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That’s when she lifts up her head. “Triston? Are you o-okay?”
A muscle in his cheek twitches, the only indicator he’s struggling. “I’m just fine. You?”
“I…I…” she looks at me then, her eyes filled with so much anguish, they fucking slay me. “Please tell me this wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course, it’s not your fault, sweetheart,” I grit out through clenched teeth.
“But I was so stupid going to work by myself tonight. You told me not to and I didn’t listen. I?—”
It’s Triston who answers, “This isn’t your fault, Chloe. Any of it.”
She collapses on my chest again, burrowing into me. I glare at my brother. I hope he’s reading my message.
I see his slight wince. Carrying Chloe to the bureau, I pull out pants for her to put on. It’s not the smoothest move while holding her, but I manage. Then I carry her to the bathroom door.
“Sweetheart. Put these on. I’m going to pack a bag for us while you dress. Okay?”
She wobbles on her legs but manages a nod before she disappears into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closes, I spin back around, glaring at Triston. “Tell me this wasn’t you.”
“Of course it wasn’t me,” he snaps. “You’re my fucking brother.”
I scrub a hand down my face, trying to think. Chloe clouds my judgment, because she brings out my emotional side, but I start tucking my feelings away.
“She doesn’t know anything, does she?”
“No,” I spit, starting for the closet to grab a bag. “Of course not. I know my fucking job. I always have.”
Triston lets out a long breath. “I should have trusted that. And you.”
“Yeah. You should have. And you can trust in this. Chloe is my forever. Though, if she were thinking clearly, she ought to run far away from all of us.”
“Would she go to the cops?”
“She hates cops. But even if she did, she knows nothing of the company or what we do. Only of what I did tonight. It would be my cross to bear, no one else’s.”
“But that could mean that she could rat?—”
“That’s my risk to take, Triston. And even if she does, she gets all my petty cash and my personal real estate.”
Triston looks at me like I’m crazy. Like I’m insane. As fucking usual. But I don’t care. Chloe comes out of the bathroom in her pants and darts back into my arms. It’s like she would crawl into my skin if I let her.
I pick her up and put her on my hip, throwing shit from drawers one-handed into the duffel.
Triston lets out a long breath of air. “Let me do that.”
“Hurry,” I say, going to the bathroom to collect toothbrushes and shampoo, carrying Chloe with me.
We’re ready in the next five minutes. I’ve got clothes, cash, and enough personal items to get us through for a while.
“Can you walk?” I ask Chloe.
“Yes,” she answers, as I set her on her feet.
“We’re going to have to disappear for a bit,” I say to her, wincing. She’s got school. Work. I know she’s been afraid to lean too heavily on me.
But as her green eyes meet mine, I watch a tear slip down her cheek. “Just don’t leave me, Killian. Please.”