He backed up slowly, finally turning around and walking down the long, dark driveway until he disappeared into the night.

I just stared after him, into the empty darkness. It’s never too late.

Banks

Present

The October wind howled outside, making the otherwise quiet house creak under the pressure. It had to be about three in the morning, but I wasn’t making any move to check my phone. Kai and I sat on the bed, me in between his legs and resting back into his chest as he sat propped up against the headboard. I fiddled with his fingers, threading mine in and out of his. Today was Halloween.

“Do you feel it?” I asked quietly.

“What?”

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs and closing my eyes. “It’s like everything is starting.”

An enormous weight had lifted off my shoulders when Damon walked out hours ago. I wondered where he went and if he was safe. I worried that he doubted how much I loved him.

But I didn’t realize how much I’d dreaded him, too.

At least part of me.

Not until he left the house, giving no indication he would come for us again, and the pain in my stomach I’d grown so used to over the years, that I barely noticed anymore, slowly started to fade away. He’d always held on so tightly. Too tightly.

But now it felt like my lungs could hold an ocean. I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to do anymore, and the best part? I could do anything I wanted do now. Go to school, try on some heels, come home at dawn, travel, volunteer, go to a bar…

Have friends.

“If you want an annulment, I’ll give you one,” Kai said, his lips brushing my hair. “We can start over. Fresh. Maybe have a date. And a proper wedding after I ask you and if you say yes.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’ll kiss you like I should’ve.”

I gave a half-smile. I could tell he felt guilty about our “wedding.”

“No.” I raised my hand, looking at my ring. “It’s part of our story, and I don’t want to change it. I like our story.”

His arm slid around my waist, tight and possessive.

“So, what’s next then?” he asked. “What do you want to do with your life now?”

“Everything.”

He breathed out a laugh. I definitely felt uncertain. And guilty. He’d already bought me clothes, but I wouldn’t let him support me. I’d have to figure out something soon. I wouldn’t be happy unless I contributed to our life.

And this house.

I mean our house, I guess.

Which reminded me…

“Why did you keep this house a secret?” I turned my head, looking up at him.

His eyes smiled back down at me. “For the same reason I liked the confessional.”

I pinched my eyebrows together, not sure I understood.

“I like my privacy, and I like my space,” he explained, “and this is the one place where I can be left quiet, hear myself think, and not be distracted. I have perspective here.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “I knew it wouldn’t be a secret forever, but I wanted to enjoy renovating it and living in it before my friends started coming and going.”

“Well, I think you’re going to be distracted with me here,” I pointed out. “I’m not that quiet.”

His chest shook with a laugh behind me. “I don’t mind your distractions.”

I hoped not, because Alex left the lingerie she bought for me for the party the other night, and I planned on closing the gate, locking the doors, and being hugely distracting really soon.

“Are there any other secret passages?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Tingles spread across my body. “Do they lead to fun things?”

“Yes.”

I smiled, my imagination running wild. I was still nervous about where my life would lead now, but I was excited, too.

I laid my head back on his shoulder, looking up into his eyes. “Will your parents hate me?”

He shook his head. “No,” he answered. “My father will hate me for about fifteen minutes, and then he’ll evolve to being just disappointed again.” He kissed my nose. “Just be who you already are. Loyal, honest, no-nonsense, blunt, and stubborn. He respects what he sees inside.”

“And your mom?”

“All my mom will care about is that you love me.” He smiled down at me. “And that we were married by a priest, of course.”

I narrowed my eyes. That’s right. It had occurred to me as odd that he’d arranged a church and a priest for a marriage he seemingly didn’t want. In researching him, I had never gotten the impression that he was particularly religious anymore, other than showing up for the rare family christening and such. He’d done it for his mom’s sake?

“She was why you—”

He nodded, his eyes softening as he held my gaze. “It was always for life, kid.”

Always for life. I couldn’t help but smile. I should’ve known. Kai didn’t make mistakes.

I kissed him, his warm mouth sending tingles spreading through my lips and down my neck. We just held each other, taking our time for once, the kisses getting deeper and more demanding.

Leaving my mouth, he kissed my forehead and then my hair again.

“Sun will be up in a couple hours.” He glanced toward the window near the bed. “So much for sleep.”

Climbing out from behind me, he pushed off the bed, and I watched him step over to his dresser. Pulling out a pair of lounge pants, he turned to me. “Shower with me?”

I laid down, resting my head on my hand. Man, that was tempting. I didn’t want to leave his side.

But something was still nagging at me. “You go ahead,” I told him, grabbing my phone. “I need to check some messages.”

He fixed me with a look that said he definitely wouldn’t be long. I watched him walk into the bathroom and waited until I heard the shower run and the glass door close shut.

Sitting up, I hurriedly scrolled through my contacts, finding who I was looking for.

Dialing, I waited as the line rang. It was the middle of the night. It might take a few tries before he woke up.

But to my surprise, the ringing stopped and a groggy voice growled at me over the line.

“Jesus, what?” Will barked.

I hopped off the bed and walked for the bedroom door. “Can you meet me? I need your help.”

Pulling Kai’s Jeep off the highway, I headed down a gravel road, the thin forest to my left the only thing between me and my father’s house. I spotted red tail lights ahead and made out Will’s SUV idling off to the right. He must’ve sped here. I’m sure he was aggravated as hell with me, getting him out of bed before dawn.

I drove past him and glanced in my rearview mirror, seeing him pull off the shoulder and follow me deeper down the road.

Finding the worn path Damon used to drive on when he’d come home too late and the gates were locked, I took the left and dipped down a small incline, rocking back and forth as I drove into the brush, coming in from the back of the property. It was the only way to get there without anyone noticing.

Possibly.

There were still motion sensors and cameras and there was always a guard walking the perimeter, but I knew from experience that by this time of the night he was probably holed up in the kitchen, eating leftovers and watching TV.

Once I saw the lights up ahead, I knew I was coming up on the back of the garages. Stopping, I parked and shut off the car. There were nine dogs, last I’d seen. Hopefully we could get them all to fit.

I climbed out of the car, taking the keys with me.

“Don’t you have a husband to slowly drain the life out of?” I heard Will complain as soon as I slammed the door. “What am I doing here?”

I held my finger over my lips. “Shh,” I told him. “I can’t do this on my own. Just stop whining.”

“Is there any reason you just didn’t bring Kai?”

“Yes!” I whisper-yelled. “He would never have let me come back here.”

I could’ve brought David and Lev, but they’d be shot on sight if they returned here.

And I wouldn’t dare bring Rika. I’d have all of them angry with me for risking putting her in any danger. Michael wouldn’t leave her alone anyway, not after what happened last night.