Page 156 of Possession

“No,” I answer, taking him in. Fuck, he wants us to go. “I’m glad you gave them the afternoon off. You should take it too.”

He shakes his head. “I have things to manage here. The keys are in the boat. I had it serviced this morning.”

“Thank you, Spencer.” I drop my arm from Landyn and collect her sweaty hand in mine.

He steps to the side.

We can’t waste any more time. My cell that connects me to Cole Carson is going crazy in the pocket of my swim trunks.

I look down at Landyn. “Let’s get some sun, baby.”

She squeezes my hand tighter than she ever has, but her smile is as light and airy as the weather outside. “I can’t wait.”

I pull her through Damian Marino’s great room to the terrace doors as I slide my shades up my nose. I push her in front of me, but don’t say a word as we make our way around the pool and to the back gate.

“Pick up the pace, Landyn.”

Her flip flops smack her feet a bit quicker, and I widen my strides as I scan our surroundings.

Getting by Spencer was one thing. He and I share the secret of Nic Decker—a commonality that won him over. But if he sent June and Miranda away, he expects a showdown.

If the guards get orders from Alamandos’ men, and we’re still here, that’s it. There’s no way I’ll be able to protect Landyn or fight for my own life.

We get to the stairs that take us all the way down to the docks off the back of Damian’s property. The cameras can still see us, but they can’t pick up audio from here.

“Almost there, baby. You okay?”

She doesn’t look away from the steep stairway that leads to the ocean, and this time I hear the anxiety when she mutters, “Uh-huh.”

“The second we board, you release the lines. The sooner we’re out of sight, the better.”

We make it to the last landing of the steep staircase. The sound of the rolling waves gets louder with every step as we approach sea level.

So when we hear a commotion coming from behind us, I know it’s really fucking loud.

Cars screech to a halt.

Voices, angry and heated, increase in volume every second that clicks by. I fist the material at Landyn’s back and pull her to me as I stop and look up.

She panics. “They’re here already?”

I see bodies moving at the top of the cliffs.

“Go, chica. As fast as you can.”

My cell vibrates again, and this time I don’t ignore it. I’m forced to let her go and stay as close to her back as I can. I put the phone to my ear. “Yeah?”

It’s Carson. “They’re there. Literally on your ass. Move.”

Landyn is running down the steps as fast as she can in those damn shoes. “Almost to the dock.”

“It’s bad, Cruz,” Cole bites. “No one is holding back. They’re chatty on the wires. They convinced Alamandos you killed Nic and aren’t who you say you are. They’re talking about the trip to New York. They think you’ve turned on them and are working with someone else. I’ve got the Coast Guard scrambling to get to you. Get on the damn boat and get out—now!”

“Fuck!”

“I’m trying to get satellite eyes on you,” Carson clips. “Head north around the point and then out to sea. But not too far—you’ll lose your signal and I won’t be able to track you.”

Landyn hits the landing to the dock, and I’m right behind her.

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