Page 13 of Kiss the Dawn
Was that a hint of jealousy in his tone? “A while. I can trust him.”
“We don’t seem to have much of a choice. When do you leave tomorrow?”
“Midday. Lorenzo said the council is sending transport. He’s booked it all. We should be at the coast just after dawn the day after tomorrow.”
“What happens if he can’t find a loophole with this contract?”
I didn’t want to think about that, so I shook my head.
“Orina?”
Dammit. He was going to force me to think about this. I kept my tone light when I spoke, as if the words didn’t scare me. “If he can’t find a loophole, I’ll have to go back to the Isle once the curse is broken and marrysome witch guys so I can produce a bunch of special babies.”
“Like fucking hell, you will,” he growled, sending a shiver of delight through me.
I leaned in toward him. “What will you do to stop it?”
He gently gripped my chin, his chest rising and falling heavily for a moment before he reined in his emotions and fixed a sardonic smile on his face. “Me? I won’t have to do anything. Ezekiel and Ordell will do it all.”
A cold spot of disappointment flared in my belly, but the bite of guilt followed hot on its heels because it wasn’t like me to goad anyone. I stepped away from him. “I need you to do something for me while I’m gone.”
“Anything.”
“Find out who in the Order took me from my biological family.”
His gaze hardened. “I can do that.”
“Thank you.”
“Orina!” Merry called out. “Crush is calling!”
My heart leapt, and I hurried back into the apartment as Crush’s gruff voice spilled from Merry’s phone which she’d put on speaker mode.
“It’s done,” he said. “We have your friends. Here…” There was a rustling.
“We’re safe,” Padma said down the line.
I heard Edwin in the background, then Crush came back on. “Where do you want them dropped off?”
I rattled off the address to my apartment, and Crush ended the call.
We all stared at each other, and then Merry let out a whoop.
“I’ll prep the first aid kit,” Holly said.
Kaster lightly touched my hand. I’ll make coffee. He hurried to the kitchen.
I parked my ass on the sofa and dropped my head into my hands as a rush of relief left me dizzy.
They were safe.
They were on the way home, and soon it would be time for me to leave.
Chapter 5
Edwin delighted in recounting how Crush and his friends had kicked Shay and his minions’ asses, and for a few minutes the apartment was filled with laughter. Kaster sat at the kitchen island nursing a cup of coffee while Hemlock lounged in the armchair and Lorenzo leaned up against the counter. The open-plan design that melded the two areas was a godsend with so many people in the room.
“You should have seen Shay’s face,” Edwin said. “He was terrified.”
