Page 88 of Unexpectedly You

Haden

Love you too, Angel.

“Jay? Are you okay?” Kai’s friend, detective Shine asks.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“We’re close.” he says, but this time for everyone.

We met Shine in the evening when he came to our place. Kai’s big plan, as Haden had called it, was to involve his friend, a detective, to frame Dick for human trafficking and sexual exploitation through modern slavery, as well as illegal money lending, and some other things he mentioned but my mind can’t remember right now. If what they’re saying is true, Dick is going to go away for a long, long time.

It took them fifteen minutes to explain the plan we’re going—I’mgoing to execute in the next ten minutes.

Haden wasn’t happy with the idea of me going into the lion’s den, and neither was I. Until they told me Dick could get between twenty and thirty years. If it meant being free of Dick for that long, and from Haden’s parents, then I’m willing to do everything in my power to make that happen.

We spent an hour discussing pros and cons, Haden always thinking about my safety first, but there wasn’t any way to avoid this. He nearly lost it when his lawyer told him the emergency hearing was on the same day.

My mind goes there, and I let the memories soothe me.

“He’s not going there alone.” The fierce look in his eyes makes my skin tingle with awareness. He’s so strong and protective, and the love he has for me is pouring out to reach me.

“Haden.” Kai tries to make him see reason.

“Would you send the man you love inside that place?” He’s facing Kai, but the question is for both of them.

I watch Kai biting his lips, Shine shuffling from one side to the other, and Haden’s triumphant look makes me chuckle internally.

“Mr Taylor—”

“Call me Haden. If you’re asking me to put Jay in danger, the least you can do is call me by my name.” And then he mutters, “And that’s my father’s name, and I’m nothing like him.”

I want to reach out and touch him, and allow him to touch me, until we’re one again.

“Haden. It’s the only way, and the most secure way to catch him in the act. We’ll have the proof on tape, and there won’t be anything they can do to refute it.”

“I hear you, but I don’t like it.”

“We’ll be there with him. Not you,” he says to Kai, before bringing his attention back to Haden. He ignores Kai’s outraged face.

“This was my idea.”

“Yep, and my execution. You’re out.”

Haden’s smirk is priceless, as is Kai’s, who sticks out his tongue to both of them.

“I’ll do it,” I say to stop the back and forth.

“Angel?”

“We all know I have to do it. Let’s stop the discussion and make this a plan no one can break.”

“Jay?”

I return to the car and the plan. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Even if I’m not, there’s no way I’m running away now.