Page 96 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
"This knot is deep," he comments, voice neutral. "You shouldn't have pushed through that last session with Damian."
"I needed to know I could handle it."
His hands pause briefly before continuing. "You have nothing to prove, Alina."
"Don't I?" I turn my head slightly, catching his eye. "I'm the civilian. The liability. The one you've been manipulating from the start."
Kade's expression remains frustratingly calm. "Is that what you think?"
I turn away again, focusing on the dull throb in my muscles. "I need to see my parents."
His hands still. "That's not a good idea right now."
"It wasn't a request." I pull away from his touch, turning to face him fully. "Three days of being pushed to my physical and mental limits. Three days of your team poking and prodding at me. I need to see my family, Kade. I need..." I swallow hard. "I need something normal. Just for a few hours."
He studies me, those blue eyes giving nothing away. "It's a security risk."
I laugh, the sound brittle. "Right. Because none of your perfect plans ever involve risk."
I reach into my pocket, pulling out Jenny's folded list. "Three days ago, I was going to show you this. Proof that Jenny was onto something big before she died. Names, dates, connections to shipping companies at the same port Apex uses."
I slide the paper toward him. "I was going to share this because I thought we were on the same side."
Kade glances at the document, then back at me. "We are on the same side."
"You manipulated me from the first moment. Everything—" My voice breaks slightly. "Everything was calculated."
"Not everything," he says quietly.
I shake my head, not ready to hear whatever explanation he's about to offer. "I need to see my parents. Today. Now."
Kade's jaw works as he considers my demand. Finally, he pulls out his phone, maintaining eye contact with me as he speaks.
"Cole. I need you to escort Bennett to her parents' place. Full security protocols." A pause. "Yes, now."
Something twists in my chest at his easy capitulation. At the fact he's sending Cole instead of taking me himself. Which is ridiculous—I should be grateful for the distance.
"Cole will be here in five." Kade pockets his phone. "He'll keep you safe."
"Like you've been doing?" The words come out more hurt than angry.
Kade's expression softens fractionally. "Alina—"
"Don't." I hold up a hand. "I can't do this right now. I just need to see my family and remember who I was before... all this."
He steps back, giving me space. "Take the pain meds with you. Be back by 2100 hours."
I nod stiffly, sliding off the exam table with as much dignity as my sore body allows. Kade watches me, something unreadable in his eyes.
Before I can say anything, there's a knock at the door. Cole stands there, expression neutral.
"Your chariot awaits," he says with a small smile.
I gather my things, refusing to look at Kade again. As Cole leads me from the room, I can't help the ridiculous pang of disappointment that Kade let me go so easily. That once again, he's sent someone else in his place.
This is what you wanted,I remind myself harshly.Space. Distance. Clarity.
So why does it feel so wrong?
