Page 34 of Come Inside

Answering it, he didn’t even have time to get a word in.

“I fucked up,” Yara whispered softly into the phone.

It was nearing 4AM.

What has happened? Is she okay?

He knew better than to hammer her with questions, so he remained silent willing her to continue.

“I’m coming down to the lobby. We need to leave. I need to call Izzy.”

Kazi could hear the panic in her voice, but he kept his cool. “I’m here. I’ll have a car ready. We can’t go to our apartment because there was a bed bug outbreak. I found a replacement.” He decided it was best to rip that bandage off now. While the clean up crew had done what was needed to cover up Mateo’s indiscretions, their bed still needed to be fully replaced.

And the smell of bleach?

That wouldn’t dissipate too soon either.

Yara was so wrapped up in whatever was going on she didn’t even question him. “Okay, I’m getting in the elevator.”

The call cut off.

Kazi finally moved from his position where he had stayed stock-still for the last several hours. The employees here watched him with suspicious eyes, but he ignored it. He confirmed the car was still ready and marched his way to the elevator.

He couldn’t keep playing this game with Yara.

Mateo might be ridiculous, but he was also right.

Kazi wasn’t making any headway in his passive approach.

Kazi knew what she had done. He had been worried she would for years, but he thought he had more time. Thought the stalker would keep her from following through.

The elevator opened to Yara. A hickey shined on her neck, her hair was a disheveled mess, and she was wearing a practically see-through dress.

He quickly shed his jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders, before lifting her bridal style.

“I fucked up.” Yara didn’t fight him, instead her arms wrapped around his neck as he walked them through the lobby.

“Are you okay?” Kazi’s blood was pounding through his veins.

He wasn’t opposed to murder if a man had hurt his Yara.

HisYara.

Yara’s bright eyes found his, they were glassy. “I made a mistake. I met with a man. I didn’t use our typical background process. I thought I had it handled, but Kazi–” She let out a sob as he finally made it out of the hotel.

Kazi felt the weight of eyes on the back of his head, but he ignored it, sliding into the waiting car and pulling Yara gently with him. Keeping her in his lap.

She wouldn’t be leaving his sight again for the foreseeable future.

“What happened?” Kazi’s voice was gruff. “What did you do Miss Yara?”

She pushed her face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in and out. “I met a man. I had a wonderful night, but Kazi…” Yara sniffled. “He’s… he’s…”

He grabbed Yara’s shoulders, shaking her. “Fuck, Yara. Spit it out! You’re scaring me!”

He saw the driver shift, and he clocked that he didn’t recognize the man. It wasn’t their typical driver. Before he could follow down that line of thought, Yara distracted him entirely.

She leaned forward until her lips were touching his ear. “It was Izzy’s dad. Herdeaddad.”

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