Page 76 of The Burdens We Share
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 andremind 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 meyou’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 togetherwithBrody 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.”
