Page 49 of The Burdens We Share (Satan’s Angels #3)

Ivory

I take one last long look at Dallas’ bedroom and sigh.

This is the last time I’ll see these walls, this bed.

Dread forms a heavy pit in my stomach. I don’t want to leave any of this.

I’ll miss the sheets that smell of his designer cologne, the shows I would force him to watch on this TV, but I know I’ll miss him more than anything.

But the loss of all of this is a small price to pay in exchange for Brody’s life.

I feel my eyes beginning to water and shake my head, silently scolding myself. No. I have to stay focused. I don’t have time to cry. It’s eight-fifteen and I need to get moving if I want to get to set by nine.

I changed into a pair of pink silk pajama shorts and a matching tank top.

I formed the perfect plan in my mind and this is part of it.

I rush out of Dallas’ room after tucking a slip of paper in his pillowcase, forcing myself to avoid looking around so as to spare myself more dread and hurry down the stairs where everyone is still stationed working on finding Brody.

I feel guilty because I know where she is and they’re all frantically searching.

I remind myself that they’ll see her soon, just not me.

As soon as I appear in the kitchen, Dallas’ heavy gaze finds mine and I instantly feel a new wave of sadness washing over me, pain lodged in my throat like a golf ball.

He looks so exhausted, so overworked. My feet start walking to him before my brain can think and before I know it, I’m standing directly in front of him, only inches apart.

We’re on eye level as he sits on a barstool.

Harvey is seated beside him and is locked in a hushed conversation with Selene.

Sly and Aria are seated at the kitchen table, watching what I can only assume is more security footage.

Aria glances up at me and gives me a brief look at what seems to be apprehension before she schools her features and focuses back on the screen. Weird.

I focus back on Dallas. My Dallas. The man I love, but have to say goodbye to. “Hey,” I whisper.

He frowns, seeing something on my face. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head and give him a jaded smile, “Nothing new. Just missing Brody.”

Dallas leans in and kisses my forehead, “I promised you I’ll find her,” his voice is a whisper against my skin. Goosebumps form on my skin and I suddenly feel the overwhelming need to touch him, be held by him.

I wrap my arms around his neck and he shifts in his seat to face me completely.

Our eyes meet and I bring my lips to his, kissing him slowly.

He kisses me back of course, and I have to remind myself that we have an audience as I slowly break our connection.

“I’m going to bed,” I lie, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

His brows furrow, “Bed?” Of course it would be preposterous that I would go to bed at a time like this. Hence why I changed into the pajamas.

I nod, “I need a couple of hours and then I’ll watch the security footage while Aria and Sly get some rest.” I don’t even have to offer rest to Harvey, Dallas, or Selene. I know the three of them wouldn’t rest at all in a time like this, especially not Harvey.

Dallas considers this for a moment before he nods, “You’re right. Get some rest, baby.”

I realize this is the last moment we’re going to share. Tears threaten to form behind my eyes and I have to sink my teeth into my bottom lip to stop them as I nod at him. “Goodnight,” I mutter quietly.

I take a step back, pivoting on my heel to head back towards the stairs when a hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me. I know it’s him by the way he touches me. I know the feel of his skin like it’s my own.

I don’t turn around. “Ivory,” I wince at the use of my full name. I’ll never hear my nickname come from his lips again.

He sighs, “I promise you I am going to do everything in my power to make sure you never have to feel this way again.”

I slip and glance at him over my shoulder. The conviction on his face like he believes every word he says causes bile to rise up my throat. If only he knew that after this he’ll never see me again. “I know,” I force out, the words choked.

He hesitates before he releases my wrist and I take the opportunity to turn back around and head out of the kitchen as tears start to stream down my cheeks. I don’t make a sound, holding my breath until I’m out of earshot.

See, the most important part of my plan is that I know Dallas’ home like it’s my own.

Because in many ways, it’s started to feel like my own.

That’s why when I return up the stairs, I walk right past his room where I left a pair of white sneakers and put them on.

That’s also why I walk in the opposite direction down to the east wing of the house where there’s a second staircase that leads to the front of the house.

I descend the stairs, careful to keep my steps silent and walk past the front door because I know Dallas Carter better than anyone.

I know he has men stationed by the door.

I make it to the downstairs bathroom and step inside, closing the door behind me, but not locking it.

There’s no need, nobody knows what I’m doing.

I put the toilet lid down and step on it, sliding the glass window open about eight inches, careful not to lift it any higher so as not to set off any alarms. I know Dallas and his security, so I need to be extra cautious.

I take a long, deep breath and remind myself that all of this is for Brody before I stick my head out the window and check to make sure nobody is in sight.

When I find nobody, a relieved sigh leaves my lips and I start shoving the rest of my body out the window.

I use my hands to break my fall on the grass and check one more time to make sure nobody is around before I dust myself off and start walking around the side of the house, careful to stick to the siding to avoid the cameras.

I make it to the edge and peek out at the front of the house. Fuck. Two men as predicted are right at the front door. There’s no way I can make it to the street without being seen.

I’m watching them, trying to formulate a new plan when a thud in the grass behind me steals my attention.

I jump and swallow a gasp as I turn around, ice running down my spine with fear.

My jaw drops when I find Aria in the grass, wiping her palms off on her leggings.

“You know, if you’re gonna jump out of a window, could you at least put a mattress or pillow down next time?

I feel like I just got hit by a truck and then the truck reversed and hit me again. What the fuck?”

“Shhhh,” I shush her, peeking around at the front to see if the men heard anything. They’re still engulfed in whatever conversation they’re having, so I turn and focus on her, my brows creasing with anger, “What the fuck are you doing here?” I whisper-yell at her.

She crosses her arms over her chest, looking down at me with absolutely no amusement, “Are you forgetting I’m your best friend and I know you better than anyone?

Dallas may have bought the whole ‘I’m going to bed’ lie, but I didn’t.

I know you would never go to bed if Brody was missing.

So I followed you,” she explains, pride in her voice.

“Congratulations, Nancy Drew. You got me. Now go back inside,” I demand, my voice deepening. She really can’t be following me. I was instructed to show up alone.

She grins at me like I just made the funniest joke she’s ever heard.

“You seriously think I would go back inside after catching you sneaking out to God knows where? Even if I could fit my ass back through that window, I wouldn’t.

Now, why don’t you save us both the trouble of arguing and tell me where you’re running off to? ”

I keep my lips sealed.

She crosses her arms over her chest and cocks her head at me, “Today preferably.”

I mutter, “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Can’t,” I repeat, my eyes widening with the severity of the situation.

She studies me for a moment before her smile falls. “This has to do with Brody.” It isn’t a question, it’s a statement. She knows me well enough to have an idea of what’s going on.

I lament, “Aria, please go back inside and pretend you didn’t see me.”

“You know where she is,” again, not a question.

I frown, lowering my gaze to the grass.

“Where is she?” She presses, urgency in her tone.

“I can’t tell you because if I tell you someone could get seriously hurt. So I need you to trust me the way you always have. Brody will be back soon if you just go back inside,” I explain quickly because seriously, I’m running out of time here.

Aria winces, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

Her brows knit with worry, “You said Brody will be back soon. What about you?”

I sigh, “I won’t be coming back.”

She flinches like I just slapped her across the face. “What?”

“Aria, please go back inside,” I beg.

“Like I would ever leave you after you just basically told me you’re gonna die,” she looks personally offended.

“Ivory Aslan, you are my best friend and I fucking love you. We’ve been through more than enough shit together with Brody and the three of us will never be separated.

She’s coming back, and so are you, and I’ll be with you two.

So, tell me what’s going on, and then let’s go get our drummer back. ”

I want so badly to tell her everything, to have someone watching my back, but my instructions were clear. “I really can’t. It would only put her in danger. You seeing me leaving is putting her in danger.”

She rolls her eyes, “Well then you shouldn’t have made it so painfully obvious that you were up to something.”

I scoff, “I did not. Nobody else suspected me.”

“And I’m not nobody else. I know you better than everyone, remember?”

Valid point indeed.