Page 155 of His Darkest Desire

“I’m so sorry,” Kinsley said.

Cecelia wrapped her arms around Kinsley. “You have nothing to be sorry about. All that matters is that you’re safe.” She drew away and cupped Kinsley’s face, smiling. “We’ll go back to London tomorrow, and you can all stay with me while we make travel arrangements.”

“I’m not going back to London, Aunt Cece.”

Cecelia frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I’m going to stay here.”

“Like hell you are,” Aiden said with a scowl.

“Aiden…” Emily intoned.

“No, Emily. I’m not going to stay quiet about this.” He scrubbed a hand over his face; his eyes were red and glistening when he lowered it again. “This is twice, Kinsley. Twice that…that we’ve almost lost you. And here, you’re so far away from everyone, from everything. What if something goes wrong again? What if…”

He pressed his lips together and spun away, shoulders shaking with a shuddering inhalation.

Kinsley went to her father and slipped her arms around him, pressing her cheek to his back. He placed his hand over her arm.

“I know, and I’m sorry I’ve caused you all so much pain. But I…I can’t leave, dad.” Kinsley sniffled and hugged her father tighter. “I can’t promise that nothing will go wrong. That’s not how life works. But being here…this is what’s right for me. This is what I want, and what I need.”

“How can you know that, love?” Emily asked. “You’ve been through so much, and you haven’t even told us about any of it. About…him.”

Aiden turned in her embrace, forcing Kinsley’s arms down, and curled his fingers around her shoulders. “Who is he?”

She searched her father’s face. She loved her parents, loved them so, so much, but she hadn’t lied when she’d told Vex they had never really understood her.

“I…” Her shoulders sagged. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Aiden closed his eyes and let his head drop. With a measured exhalation, he said, “We’re listening.”

“We’re here for you no matter what,” said Aunt Cecelia, “but it would be so much easier to help if we know what happened, Kinsley.”

Emily touched Aiden’s arm, bringing his attention to her. “Let’s let Kinsley take a shower and get settled. Give her a moment to breathe.” She stepped closer to Kinsley and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Then you can tell us. Everything and anything you want to share, all right?”

Kinsley nodded. “Okay.”

Moving to the one of the suitcases, Emily opened it and shuffled through the contents until she pulled out one of Aiden’s shirts and a pair of sweatpants. She handed them to Kinsley. “Sorry, love. I should’ve thought to stop off while we were in town to pick you up some clothes.”

“These are fine. Thanks, mum.” Kinsley walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and leaned heavily against it, tilting her head back as she closed her eyes. With every beat of her heart, she felt the chasm that separated her from Vex.

Kinsley placed a hand on her belly. “We’ll free you, Vex. I promise.” Opening her eyes, she looked down at her stomach and smiled. “And then, little one, I’m going to kick your father’s ass.”

But her attempt at humor did little to ease her mood. She missed him, so damned much.

And though she truly wanted to tell her family everything, she couldn’t do that without remembering every single moment she’d spent with him. Without reopening wounds that hadn’t healed—that would probably never heal.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “You’re not going to hide from it this time, Kinsley. This isn’t the end. It’s an interlude. And as much as it hurts…there’s still hope.”

There was still their baby. A part of Vex was growing inside her, and she would carry that life, nurture it, and protect it.

She and Vex would be together again.

After Kisley showered, she dressed and rejoined her family in the main room. They were sitting together with plates on their laps bearing unmistakable Aunty Cece sandwiches. Another sandwich waited upon the coffee table for Kinsley.

“Come, love,” Emily said, patting the sofa cushion. “Sit, eat, and tell us.”

Kinsley picked up her plate, sat beside her mother, and collected her thoughts as she took a bite. In some ways, it felt like only yesterday that she’d been sitting in the back of her car, eating a ham and cheese sandwich Aunt Cece had packed for her. In other ways, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

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