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Casper shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Bea, don’t encourage this. We’ve had this discussion.”They have? About me? Or someone else?Jealousy curls around my spine like ivy on a railing.

“I refuse to allow you to spend your life trying to atone for sins you shouldn’t bear the burden of in the first place, Casper,” Bea retorts angrily.

“While I appreciate your sentiment, it doesn’t do any of us any good to pretend like I get a normal life with a happy ending. That ship has sailed, Bea. You know it, and I know it. I’m thankful for the opportunity to protect you and Richard. You’ve given me a place where I don’t have to hide –”

Bea cuts him off as she abruptly stands up. “Yes, but you still are, aren’t you? You don’t get close to anyone, Casper. You’re a good man and Ihatethat you think you have to spend your life alone.” When Casper doesn’t respond, Bea wipes her hands on her dress and apologizes. “I’m sorry, Cas. The stress of the situation must be getting to me. I love you like a son and I want you to be happy. I want you to find companionship and love and to stop living for everyone else before it’s too late.” She strides over to him and places a hand on his shoulder and whispers something in his ear that causes his eyes to close and his nostrils to flare. “Libby, I’ll see you at dinner, dear.” And with that, she walks out of the room leaving Casper and I alone.

I down the rest of my drink, unable to help the wince from the terrible taste and even more terrible burn. A chuckle escapes Casper’s throat, easing some of my discomfort.

“Good, huh?” he asks, his voice too low.

“Something like that.” I give him a tight smile. “I, um, meant what I said, but I wasn’t quite ready for you to hear it. I’m sure it sounded a little strong considering the brief time we’ve known each other and everything going on,” I wave my hand and try to explain away my feelings. I’m not sure why I do that.

Casper slides his hands in his pockets but doesn’t avoid my eyes as he speaks. “Libby, obviously I’m attracted to you.”Which is crazy,but I try not to dwell on that. “But once this is settled, I have to get out of Aruba. I don’t know what my life will look like and I can’t risk your life like that, especially after going through all of this to keep you safe.”

“Don’t I get a choice?” I’ve asked him this before when trying to point out that by “wanting to protect me” he’s taking away my ability to decide for myself, which is exactly what Will did by lying to me. “When this is over, what happens to me? What do I go back to? I have five thousand dollars to my name, a laptop, and the clothes on my back, Cas. Not only that, but if you think I won’t spend every day for the rest of my life wondering where you are and whether or not you’re safe…then you’ve lost your fucking mind.” My anger ignited my words, making them louder and stronger the longer I speak.

I’m ready to storm out of the room and let him sit with what I’ve said, but he has other plans. He stalks over to me, looking in my eyes. “I can’t stand you sometimes, you know that?” The huskiness in his voice gives him away, not to mention the steel rod in his pants.

“Same.” I smirk as my gaze drops to his lips. I feel my pupils dilate as he crashes his lips against mine with his hands in my hair. For a brief moment, the whole world slips away as two saplings blow about in the storm of life with no roots to ground us. We cling to each other like our lives depend on one another and somewhere deep in my soul, I know they do.

Eighteen

THE KISS IS OVER all too soon. We break apart when we hear someone clear their throat from the doorway. Richard is standing in the opening. “Sorry to interrupt. Cas, something was left for you at the guard house that you need to see.” His eyes flit to me and back to Casper before adding, “Alone.”

“With all due respect sir,” Cas’s voice is gruff and stern making it clear that he, himself, will decide what I see, “Libby’s just as involved as the rest of us now. She’s coming along.”

Richard pauses before giving a slight nod of his head. “Very well, if you think that’s best.” He invites no further conversation as he leaves the room. Casper takes my hand and we follow the governor.

We don’t have to go very far to see what was left because the guards rushed it to the house. A phone - not mine - and a letter. Casper tears it open as we gather in the empty dining room just off the foyer. I haven’t been in this room since dinner with Will all those nights ago.

Dominic,

You have something that belongs to me. I’ll consider not telling your family of your whereabouts if you put my fiancée back where you found her - preferably my house and not the kite school. You have twenty-four hours. Call the number programmed into the phone when you’re ready to bring her back. I’d hate for any misunderstandings to occur.

Do not make me come get her because I won’t come alone and I won’t leave until you’re not breathing.

W. VdT

I don’t realize I’m shaking until I feel Casper pull me to his side, my mind reeling. “Why is this about me? He’s basically ignored me for the past year and now he’s pissed because I left? I thought he would have been relieved. Happy, even.”

“I agree. Something doesn’t add up but I have the feeling that it’s always been about you. I just don’t know why yet,” Casper says as he fingers the letter with his free hand.

“Cas, what do you want to do?” the governor asks, worry coating his voice like honey on a sore throat.

I feel Casper’s hand tighten on my waist but I answer before he does. “I have to go back,” I say calmly. “I can’t let him destroy your life, Casper. I won’t be the cause of your parents finding out you’re here.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead. “Like hell. You’re not going anywhere near Willem ever again, Libby. If you think I’m going to let you sacrifice yourself just to save my shitty existence,” he winces and flashes a look at Richard, “Sorry sir. I just mean, no, Libby. Besides, Will is a liar and a manipulator. Even if you were to go back,which you aren’t, there is no way he wouldn’t come for me anyway. There’s a good chance he’s already notified my mother and father anyway.”

Silence descends over our group for a couple of minutes while I search my mind for any clues as to why Willem would go through all of this just to get me back. It’s clear he knows everything just as he said: where I am, who I’m with…how I met him. But I’m still completely in the dark.

I remember his words,there was a time when I thought maybe I could make you mine and tell the Hielos to go fuck themselves…but I don’t know what they mean. How long has whatever this is been going on?

Beatrice comes into the room pushing a cart with sandwiches and salads on it. Seems like such a silly, mundane thing to do. Eating is for people who have normal lives and aren’t on the run and trying to figure out how to defeat multiple crime syndicates at the same time - but I appreciate the gesture.

She points at the cart with a raised eyebrow. “I figured it would be a no, but I thought I’d have something thrown together just in case.”

“Thank you, Bea,” Casper says, “I’ll have to pass just now though.”

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