Page 47 of Three to Fall

Hawk rolled us over so I was on my back and he was hovering above me. “I love you, Little Mouse. You and your sweet fucking pussy.” His dick nudged me there, but neither of us had the stamina to go again. Hawk didn’t seem put off by that though. “Give me twenty minutes and I’m going to go down on you again.”

But I knew I couldn’t. It would be almost midnight by now. I needed to get my things and get on a bus.

“I need a break first. You guys stay. I need to go get some water.”

Grayson shook his head. “I’ll get some for you.”

But I pushed him back down. “I need the bathroom as well. And I want to check my phone and make sure there are no messages from Rebel.”

That was yet another lie, but I needed them to stay here, so I could slip away. I hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye to Queenie and I just couldn’t leave without giving her one last hug. She was important to me, and I needed her to take care of them all while I was gone.

I stood and put my clothes on, taking one last look at the three of them, before slipping away into the darkness.

I hurried through the maze, knowing the way now, and letting myself back inside the restaurant.

If anyone had noticed us missing, they didn’t say. The party was still in full swing, with drinks flowing and everyone dancing.I spotted Queenie at a standing table, chatting with Ice and the other prospects. My heart squeezed. I really loved this woman. She was the kind of mother I wanted to be, despite not having any children of her own. She’d shown me and Hayley Jade nothing but kindness and care, in a way my own mother never really had.

At least not since Josiah had come into our lives.

Queenie’s gaze met mine, and I raised a hand, motioning for her to come to me.

She squeezed Ice’s arm and walked away, threading through the crowd to my side. Her expression fell the closer she got, clearly feeding off the negative energy I was surely putting out. “What’s wrong, sugar? You good?”

I shook my head, suddenly battling to keep it together.

She sighed, like she could see right into my head, and led me back down the hallway to the ladies’ room, which was miraculously empty. She slid the lock in place so nobody else could come in.

“Someone might need to use the facilities,” I whispered, barely able to keep the tears out of my voice. This goodbye was going to be as hard as the one I’d just said with my body to my men. Maybe harder, because I didn’t have an orgasm to distract me from how much leaving this club hurt.

“They’re just going to have to use the men’s room then. Or pee their little panties. Because clearly you need this space more than they do.”

I swallowed hard. “I’m leaving.”

Queenie sighed.

I cocked my head to one side. “You don’t seem surprised.”

She took my hand, leading me away from the door. “I’m not. Because I know you. Child, you think I’m blind? I’ve seen the agony in your face ever since Josiah put that reward out for your return.”

“I have to go back. Not just to keep Hayley Jade safe, but to find the evidence we need to put Josiah away for Alice’s murder. That’s the only way I get to be free.”

Queenie pressed her lips together. “A lot of things have changed about you since you came here, Kara. But your selflessness isn’t one of them. And I don’t know that it’s a good thing in this case.”

But there was no choice. If I let Hawk and Hayden deal with it, they’d be the ones in prison. If I stayed, everyone I loved was in danger and I’d always be looking over my shoulder.

That was no way to live.

It was me who needed to end this. On my own terms. I drew my shoulders back and stared the older woman in the eye. “I need you to take care of them for me.” I swallowed hard, shoving away the lump in my throat so I could speak. “Please. Don’t let them come after me. I won’t come back with them. Don’t let Hayley Jade forget how much I love her. That I never stopped. Never will.”

Queenie brushed tears off my face. I didn’t even realize I’d been crying.

Eventually, she nodded. “I’ll do that.”

Surprise lit up inside me. “You will? I thought for sure you’d argue with me. Try to convince me there was another way—”

Queenie held up one finger and then unzipped the purse at her hip. She rifled through it, clearly searching for something. “I didn’t finish. I’ll do that, if you do one thing for me first.”

I nodded quickly, ready to agree to anything. I just needed to know someone would be looking out for them when I wasn’t here. “Whatever you want.”

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