Page 99 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
I push the thought away. "They've already saved my life once. I trust them."
Dad's face drains of color. "Saved your life? Jesus Christ, Alina, what the hell is going on?"
I wince.Crap, I said too much."It was just a close call. Nothing serious."
"Nothing serious?" Mom practically shouts, her hands trembling. "Someone tried to hurt you? My God, Alina, I can't—I can't breathe—"
Dad guides her to a chair, his face ashen. "This isn't happening. This cannot be happening."
Grandma turns from the window, her gaze piercing but voice surprisingly gentle. "Let me guess. That handsome man downstairs isn't the only one keeping an eye on you, is he? There's someone else. Someone who's got you all twisted up inside."
Heat rises to my cheeks. "Grandma, it's not like that."
"Oh please," she scoffs. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. I know that look. Your grandfather gave me that same look, right before he followed me into a war zone."
Mom looks up, still shaking. "Alina, who are these people? What have you gotten yourself into?"
I move to the kitchen, needing space. "We're partners in this investigation. And I've... I've received training. I can protect myself now."
"Training?" Dad echoes, incredulous. "What kind of training?"
I think about the past three days—weapons handling with Asher, evasive driving with Jax, tactical assessment with Cole. "The kind that keeps people alive."
Mom starts crying in earnest now, silent tears streaming down her face. "My baby... my baby girl..."
Guilt crashes over me in waves. I grab my phone, making a decision. "I need to make a call. I'll be right back."
I step into my old bedroom, closing the door behind me, dialing Kade's number.
He answers on the first ring. "Everything okay?" His low tone causes a rush of sensation along my back, even though I'm still pissed off at him.
"No, everything is not okay," I hiss. "My parents are falling apart, and I'm tired of lying to them."
"Alina—"
"I'm staying here tonight," I cut him off. "Cole can head back. I want to be with my family."
A pause. "That's not the plan."
"I don't give a fuck about the plan, Kade." My voice trembles with emotion. "My mother is in tears thinking I'm going to end up dead in an alley somewhere. I need to be here."
Another pause, longer this time. "You've had three days of training. That doesn't make you—"
"If your security around my family is as good as you claim, then there shouldn't be a problem," I challenge. "Or was that just another lie?"
His sharp intake of breath tells me I've hit a nerve. "The security is solid. But you—"
"I need this, Kade," I say, softening my tone. "Please. Just one night."
I hear him exhale slowly. "You'll keep your phone on. All trackers active. And I want check-ins every two hours."
"Fine. Whatever." I roll my eyes even though he can't see me.
"I mean it, Alina. Miss one check-in, and I'm coming to get you, family dinner be damned."
A little thrill runs through me at his authoritative tone, but I push it away. "Got it. I'll tell Cole he can head back."
"Alina." His voice drops lower. "Be safe."
