Page 186 of Until We Burn
“Just climb out.” Sophia glares at Luke who smiles back at her. “Before I ax him down.”
I climb up the ladder and ease myself through the window frame while Luke and Sophia pull me out.
We sneak away from the mansion and hop into Luke’s car.
I secure my seatbelt over my body. “Exactly how did the two of you wind up working together?”
Sophia turns around to look at me from the passenger seat. “Look, all you need to know is that Uncle Frederik and I sifted through bàba’sstudy while they were at the game. We found evidence of the men he called on to shut down the stadium, and push everyone out. By the time we arrived, the stadium was empty. That’s where uncle and I ran into Stella and the others. We told them everything and now Stella has everyone gathered at her place.”
“Thank god for that,” Luke adds. “Rowan and I would be stinking up the place without a shower.”
My brows furrow. “Why is everyone at her place?”
“We’re not just here to save you,” Sophia declares, “We’re also going to bring down bàba and everything he’s built.”
Luke easesthe car onto the curb as we arrive at Stella’s apartment.
“Wait, what about Kai?” I panic. “M-My father took him away and I don’t know where he is?—”
“Diana, relax.” Luke pulls me out of the car with a smooth, reassuring smile. “We got that handled.”
“How?”
With his hands in his pockets, Luke slouches against his car and nods at something behind me.
I dart around. A familiar black car with a dent pulls up. The door opens.
“Oh my god.”
Kai steps out of the car.
Behind him, Hans and Helen emerge looking proud and triumphant.
“Surprise!” Helen squeals.
“You didn’t think we’d let Edward and Matthias win so easily, would you?” Hans laughs.
A choked sob breaks from my throat.“Kai!”
His eyes widen in relief.“Diana!”
We run towards each other until we collide on the sidewalk.
“Come here.” Kai crushes me to his chest. Tears fall from my eyes, as I kiss him. He cups my face, his fingers sinking into my hair.
“You okay?” he whispers. “Are you hurt?”
“I-I’m fine. I just—” A broken, tearful laugh escapes me.“Thank godyou’re okay.”
Kai kisses my forehead with a fervor I can feel in my bones. “I’ll always run back to you. You know that.”
Behind us, Luke sighs and throws his arms up at the Heavens. “When is it gonna be my turn, huh?”
“When you come up with better pick up lines.” Sophia claps her hands impatiently. “Now, let’s go! We have a bastard to take down.”
Kai keeps one arm around my waist as we follow the others into Stella’s apartment.
Standing in the living room is Uncle Frederik pinning documents onto a CatchCo easel board, as Wallace, Rowan, and Stella sit there in rapture with mugs of coffee in their hands.
