Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aiden ran a frustrated hand through his hair, angry with himself and the situation he found himself in. He’d wanted to come home and move on, so despite the threats and warnings, it had been too hard to accept the fact that he was truly unsafe.
He could see now, he’d performed some damned good mental gymnastics to convince himself he’d be okay if he could just hold on until the article was published. He’d been in complete denial about the danger.
Until Brooke was in the car with him when the SUV tried to hit them. Her scream still echoed in his ears and brought reality home to him. She could have been killed, and it would have been his fault. He hadn’t been worried enough about himself, but he loved Brooke too much to risk her life ever again.
He’d held her all night, not catching any sleep because he knew what he had to do when morning came. Starting with telling his family and Brooke about his reality and the risk he posed to them all.
After everyone finished yelling, his father had ushered them all out, insisting Aiden and Remy come up with a reasonable plan. After listening to his oldest brother tear him a new one for not reaching out to him, to hell with his vacation, he realized he’d been living in a fantasy world.
Dex had been right, too. “Haven’t you ever heard of retribution?”
Aiden had no idea what would or wouldn’t motivate someone to come for him, be it to stop him from publishing the article or for payback because he hadn’t. Would they come for him? His family? Brooke?
He had to leave so the people he loved didn’t have targets on their backs.
Turning to Remy, who had suggested he leave town, he said, “You’re right. I don’t know if the threat will go away once the article comes out. I only have one choice. I have to leave New York.”
A gasp sounded behind him and he spun around to see Brooke staring at him in wide-eyed disbelief. “What did you just say?”
Shit, shit, and double shit. “Brooke, listen.” He intended to explain everything in detail so she understood he had no alternative.
“No, I will not listen. You are not leaving when you just decided to stay.” She set her hands on her hips and glared at him.
God, she was beautiful in her fury. His girl had found her voice. Unlike five years ago when he’d dictated how things would be, today, she stood up to him and he admired the hell out of her for doing so.
“Brooke…” He reached for her, but she took a step back.
“Do not try and placate me,” she warned him.
“I have to leave so everyone, including you, will be safe. But it’s temporary and I’ll come back when the threat is gone. I swear.” His heart hammered hard in his chest, but she needed to let him do what was right. He’d put everyone at risk for too long.
She narrowed her gaze, her suspicion clear. “And when will that be?” she asked.
Remy cleared his throat and met her gaze. “Based on what we know about the corruption that Aiden will expose in the article, I think he’s right about the country involved launching an investigation. But the idea that the people behind all this will disappear because the article ran is flawed.”
Brooke bit down on her lower lip.
Aiden used her silence to speak. “It’ll take time for the people responsible for both the corruption and Ingrid’s death to be held accountable. Until then, everyone will be safer away from me. I can lay low somewhere they can’t find me.” He hated the idea of being alone somewhere, hiding out away from his family and away from Brooke. “Think of it like witness protection.”
Brooke glared at him.
“That means no contact, doesn’t it?” Lizzie asked.
Aiden hadn’t realized her mother had walked into the room, his father’s arm around her shoulders.
“Yes,” Aiden said. There was no use lying or hedging the question. “But Remy promised to move heaven and earth to get this situation resolved quickly.”
She turned to the oldest Sterling sibling. “How long will that take?” Her words sounded more like a demand.
Remy rubbed his hand over his stubbled jaw. “It’s hard to say. I think it’s clear that these are some powerful people we’re dealing with. Taking them down could take weeks… months…”
“Years?” she asked in a hollow voice.
“Maybe,” Remy admitted.
“No. Absolutely not,” Brooke said.
If he hadn’t convinced her by now, he never would. “I have to do this, so there’s no point in further discussion.”
Shooting an apologetic glance at everyone, he walked out of the room, leaving his heart behind him. It killed him to think about leaving them, especially Brooke, but keeping them safe was his priority.
He stormed up the stairs to his bedroom and started to pack.