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Then in a flash, that familiar smirk appears.

“Not yet.” His breathing is still uneven. “I’ll finish what I started when you’re ready.”

“I am ready,” I say, surprising myself with my boldness.

His expression grows pained. “No, you’re not. But you will be.” He swims forward and presses a kiss to my temple. “And when you are, you come to me, okay?”

Disappointment coils in my chest, but I nod.

I should be relieved. Grateful, even. He’s giving me control. Choice. All the things I’ve longed for.

My body might be trembling, aching for more, but that’s only natural

I broke a barrier with him, even if he doesn’t want to show it. Sure, he’s back to his calm exterior now. But I saw the break in his reserve.

And that’s good for me. It means I have power.

20

Ava

I’m yanked from the darkness by a sound. Something loud. It takes my sleepy brain a long while to realize it was a knock.

A moment later, the door swings open. Kane steps inside, his expression unreadable. “There’s a car waiting for you outside.”

I frown as I sit up. “What?” My voice is raspy from sleep.

“Damian told me to take you to the airport. Now.”

My mind stumbles over his words. The airport? When Damian walked me to my room after we got out of the pool, he told me I’d be having breakfast with him in the morning. At seven a.m. sharp before my morning class. What is going on?

I sit up. “Why?”

Kane’s jaw ticks. “Your dad is in the hospital. We got a call from your sister Violet.”

My heart jumps into my throat. I reach for my nightstand, my hands stumbling to find my phone. Except it’s not there.

Of course it’s not. I haven’t had my phone for weeks.

Damian has it.

That’s how he got the call from Violet.

A cold rush of dread rolls down my spine. “What happened?” My voice comes out too high, too tight. “Is my dad okay?”

“We don’t know anything yet. We just need to get you to the airport.”

“Yes.” I nod as I stumble out of bed, looking in the direction of my huge walk-in closet. What do I do? Pack of course. My brain is so foggy I can’t seem to command my body to my will.

“Don’t worry about taking anything with you. We need to get you home. Soon.”

Soon. My chest grows so tight I can hardly breathe. He’s saying this because he knows it’s serious.

What if my dad is dying?

No, I can’t think that way. I don’t know anything yet. I just need to leave.

“My wallet,” I say. “I need my ID.”