Page 59 of Come With Me

“I will.” He waggles his brows and then quickly furrows them. “Shit. Zane’s callin’ me. I’m gonna take it, then I’ll text ya.”

“Okay,” I say as he hangs up.

Ayden hired a security team, and they’ve stayed parked outside my store while I work and at my house until nine. Zane’s a big guy, one I wouldn’t want to mess with, but he seems good at his job. Ayden wanted it as a precautionary while he’s away and if I’m being honest, it’s helped ease my concerns about Mr. Carson.

I’m exhausted, so when I crawl into bed and close my eyes, I pass out before I can wait up for his good night text.

Loud knocking has me jerking awake in the pitch-black room. Blinking a few times, I feel for my phone and see it’s only been thirty minutes since I spoke to Ayden, but there are several messages and missed calls from him.

Ayden

Get out of the house. Don’t go to your mom’s.

Ayden

I booked y’all a room at the Twins Hotel.

Ayden

Once you get there, lock the door and don’t open it for anyone.

Ayden

Laney, let me know you’re getting these! This is urgent, baby.

Ayden

I’m sending Zane over. Call me as soon as you’re in the car.

What is happening?I jump out of bed and look through the peephole of the front door, finding Zane standing on my porch. “What’s goin’ on?” I ask him as I open it.

“Mr. Carson got a tip about his warrant and now no one can find him. You need to leave, ma’am.”

“As soon as I get my daughter.”

Fuck, this isn’t good.

Zane nods and waits while I rush to Serena’s room. She’s sound asleep, and I hate that I have to wake her.

“Serena, sweetheart.” I shake her a little, and she startles awake. “Sorry, baby, we gotta leave.”

“Where?”

“A hotel. I’ll explain later, okay?”

She nods, and I pick her up. Next, I slide on my shoes and grab my phone. Then I meet Zane in the kitchen who has the door to the garage open for me.

Once I dig my keys out of my purse, I throw it over my shoulder. Zane walks out with us and locks up. I help Serena into the back seat and buckle her, and then get into the driver’s side.

“I’ll follow you to the hotel and make sure it’s secure before I come back here,” Zane tells me as I get situated in my seat.

“Thank you, Zane.”

I press the button to open the garage door, then click on Ayden’s name on my Bluetooth and reverse out of the garage. It rings twice before a loud boom rattles the car, and my ears ring at the sound of an explosion.

Then my vision goes white, and everything fades.

ChapterSeventeen

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