Page 34 of Whiskey's Redemption

Carli

Giving Circe a quick hug, I almost cried. I’ll miss her so much. She’s been a part of my life when I needed her the most. I hate losing her. Then, when she whispered into my shoulder for me to tell him, it put things into perspective.Fucking friends!

Where do I start? And why? What can I tell Jamieson to get him off my back so I can leave without drama?

Fuck.

Shit.

Man, I’m cursing a lot.

Walking out of the room, leaving Circe and Wyatt, I said nothing more to Jamieson. Standing beside him at the lift, waiting for the elevator to open, I’ve thought about what to say.

“Hey, I have to leave. You won’t see me again, probably ever, and I’m doing it to save my sisters the pain of marrying some haggard old men that will turn them into geisha concubines.”

I wonder why it matters so much that I’m even considering telling him anything? A few chance meetings, and a driving need to ride his rollercoaster does not constitute a conversation about my past, present, or future.

As the doors open and we enter. Once Wyatt and China’s lives are back to normal, he’ll be back at his hills, whoring out his cock to the masses, and I’ll be in Japan, far, far away.

As the elevator ticks down floor by floor, slowly counting down the minutes like hours, gives me more time to war with myself.

Shifting forward, hitting the button on the wall, the emergency siren rings out. Taking a deep breath before speaking, I blurt out, “Jamieson, I’m leaving.”

Confused, his eyes narrow. “The governor needs you full-time now?”

He thinks I mean Chris. “No, not Chris. I quit his employ. I was just coming to say goodbye to Circe. I’m leaving the US.”

“What’s going on, Carli? Tell me what’s happening. Maybe I can help you?” he growls out, staring at me like a petulant child. I know it’s out of care and worry, not because he’s pissed.

“Yeah, not on this one, big boy.”

“Carli, look—”

Touching the edge of his face, I caress his chin. “This isn’t something you can do for me. Trust me, I’ve tried to avoid it for years. This isn’t a job for the burly snowboarder. Your Crown money can’t fix it. I have to do it. I hate it immensely. Actually, I despise it, but no one but me can do it. I have others that are depending on me. You know what it’s like when family calls, you drop it all.” God, I hate this. “Whiskey, you’ll be back on your hills in no time. You’ll forget about me in the time it takes to get off on a blowjob.”

“I doubt that, Katana.” Turning so that we’re now face to face, he grasps my ponytail. He’s testing my resolve. I was going to leave, erasing the thoughts of him and his growly voice, his towering size...his everything from my mind, because nothing in Japan could possibly compare to Jamieson Crown. He’s going to make it absolutely impossible to compare anything to him.

With barely a whisper, I look up into his sweet, chocolate eyes. “Ihaveto go. I don’t have a choice.”

“You’re not telling me much, Carli, but it’s easy to see you’re afraid to go.”

“Yes.” Am I ever.

“Tell me what’s going on. Let me in.” With his body pressed against mine, his dark, sultry eyes pinned on my teary ones, I want to, but I can’t.

“I’m afraid to do it alone. I’m afraid in general. But to involve you is unfair. Respect my decision, please.” He has enough going on with his own family.

“Carli,” he says on a whisper.

But before I let his heat and magnetism get to me, I back away. “I’m afraid, yeah. I can’t even fathom how much my life is going to change and…” Clawing at my shirt, I shout, “Ihateevery second of it, but my sisters can’t be left alone with this. It’s not fair to them either.”

Hitting the emergency button hard, Jamieson turns back to me while the carriage descends, then kisses me softly on my forehead. “We’re going to get lunch, Carli. You’re going to tell me what’s going on and I’ll listen. I’m a good listener. Promise me you’ll give me the benefit of the doubt?”

“You haven’t listened yet, Crown.”

“You haven’t told me anything yet, Katana. Until you give in, I’ll keep it up.”

Shit.

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