Page 102 of The Devil You Don't Know

“Stay where you are. I’ll be there in ten.”

The phone clicked off, and I buried my head against my knees.

Chapter 48

Kai

My blood ran cold as I walked down the stairs. Audry was tucked away in the back room, asleep. I felt safer with her close by than at the hotel. At least then I could keep an eye on her.

The wood was cold on my bare feet as I made my way into the living room. The fireplace with our escape plan funds hidden inside drew my eye.We just had to make it till then,I thought.

“Hey,” Liam said, leaning against the doorframe, rubbing his neck.

I knew what he was going to say. The moment Audry said she thought someone was following her, I knew. I didn’t need him to say it out loud, but he was going to anyway.

“Samuel wants the killer caught,” he muttered. “Dead or alive.”

“He doesn’t know it’s her,” I said unconvincingly.

Liam lifted a brow. “Are you certain?”

I nodded, catching myself. Liam sighed, stepping forward.

“She has a bounty on her head. She isn’t safe.” He kept his voice to a low whisper, glancing behind his shoulder at the staircase. Audry was as quiet as a mouse when she moved,something I think even Liam was uneasy about. “He’s already been to the hotel. Already talked to her.”

I shifted in my seat uncomfortably, my gaze cast down. I didn’t want to think of what he would do to her.

“I know a few of the men said he was only there to talk shop with the Santora’s.” Liam sighed. “But she matches the description, Kai.”

“We just keep her out of the limelight, that’s all.” I shook my head. “Can’t go after someone you can’t find.”

Liam gave me a pointed look, his tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth. “Kai, I need you to listen to me very closely here,” he said.

I watched him as closely as he said to. His shoulders lifted with the deep inhale, and he shut his eyes for a brief moment.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter if they know for certain it’s her or not,” Liam started, speaking slowly. “It only matters what the perception is. And, unfortunately, Samuel has her in his sights.”

I shook my head. “He won’t violate the treaty.”

“He will, because in his mind, it’s already violated. It’s already void. He just needs to convince the right people.”

Void,I thought.Void in Nate’s blood spilling.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to stop my skin from crawling. The hair pricked up along my arms, and my face flushed with heat. I ran my fingers against my lips, remembering the feeling of hers against mine. “Then we leave town. The next town over, no one in the Widows operates over there.”

Liam glanced up at the ceiling, annoyance evident on his face. “I’ll only say this once more.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “Marry her, Kai. It’s the only way to keep her safe. It’s the only way that any of this doesn’t implode.”

I shook my head, shrugging him off of me. “No.” I paced the room. “You’re fine with leaving, with Logan, Carson, and Iwaiting here at the mercy of Samuel. Why can’t Audry and I leave? We’d be close enough that if something were to happen…but far enough away that it wouldn’t.”

“Because that would make her look guilty to everyone. Right now, the only thing keeping the line in check is the fact that everyone thinks my father is a lunatic. The moment Audry or you run…then that fine line of protection—” he mirrored an explosion with his hand, mouthing the word ‘poof.’

“Fine, the escape plan.”

“It won’t be set up on time. I leave here in a little over a month. But who knows how long it will take to set up, Kai.”

I continued pacing, swearing under my breath. I racked my brain trying to find another way out. Audry was dead set on not marrying me. She didn’t want that for herself, and I couldn’t blame her. I knew we each had feelings for one another, but those were only ever expressed physically. How could I bring her into a marriage and pledge to love her when I didn’t even say those words to her yet?

I glanced up at Liam, who continued to lurk near the entryway, his stare hard and his arms crossed. I exhaled a deep breath, blowing hot air downward.

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