Rather than answer, he pulled me close. I didn’t want to, but I wrapped my arms around his neck and inhaled his scent. “Run away with me.”
“This is not the time to try to get into my pants. You lost that privilege when you were almost jumped and arrested.”
“I’m serious.”
“Why would we run away? Where are we going?”
“I want you to come to Arizona with me. I can’t do this anymore, Lake. I tried. Fuck me, I tried.”
“I can’t just leave. What about school?”
“I want you with me. I want you in my bed. I want to see you and touch you every day.
“What about school,” I repeated.
“Arizona has an outstanding education program.”
Chapter One
LAKE
FIVE YEARS LATER
I fucked up. For the last seven months, I felt as if I were living on borrowed time as a free woman. I was responsible for the death of Mitch Masters. The father of my former tormentor turned boyfriend. He was evil, and every second he lived, he was a danger to Keiran.
I had a love to protect and a point to prove.
Keiran wouldn’t destroy me, but I might have destroyed him.
“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.” The officer who had cuffed me continued to read me my rights, but my focus and worry wasn’t for me. It was for what I knew would happen in five… four… three… two…
“Get your fucking hands off her!”
I clenched my eyes shut and willed him away. For once, the law wasn’t after him. I was the one in deep shit, but if he came after the officers who were only doing their job, he would be in worse trouble than I was in.
“Son of a bitch!”
“Grab him!”
I twisted just enough to see Keenan and Dash leap over the porch railing and run after Keiran, who came after me with unsuppressed rage. The other officers had already drawn their guns on him and shouted a warning. I knew he wouldn’t have heeded if it weren’t for his brother and best friend. It took them both to bring him down, and they all hit the ground hard once they did. I winced at the impact, but Keiran didn’t seem to notice. His gaze was fixated on me, and within its depths, I witnessed the anger and disbelief.
“Uncle Keke.” Kennedy’s broken cry ripped through the night air. The sounds of distress and what seemed like the entire police department’s invasion had disturbed her slumber. Sheldon held her back, and I could see tears in both her and Willow’s eyes. Willow held her very pregnant belly, and I silently prayed nothing would happen to the baby because of me. I’d never be able to survive the added guilt.
“You better get him under control if you don’t want him going downtown, too. We’ve got plenty of room.”
“We got this, officer,” Keenan spat. I knew he had another word in mind to call the man but knew better with his fiancée and child standing a few feet behind. At least one of them was thinking clearly.
As I was loaded into the back of the cruiser, I glanced one last time at Keiran. I had no idea what would happen next, but I didn’t regret what I had done. I just hoped he would forgive me.
*
EARLIER THAT DAY
“So, Will.” Keenan cleared his throat and grinned, and I knew—I just fucking knew—he was about to say something stupid. We’d all kind of gravitated here for the day and were now sitting around Keenan and Sheldon’s living room. “How does it feel to be pregnant?”
I groaned remembering how sensitive Sheldon was at this stage of her pregnancy. Keenan had no clue what he was walking into. Keiran and I shared a look, but it was too late.
“Like there’s an alien invasion happening in my uterus.”
“Really? I always thought it would feel more like butterfly flutters in your belly.”
Keiran groaned.
“You would because you don’t have a uterus.”
“True, but—”
“Nope,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You guys just poke your penis where it doesn’t belong and your job is done for the next nine months.”
“Babe—” Dash began but was cut off by a vicious glare from Willow.
“Don’t ‘babe’ me. It’s hot, and I feel like a whale swimming in a desert.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Can it, Chambers. You’re getting laid tonight. You don’t need to kiss my ass.”
She’d gone too far that time—pregnant or not. Dash’s nostrils flared as he leaned toward her to whisper in her ear. Unfortunately, I was close enough to hear. “If you don’t watch your attitude, I’ll be spanking that ass later instead of kissing it.”
Willow blushed and ducked her head while Dash sat back with a smug look. It was incredible how rightfully wrong two people could be for each other. It was evident Dash liked taking control, and Willow enjoyed pushing him to do it.
“So, I was thinking we could start teaching Ken to play basketball.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little early? She still needs two hands to hold the ball,” Sheldon argued.