Page 147

“Well, even if that’s true, you know Sean won’t be happy if he finds out.”

“Will he?” the kid asked. “You gonna tell him?”

“What good would that do me? I just don’t getwhy.”

The kid chuckled, more to himself than anything else. After a long moment, he sighed. “Fine. It’s because you remind me of my sister. She’s a real bossy bitch like you, too. But she’s sick, and we really need the money, and working for Sean…” He shrugged. “It’s money.”

My heart sank. Sean’s dealings left a trail of pain everywhere. This kid was just trying to help me to offset his own guilt. Who knew what kind of shit Sean had been forcing him to do until now?

“Just be safe out there, okay? Keep away from Sean.”

“What’s her name?” I asked.

The kid looked up, his brows pulled together in confusion.

“Your sister. What’s her name?”

“Sarah,” he said.

“Sarah,” I repeated. “I’ll keep her in my thoughts. You’re a good brother.”

There was noise outside the room as the other dragons woke up and started moving around. The pained expression vanished off the kid’s face like it had never been there in the first place. With a curt nod, he slipped out of the room and locked the door behind him.

Poor kid.How many people like him have been dragged through the mud by Sean and his goons?

I shook my head as if to dispel the thought. That wasn’t my problem. I moved to the window, ready to throw it open and haul ass as soon as the dragons were distracted. I kept the chisel securely in my waistband. Though it’d be a little more trouble to escape with it, I didn’t want him to get in trouble for helping me.

“Right on time.” Sean’s voice echoed through the walls of the compound. “This is it, boys. I’m finally getting my birthright clan back. This is what we’ve all worked for.”

The dragons murmured their affirmations. In the distance, engines rumbled, and tires crunched over gravel as they approached.

Steph.

My heart thundered in my ears. Part of me wanted to stay here in this room, let Steph make the trade, and fall back into his arms…

But that was just a fantasy. Steph had already proven he didn’t truly care about me. As much as my heart still yearned for him, it wasn’t enough. I had to get my son and leave this place forever. It was time for all of this to come to an end.

The front door of the compound opened.

Go time.

I wrenched the window up, not caring about the loud scraping sound it made. I clambered up onto the windowsill, kicked my feet through, then grabbed the drainpipe running along the side of the house. The aluminum groaned as I scrambled down it, threatening to pull off the house. God, it was so loud, every dragon on the premises had to have heard it.

I couldn’t think about that now. The second my feet hit the dirt, I sprinted toward the tree line, as fast as my legs would take me.

Overhead, I heard a shout. A roar of rage.

Just keep running.

33

ACE

The drive to the compound felt like a drive to the gallows.

My dragon was eager to have our fated mate back under our protection, safe in our arms, but that anticipation was not enough to outweigh the pain settling like a stone in my gut.

I didn’t want to kill Sean.