That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

out the door, Kurt’s arm around me. I know if I don’t move fast, I’m going to break down, and I’m not sure I will come back from it this time.

“Get me out of here, now!” I demand as he lifts me up into the front seat of the SUV.

No words are spoken as he backs out of the driveway and accelerates down the road in a hurry.

Pushing the button on the dash for the phone, he directs it to call Ghost.

“Asha, are you okay? I heard it all.” The concern in Ghost’s voice is so sweet. The man of steel is a softy deep down.

“No, I’m not, but I’m holding it together; I’m just not sure for how long.”

Kurt says, “Ghost, I need to get her to our safehouse so she can process this overnight before we worry about tomorrow. She needs time.” Kurt’s asking, pleading, and demanding all in one.

“I understand. It’s ready for you, and once you say the word, I will have Jacinta Nordick the lawyer visit to prep for the court case.”

I can’t help myself, and the groan just comes out.

“Really, Ghost, you couldn’t wait until later to deliver that message?” Kurt growls at him.

“I wish I could, Bull, but you know time is critical. Take some time, let it out, regroup, and we move on. It’s our only choice.”

I look across at Kurt who is alternating between watching the road and waiting to see my reaction.

“I understand,” I say. “We talked about this. Once we started, we couldn’t stop until it was done. Just give me a few hours and send her over. I’ll be ready.” I look out the window, trying to count in my head to slow it all down.

“Bullshit in a few hours, send her tomorrow.” Kurt is not happy at my answer.

“No.” I glare at him now. “My life, my decisions. I want this over, so the sooner the better.”

Seeing I mean business, he gives in. “Fine,” Kurt grunts at Ghost. “We’ll be in touch.”

“For fuck’s sake.” He slams his hand down on the steering wheel as we drive to god knows where. I’ve given up caring where we’re going. I just need to get away to a place by myself with Kurt and let it out, because this won’t be pretty. It will be a full-on ugly cry.

“I know the time factor is important, but you need a break to process this,” he says, his frustration raging.

Looking at him, I know that every nerve in his body is alive and screaming at him. “Kurt, if I were your client, would you be giving me the same grace?”

His eyes feel like they are burning through me in his quick glance before turning back to look at the road ahead. “But you’re not, are you! You’re the love of my life, and I hate what is happening right now, and I can’t do a fucking thing to stop this hurt they are causing you.” If he wasn’t such a strong man in his protective mode, I could almost see a tear in the corner of his eye.

“No, you can’t, and we knew that when we agreed to do this.” I reach over and touch his arm, squeezing it to let him know I’m okay. “All you can do, Kurt, is be here to help me through it. I need you, and there is no way I’ll get through this without you. Now get me to somewhere that you can either let me scream and cry or find another way to take out my frustrations.”

Kurt turns to look at me and instantly we share a special bond that helps us both to see past our anger.

The laughter starts, and I can’t contain it as he starts raising his eyebrows.

“Only you would think of that right now, my little vixen.” Kurt’s laughter rumbles through the car too.

“What are you talking about? I meant, you know, maybe give me a hammer to smash something to smithereens or a few plates to break. Why, what were you thinking my distraction should be?” I try to act all serious and innocent, even though my giggles are still escaping.

“You know exactly what I was thinking. My mind went straight to where you were leading it. And just so you know, I’m more than happy to distract you and take your mind off things, however, I’m not sure Ghost watching through the surveillance is what you were thinking of. Because I can tell you now, I don’t share, ever!”

We drive a bit farther, and I let him know that he can relax. “I’m okay, I truly am. I just needed a minute to breathe. You give me that. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m in awe of you.” The emotion in a few simple words nearly breaks the dam I’ve been holding onto since we left the house.

When I hold my hand up and wave it in front of my face to keep the tears at bay, he understands I’m on the edge.

The rest of the journey is in silence, with a quick phone call from Ghost just checking in on us both.

This time, instead of the safehouse being a random place in the suburbs, we pull up to a high-rise that looks very up-market in downtown Chicago. Ghost gives Kurt the codes to get into the underneath parking and then the apartment.

Within five minutes of arriving, I’m standing at the glass wall looking out at a city I had no idea about, but I realize somewhere down there is where my fate will lie.

In a courtroom full of strangers, I will come face to face with the men who want me dead and hope to god the judge locks them up and throws away the keys.

“You need to let it go, Asha.”

His hands turn me to face him and take me so gently to his chest. It’s all I need, and my body starts shaking.

The sobbing and gasping for air drown out my thoughts. It’s like I’m in my