“Aiden was on fumes. Almost out of gas,” Riley continues. He’s all pumped up. “Between his driving lesson and him sitting in on some movie planning, he thinks he’s a stunt man!”
I’m listening to Riley, but Aiden has me caught in his tractor beams and I can’t look away.
Tears fill my eyes again. “The prince isn’t supposed to crash his white steed to save the princess.”
“I couldn’t risk losing you.”
I close my eyes.
I hate that I have to say this.
I hate that I have to leave.
Like this.
Right now.
But I have to.
I bend down and kiss his cheek. “Thank you so much for rescuing me. Vincent is dead, and I know this is really bad timing, but, um, I have to go.”
“To the hospital?”
“No, home. Damian’s holding the jet for me. I have to go find B. It’s my fault he was kidnapped in the first place. Please understand. I have to.”
“You’re hurt,” he says. “You need to be looked at.”
I shake my head, knowing I’m being pulled in another direction.
I’m listening to my heart.
And my heart is telling me I need to get my ass to Malibu and find him.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
Aiden doesn’t reply. He turns to Dallas, who has joined us. “Dallas, go grab my keys.”
“I hate to break it to you, dude,” Dallas says, “but I don’t think you’ll be able to drive her again.”
“It’s important.”
Dallas nods his head, hobbles over, gets the keys out of what’s left of the car, and brings them to Aiden.
Aiden separates the key from the keychain and presses it into my hand. “Luck and fate. Take them with you, find him, and then come back to me.” He looks deep within my soul and says, “Promise me you'll be back.”
Tears fill my eyes as I shake my head and turn away from him.
Because I know I can’t promise anything.
“Can you take me to the airport?” I ask one of the black-suited men.
He shakes his head. “The police will need you to give them a statement.”
“But you shot him. I didn’t.”
“I think you might be going into shock,” he says in a patronizing voice. “Let’s get you back over to the ambulance.”
“If you don’t find someone to take me to the airport right this second, I’m going to call Senator McMahon and throw the biggest temper tantrum you have ever seen.”
The guy from Miami walks over. “What’s the problem?”
“Vincent, the guy who you shot, kidnapped my friend three days ago. They’ve searched Vincent’s properties but haven’t found him. That’s why I didn’t want you to shoot him. I needed to find out where he was.”
“Did he tell you?”
“I think so. I’m so worried about him. There’s a plane waiting for me. I can drive myself if you’ll just let me borrow a car.”
“Are you sure you don’t need medical attention?”
“I’m positive.”
“Come on,” he says. “I’ll take you.”
Catastrophic events.
The agent pulls out on the tarmac and Damian comes out of the terminal to greet me.
“What is going on? Why do you need to come with me to Miami? And what was with all the sirens—oh, my god. Is that blood?”
I look down at my shirt and realize it’s covered in it. I nod at him, too tired to explain.
“Is that your blood?!” he yells.
“No. Let’s take off and we’ll deal with my wardrobe later.”
I close my eyes and say a prayer.
Please help me find Brooklyn.
“Is there anyone you need me to call?” the agent asks as he carries my backpack to the plane.
“Uh, what?”
“Is there anyone you need me to call?”
“No, thank you,” I say to the agent, but to Damian I say, “but I do need to call Garrett and tell him what happened.”
“You need to tell me what happened,” Damian says.
“Hang on,” I say, as I pull my phone out of my backpack.
I see that I have a text and numerous missed calls from Garrett.
I read the text from earlier today first.
Garrett: Two concurrent catastrophic events have just occurred. Get Cooper and run. You must leave Eastbrooke now.
I call him as Damian and I board the plane.
“Keatyn, where are you? Does Vincent have you?”
“Vincent is dead.”
“Vincent is dead?” both he and Damian say.
“Yes, but I know where he was keeping Brooklyn. I need you to go rescue him. I’ll be there soon.”
“Where is he?”
“At Vincent's grandmother’s house.”
“Vincent told you that?” Garrett asks.
“Yes, right before he died in my arms. Wait. What two catastrophic events?”
“Are you with Cooper? Can I speak to him, please?”
“Vincent shot Cooper in the chest. He fell to the ground.” I start crying again. “I’m sorry. I think he’s dead. Damian and I are getting ready to take off. We’re coming home.”
“Not Cooper,” Garrett says sadly. “He was a good man.”
“I know he was. I’m sorry.”