Page 97 of Pawn

Fucking shit.

“Me?” Jo puts that together as quickly as I do. “They think I did it?”

“Give us a minute,” I say, looking around the room. No one budges so I ask again, this time with my voice booming. I’m happy I finally found it, even if it hurts. “Now!”

“Geez!” Isaac gets up from his seat. “That’s the last time I visit you in the hospital. C’mon guys.”

When they’re all out, I look over at Jo, wiping a strand out of her face. She won’t like this idea. It’s bigger than the one I had after Marion. But we can’t keep playing these games here forever.

“We need to leave,” I say but her mouth moves with mine and it takes me a second to realize she’s saying the same thing. “I mean out of Eden.”

“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Jo nods. “As long as you’re with me.”

Pulling her face to mine I plant a kiss on those soft, velvety lips until the room, the noise, and the beeps disappear. Until I’m filled with that weightless feeling, until she sighs against my lips.

“Let’s do this, Rowland.”

And with that, the both of us are climbing out of our beds, pulling IVs from our arms.

She hands me a duffel bag and it doesn’t take much time before we’re both out of our hospital gowns and in matching black joggers and hoodies. The perfect low-key outfits to sneak out.

“Thank you, Willow,” Jo mutters, pulling her hoodie over her head of hair. “I asked her to pick up some stuff from the mansion but this is very much appropriate.”

“Ready?” I ask, taking her hand in mine, duffel bag over my shoulder.

“With you?” She smiles, gripping my hand. “Yeah. Always. Even if I don’t admit it.”

Pulling her in for a kiss, my hand drops to her ass, my tongue sliding over hers. When we part, she looks up at me with trusting, bright eyes. A small smile on her lips tells me that kiss does the same thing to her as it does to me.

Blows her mind.

“Okay, Rowland, let’s do this. Me and you.”

Twenty-Four

Jo

“Wait!”

“Now’s not the time for waiting, Rowland.” Damien looks over my head, his hand sliding to my arm. He meets my eyes with a steely gaze. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing this. Now.”

We’re ready to go, in our hoodies and leather jackets but there’s just one thing. “I can’t leave without Willow.”

“Fuck.” Damien’s soft forehead lands on mine and that parade of butterflies erupts in my stomach. “You Rowland girls are gonna be the death of me.”

“Not if you don’t kill me first, King.” My hand on his cheek, I pull him in for another kiss. Soft. Warm. His lips move with mine, giving me the confidence that we can get through this.

“Ten minutes,” he groans against my lips. “I’ll order a car to the ER exit. It’s way too busy there for them to notice us leaving. Ten minutes, Rowland.”

“Or what?” I ask, biting my lip at his warning.

“Don’t let it get to that.” Turning me around, he points me towards the door. “Don’t be stupid. Don’t dawdle.”

“I got this,” I say, my hand on the knob. Taking a breath I turn it, opening the door into the hallway.

Be. Cool.

It’s empty, shiny floors and dim lighting like it’s a hotel, but I can hear Lea’s voice travelling down from the lounge at the end. My head down and hoodie on, I make my way towards her voice, Isaac’s getting clearer the closer I get.

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