Page 28 of Kristoff

“What you’re describing is exhausting and dangerous.”

This is where I must come clean. “I have some of the Faust drug.” His brows rise a fraction of an inch. “A few more, to help me keep moving if I need them.”

He cocks his head. “Well, this one didn’t work out exactly the way you would hope to.”

“One thing I have to take into account is being able to burn off the effects.” Something I learned the hard way. “I took a pill expecting to walk most of the night, but then I heard about the jaguar. I think if I’d waited a little longer, for the effect to kick in, I wouldn’t have cared about the danger.”

“It certainly affected your inhibitions,” he agrees.

Heat dashes across my cheeks.

“The walk would take days though.”

“I have enough.” Now I have to worry about him searching for the pills and what he would do with them if he found them. I have to cut out the possibility. “I’m leaving tonight,” I announce.

“No.” He shakes his head. “You’re not.” He’s as adamant as I am. “I’m not going to let you put yourself in danger.”

“This is my choice,” I remind him. “And I’m not about to put you and everyone else here in any more danger because I’m here.”

“Getting yourself caught might actually get us killed.”

He’s right.

“I’ve already made arrangements. I’m putting you in a crate to be picked up tomorrow night.”

I’m stunned.

“And I’m riding with you to the coast.”

I’m both grateful and terrified. “What if you’re caught along with me?”

“I’ve got that covered,” he states. “It’ll be a matter of money.”

Yes, everything in this country runs off money. You can buy anything here, including people on either side of the law.

“Once we’re in Georgetown, I’ll drop you off where you need to go. You reimburse me the money I put up then we go our separate ways.”

Something inside me wilts at those words. Somehow it hurts more than if I left on my own in the middle of the night.

“Don’t even think about it,” he says with a hard edge.

“What?”

The set of his lips tells me he didn’t buy my innocent act.

“Don’t think you’ll be able to sneak out in the middle of the night.”

A wave of embarrassment hits my face. Having such fair skin doesn’t help in moments like this. Not when my conscience is taking over every reaction.

“There’s already a plan for tonight.”

“A plan?” He hadn’t mentioned anything.

“I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk a step.”

My breath catches, and everything inside me melts.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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