Page 64 of Kissing Kayley

“They’re going to take you home,” Vic continued. “I’ll meet you in DC. I’ve already talked to Leo and he’s booking a charter flight for you and your parents out of LA for Sunday morning. He wants you in DC, especially to help him with Elliot and his parents.”

I was still stuck trying to process… everything.

He gathered my hands in his. “Baby,please. Ineedyou to go with them. They want me back in DC immediately. I’m leaving with the team they have deployed out here once we finish packing.”

I sniffled. “I want to stay with you. Why can’t I go to DC with you?”

He gently cupped my face and kissed me. “We talked about me being in charge, right?”

I nodded.

“Then please, baby, do this for me. Follow my instructions. Let them take you home, okay?”

I struggled not to burst into tears. “See? My birthdays are cursed.”

He managed a wry smile and pulled me into his arms, his chin rubbing the top of my head. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. And I’ll pack the rest of your things and bring them with me to DC so you’ll have them.”

“Can I stay with you?” I asked against his shoulder, where my mouth was pressed. “In DC?”

He started to answer before he hesitated.

I said it so he didn’t have to. “I know, I know. Leo wants me in the residence with them, right?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“You can stay there with me, can’t you?”

“We’ll see. That’s not up to me. I’ll ask.” He tipped my head back to stare into my eyes. “I love you. This will be okay.”

He slanted his lips over mine and I closed my eyes, savoring this kiss, never wanting it to end.

If it didn’t end I could ignore the creeping horror struggling to break through that, despite the victim’s shitty nature, my brother-in-law and his family just experienced a horrific, traumatic loss.

And that Elliot, Leo, and Jordan were second-hand witnesses.

Fuuuck.

I really needed to suck it up because my problems paled in comparison to theirs.

“I love you, too,” I said once he ended the kiss.

He helped me into the back of the car while the two agents climbed in the front, Jenette behind the wheel.

Vic leaned in for one last kiss. “Text me as much as you want, but if I’m in the air or driving I might not be able to respond right away.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

“Be my good girl, okay?”

I nodded even as it felt like my heart was twisting into a painful knot. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl.”

One last kiss before he shut the door, tapped the top of the roof twice, and we sped down the long driveway toward the front gate.

I turned to look out the rearview window and the sight of him standing there growing smaller in the distance nearly broke my heart.

Goddammit.