Page 80 of Like a Hurricane

I hoped they wouldn’t hate me after this but if they did, I could understand that.

I slip out into the night silently, the cold biting at my skin and trying to chase me back inside. But I wouldn’t be selfish about this, I wouldn’t put anyone’s life at risk.

The snow crunches under my feet as I walk through it, and the short distance towards the dock.

There’s a boat waiting, bobbing on the dark, inky water, a single light shining on the silhouette of a large man. I couldn’t make out any details other than the fact that he was huge, taller than Everett and Torin and he stands so still it was like I was staring at a statue.

“Arryn Lauder?” His voice, a deep smoky timbre sends alarms ringing in my head. My knees are shaking, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it’s trying to escape through my ribs.

“Yes,” I answer, my voice almost swallowed by the sound of the sea.

“Get in.”

Shakily, I climb into the boat and instantly fall onto the bench, my knees unable to hold me up any longer. He doesn’t waste any time in getting us moving and doesn’t say a single word to me as he takes us away from the dock and out further into the bay. I look back at the dark house, staring at it as if wishing one of the lights would turn on. Someone would see me going but they don’t. The house gets smaller and smaller, until I can no longer see it in the darkness, and I leave it behind. Leavehimbehind.

Thirty minutes pass slowly, the sound of the boat and waves almost deafening but I finally look to the man driving, his broad back to me. I can see his hair is longer, tied up with wispy strands whipping around with the wind but that’s as much detail about him that I can gather.

“What is your name?” I ask.

His chin tilts slightly as if looking over his shoulder, “Does it change the outcome?” He retorts.

“No, but if you’re the last person I’m going to see…” I trail off, “Never mind.”

“My brothers should have known better than to play the system.”

My eyes widen and I practically break my own damn neck as I whip around to stare at him, “Your brothers!?” I gasp, “You’re Kolten!”

He doesn’t speak again as he ferries me back to the mainland.

When we’re there, he anchors up and even helps me out of the boat with a gentle hand but then he ushers me into a car.

“Will you do it?” I ask from the backseat.

“Malakai has requested for you not to be harmed,” He explains.

“You work for him?”

“I work for myself,” he growls.

“If Everett finds out about this,” I whisper, “He’ll never forgive you.”

I see Kolten stiffen in the passing city lights.

“Don’t let him find out,” I say to him, “Don’t tell him.”

“I will handle my brother.”

“Don’t let them hurt him,” I beg, “Please, Kolten.”

I didn’t know why I was begging this man, the same man delivering me to my death but instinctively I knew he would ensure Everett would stay safe. He may be doing this to me, but they’re his brothers.

“It’ll be over soon,” Kolten says quietly.

Tears slip down my cheeks as I fall quiet, sagging into the plush leather seat as I watch the city pass me by in a blur of bright light.

My fear ramps up several notches as the Lauder Hotel comes into view, the light from the crystal chandelier spilling out into the road in front of it. There was no one waiting outside for us, no guests lingering on the steps smoking cigarettes, no drunken men stumbling in from a night at a casino. It is deathly quiet. Eerily empty.

No one around to witness my comeback or my death.

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