. He doesn’t move though, and when I look again, his eyes are closed. I must have imagined it.
I quickly run back downstairs to Killian, who is trying to calm the kids at the door.
“We are going to get you out, but you have to be quiet,” Killian says through the door.
He sees me, and I know he isn’t as sure that they are going to get out. I walk behind him and immediately start working on cutting the ropes holding his hands together.
“They are still asleep upstairs, but I don’t know for how much longer.”
“There is a small boat on the back. We can all fit on it. We will head straight for the shore. It’s a long shot because this yacht could easily outrun the smaller lifeboat, but it’s our only shot.”
“I agree. I’ll try to stall them for as long as I can to give you a chance.”
The ropes come undone just as Killian turns to me with intensity in his eyes. “You’re coming with us.” He firmly grabs my hands, and I know he will drag me on the boat if I don’t convince him.
“I can’t.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because there are more locations than just Paris. There is one in Asia.”
“Where in Asia?”
“I don’t know, but if I can earn Nacio’s trust, he might tell me. And I need to make sure that, when the FBI comes, they find them. That they don’t run. The FBI will need someone on the inside.”
Killian runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t like it. I should be the one who stays, not you.”
I shake my head. “They will kill you if you stay.”
He raises his eyebrow at me. “And they won’t kill you?”
“No, they won’t. They have no reason to believe I helped you. Why would I help you and then stay? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Exactly.”
I will never get the image of Kinsley standing on the boat, staring at me, out of my head. She stood so stoically, never taking her eyes off of me, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to turn the boat around and force her on it. If it wasn’t for the kids, I would have turned around countless times to do just that. Needing to keep the kids safe is the only thing that has kept me going.
We have been speeding through the water for most of the night. I try not to look back, but it is hard not to. It is hard not to think about Kinsley. That I left her to possibly be killed by Nacio as soon as he finds out that we are gone. My only hope is that Kinsley is right. That she has Nacio tied around her finger and that she can find the last location, so this never happens again.
I glance up at the sky that is beginning to light, and I know we are about out of time. The yacht was supposed to reach shore by seven in the morning. Just an hour or so after sunrise. We need to reach the shore first. We need to get to the police first before they get to us.
I crank the engine, trying to get the boat to go faster, but it doesn’t go any faster. I look over at the children who have somehow fallen asleep on each other, despite our situation. It’s better this way. It’s better if they sleep. Earlier, one of the girls, I think her name was Jill, puked off the side of the boat from seasickness. That caused all but one of the others to puke as well.
I spent the first hour after that trying to distract them, and I learned about all of them. I know all of their names—Jill, Stephanie, Brooke, David, and Jose. I know where all of them are from and how many siblings they each have. I tried to find out as much about them as possible because, if Kinsley dies, I need to know that she died from trying to save actual children I knew and felt a connection with. Not just children I felt no connection to, which would make me feel like Kinsley shouldn’t have died.
After an hour though, they all fell asleep, giving me too much time to think about Kinsley. About how it would feel if she died.
I look up when I spot the shore.
“Kids, wake up. We are almost there.”
We are going to make it.
And, as soon as I get to shore, I’m going to call the FBI to have them move in as soon as possible to get Kinsley out of there.
Just hold on, Kinsley. Hold on.
“Wake up, beautiful. We are almost there,” Nacio says while gently shaking my shoulder.
I stir and am greeted with the worst headache possible and a crick in my neck from sleeping on the poker table. I grab my neck as I look up at Nacio. “I need—”
“Here’s some Advil and coffee.” Nacio hands me the coffee and pills.
“Thanks,” I say, taking them from him. “I think we drank too much last night, but I don’t remember.”
Nacio smiles at me. “You’ll feel better soon. We won’t drink as much on the way back.”
“Good.” I sip the coffee, hoping it will cure my headache.
After Killian left, I came back and knocked back a couple more shots, so I could pretend I passed out, just like the rest of them. I regret drinking that much now.
“Go check on them downstairs, and get them ready to be moved,” Nacio says to Maurice and Don.
I try to remain calm, knowing that they are going to find the bedrooms empty. But my heart flutters so loudly that I’m afraid Nacio can hear me.
“Have you ever been to London?” Nacio asks me.
“Yes. A couple of times with my father.”
Nacio nods. “I want to take you to one restaurant on the river before we head back tonight.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“Um…sir?” Don says nervously at the door.
Nacio angrily glances up. “What is it?” he snaps.
“They’re, uh…” He tries to get the words out, but he can’t.
“They’re gone,” Maurice says, stepping up.
Nacio slowly stands from t
he chair next to me. “What do you mean, they’re gone? Where could they have gone?”
“They took the boat off the back. The FBI agent must have helped them.”
“Fuck! I knew we should have killed him in Mexico.” He glares at me.
I glare back. “I’m sorry. You were right. I thought—”
He slaps me hard on the face. I grab my face. It stings where his hand touched me.
“If I find out you had anything to do with this, I will kill you myself,” Nacio says to me.
I glare at him. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I was passed out from the alcohol, same as you. Maybe you should have made sure they couldn’t escape. Obviously, one of you fucked up and didn’t lock the door. It’s the only way they could have escaped.”
Maurice and Don turn to Nacio. It’s obvious that he was the one who locked the door. When he realizes that he might have been the one who fucked up, he pauses for just a second.
Then, he starts yelling, “Search the boat, just to be sure, Don! Now!” He turns to Maurice. “Tell Santino to step on it, and keep an eye out for their boat.”
He turns to me as he pulls out his phone. “I have to make a call. Help Don search the boat.”
I nod and begin walking around the boat. I search downstairs in every bedroom even though I know they aren’t there. I search the main deck and upstairs. I check in with Don to see if he has found any clues as to where they went, but he hasn’t. When there is nowhere for either of us to look, we go in search of Nacio. We find him with Santino, who is steering the yacht.
“We didn’t find anything,” Don says.
Nacio turns to us as Santino turns the yacht around.
“They were spotted heading into a police station,” Nacio says, his face bright red with anger. He paces back and forth in the small room.
“Are we going to go after them?” I ask.
Nacio stops and looks at me. “No.”
Inside, my heart relaxes a little, as I know that Killian is safe. He’s actually safe, and we aren’t going to go after him. We aren’t going to bring him back. I can finally relax and let my heart go.
“So, we are heading back to Paris?”
“Yes. We are heading back, but we can’t stay in Paris long. Just long enough to move everyone and destroy any evidence linking us to the other location. We will have to move to our Asia location or go into hiding for a while now that the FBI knows of the Paris location because of Killian.”
I swallow down a gulp, seeing his anger because we can’t stay at the Paris location. At his favorite location. Because of Killian and me.
“I’m sorry.”
He walks to me. “You should be. It’s your fault that Killian is still alive. It’s your fault that we have to give up the Paris location. It’s your fault that we just lost over five million dollars in one day. Lee isn’t going to be happy when we get back. And I’m not going to stand up for you. He can do what he wants with you.”
Nacio turns back to Santino, and they begin talking about the best course to take back to Paris, effectively ignoring me. I look at Don, who is looking out at the water, ignoring me. I walk back inside to the living room where I am by myself.
It’s going to be a long day of traveling back to Paris. Nacio might believe that I didn’t help them escape last night, but he still blames me for keeping Killian alive. And I know Granddad will agree with him. I don’t know if Granddad will actually have me killed for that, but whatever he decides, it won’t be good.
I just hope the FBI moves in before they have a chance to punish me. I hope the FBI moves in before they have a chance to scatter and hide. But, most of all, I feel like I can breathe for the first time since Killian arrived. Now, Killian is safe, and my heart is free.
The FBI has been called. They will arrive in the morning. I didn’t think that was good enough. I wanted them to move in immediately, but they said they needed time to get their agents in location and to ensure that all of the criminals were actually at the Paris location before they moved in. That means, Kinsley is on her own for one more night.
It’s already been an entire day since I left her. An entire day since I ripped out my heart and left it with her. That is why I couldn’t go one more night without seeing her and making sure she was still breathing. So, the second I got off the phone with the FBI in London, I was on the next flight to Paris. I’ve been hiding out in the building across from the Marlows’ and Feltons’ organization in Paris for hours now, waiting for them to return. Waiting for the FBI to get here in the morning. Waiting to see if Kinsley is still alive.
Just waiting.
I’m tired of fucking waiting though.
But I don’t have a choice. So, I sit and wait. And pace and wait. And curse and wait.
Darkness begins to fall over the city, and I’m afraid they decided not to come back to Paris. I’m afraid they decided to move to their Asia location or went into hiding now that they know the FBI and police are on to them.
I consider calling the FBI again and seeing if they have tracked them elsewhere when I see a van pull up. I watch as Nacio, Santino, two men I don’t know, and Kinsley step out of the van.
I exhale when I see Kinsley. She’s still alive.
I watch them walk into the old apartment building, hidden by the cover of darkness.
I text one of the local FBI agents, saying that I think they are all here. They text back that they need five hours still and to stay where I am and text them if there is a change.
Fuck.
I can’t stay.
I’m done waiting.
I don’t have a plan. In fact, I have no idea what I’m doing at all as I walk down the stairs of the building that sits across from the one where Kinsley is. I just know I have to be closer to her. I just know I have to keep her safe.
I walk out the side of the building into the darkness. I’m not worried about being spotted outside since the street is so dark. I’m worried about the cameras inside the building. The only way to go undetected is to cut the power. But, if I cut the power to just their building, then they might think the FBI is already here.
So, I take my phone out of my pocket and dial Hayes. He owes me one after he had me arrested and put Kinsley at risk.
“Killian, what’s wrong? Have they already moved?”
“No, but I need you to turn the power off in the south part of the city.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Hayes. You owe me.”
He sighs.
“Hayes?”
“Give me five.”
I end the call and wait. Almost exactly five minutes later, the city plunges into darkness, and I take my chance. I cross the street to the building where Kinsley is inside. I walk to the side door, hoping that I won’t be spotted. I slowly open the door and slip inside.
Complete darkness is all I see once I’m inside the building. I feel around on the walls and realize that I’m in somebody’s office. I move as silently as possible to the door and press my head against it. I hear people moving and yelling on the other side of the door, as they are trying to figure out what to do now that they have no electricity.
I hear Nacio yell at Kinsley and then nothing. I slowly open the door as Nacio begins yelling again, hoping that the darkness will hide me. Nacio stops yelling and walks away. I know Kinsley must be here somewhere, but I can’t see where she is. I take a chance anyway.
“Kinsley,” I whisper.
“Killian?”
I hear her voice coming from my right, so I reach out in that direction. I feel her shoulder. I grab ahold of her arm and pull her toward me and into the office. I quietly close the door behind us.
Her arms engulf me, and I tightly squeeze her. I wasn’t sure I was going to get to experience this again. I feel her body relax in my arms the longer I hold her.
“You shouldn’t be here, but I’m so glad you are,” she whispers.
“There is nowhere else I would be. Even the possibility of death c
ouldn’t keep me away.”
She reaches up and grabs my cheeks, pulling me down toward her so that she can firmly kiss me on the lips. Her tongue slips inside my mouth. I tangle my hand in her hair and listen to her beautiful soft moans as I deepen the kiss.
“I’ve missed you, princess.”
She moans again before pulling my lips back to hers. I try to let myself get lost in the kiss. It would be easy to just let go. Kinsley makes it easy for me to just let go. I can’t let go though. She’s not safe, and I have to protect her.
I grab her shoulders and pull her lips from mine. “We need to go.”
She takes a step back. “No, I can’t leave. Not yet, not until they are all in FBI custody.”
“You have to leave with me. The FBI will be here in five hours.”
“By then, they could already be gone.”
“Please, princess. You’ve done your job. Let the FBI do theirs.”
“No. I need to be getting back. I’m supposed to be helping pack things up for our trip to Tokyo.”
“Do you think that is where their other base of operation is?”
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out. Nacio is talking to the city to try to get the electricity back. I guess we can’t get into one of our vaults where they keep the money without electricity. As soon as we get electricity back, I’m supposed to meet downstairs to help transfer the money to the vans.”
I lift her chin and kiss her hard on the lips. I’m hoping, if I tempt her, she will decide to come back with me instead of staying here. If I make coming back with me irresistible to her, then maybe she will decide to leave and not come back.
I feel her try to pull away from me, but I don’t let her. Instead, I walk us backward in the room that has been converted into an office. I kiss her, trying to make her forget about what she is here to do. She moans softly, but I know it’s not enough for her to forget what she is doing here.
I feel the door I came in from behind me as I move my lips to her neck. I feel her purring against my lips. I need to make her moan. I need to make her scream, and she can’t do that in here.
I grab the door handle, and I pull her outside.