Page 19 of Serena

Serena

No. Just have him try.

Serena

He could be a serial killer for all I know.

Unknown

Get. In. The. Car.

Serena

No, thank you, Mr. Kayde.

Unknown

Option B it is.

I look up from my phone, and Caleb is just laughing like this is some sort of comedy show. The phone in his hand vibrates.

“Well, I guess we are doing this the hard way.” Then he starts walking toward me.

“Okay. Okay,” I say, lifting my hand. “I’ll get in. Just promise you won’t kill me.” He looks at my hand, then back at me.

“I promise, but I can’t say the same about Ian.” He says it with a wink.

Serena

In the car. You’re an asshole.

Unknown

Well aware of the asshole status. And you're hardheaded.

On the way to the airport, Caleb lets me know he’s Ian’s cousin and makes it clear that he has no plans to kill me.

“So, you’re the famous Serena.” His smile never leaves his face. “I’d like to personally thank you for giving my cousin sucha hard time. It’s nice to see him humbled, especially by someone as beautiful and intelligent as you.”

This guy is a natural flirt. “Are all the men in your family this charming?” I ask with amusement because he has a nonchalance about him that is refreshing, and it’s something that I need at the moment.

“They wish. Unfortunately for them, I got the best genes in all departments.” He winks again.

I lean my head against the window, enjoying the relief from the pain, now that the medication is kicking in.

“What happened to your hand?” I’m not surprised he asked, but I need a moment to come up with a lie. “I was cooking dinner last night, and the knife slipped.” He looks at me and then turns to face the road. I’m thankful for the silence for the rest of the car ride. When we arrive at the private airport, I’m so ready to get away, even if it's to work.

“Thank you for the ride, Caleb.” I extend my left hand.

“A pleasure, Serena. And do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“Next time, come up with a better lie.”

As soon as we arrived from Miami, I had Augustus, my driver, take Vee home to my parents. I updated Gabe on what happened. He didn’t ask for specifics. He never does.

I asked Caleb to drive Serena to the airport. My original plan was to show up at her doorstep and take her myself, but I was in no mood for her smart mouth, and I needed to attend a very important meeting. Ever since I saw the surveillance footage, my mind has been a mess, creating fucked-up scenarios with Serena and another man. A man whom I considered my friend until those videos. It’s maddening. If anything did happen, I’d kill him and lock her up in my penthouse.