Page 63 of Illicit Games

Sliding off Kian’s lap, where we’re sitting in the back of the moving limousine, I dial Rosalie’s number.

Her screeching voice bleeds into my ear after she picks up on the first ring. “I’m going to kill you. Where the hell have you been, Iris?”

“Wait a sec. Let me add Bianca too.”

“She’s with me,” she informs. “You’re on speaker.”

“Jesus! Iris. You had us scared!” yells Bianca. “You don’t just kiss your fiancé’s older brother and disappear on us.”

“FYI,” grumbles Rosalie. “I only like plot twists in my books. Not in real life, certainly not from my best friend.”

They haven’t heard the major twist.

I am so fucked.

“You better start talking, Miss Runaway,” orders Bianca.

“Well,” I clear my throat and confess past the boulder in my throat, “Kian and I are together.”

“Stockholm syndrome confirmed,” Rosalie says dryly.

“Well, duh,” says Bianca. “No one kisses like that unless they’re in love. Before you tell us how you won that grump’s stone-cold heart, tell us where you are. Dash said he couldn’t get in touch with Kian either. You’re both together, right?”

“He and I are in Seattle.”

“Seattle?” I hear Rosalie shout. “You fled the country?”

“Kind of,” I sheepishly reply, absently tracing Kian’s fingers curled around my thigh.

In a butthurt tone, she accuses, “But that was our thing, traitor. You, me, and Bianca.”

I can’t help but smile at her reaction. Last year, the three of us had skipped town and traveled to Vegas without telling any of our men. Rosalie had recently got married to Nova, her nemesis back then, and was developing real feelings for him. It seemed like the perfect idea until it blew up in our faces.

“You’re being silly, Ro,” I reply. “And I’ll be coming back.”

Honestly, I thought Nathan would’ve filled their ears and turned them against me. So, this is a good sign.

“You better or else I’ll fly there.”

“I’ll explain everything to you guys when I’m back. It’s a very long story, and I don’t want to do it over the phone,” I explain. “I called to let you know that I’m safe.”

“You’re killing us here!” complains Bianca. “We need answers.”

“Like right now!” demands Rosalie.

“I will, once I’m back. Trust me, I desperately need to talk to you guys. I hate keeping secrets from you.”

“Okay.” They both sigh.

“How’s Nathan?” I cautiously ask. Kian goes rigid next to me.

A silent beat passes before Bianca replies, “No clue. But he stormed out right after both you and Kian left.”

“Did Nova mention anything?”

“He went after Nathan,” shares Rosalie in a somber voice. “But Nathan asked for privacy. How did this happen, babe? I thought you were in love with him. Nobody falls out of it in less than two months.”

“You’re right. Once I tell you the whole story, you’ll understand. Just promise me one thing.”