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I placed the note on the pillow next to him, allowing myself one last look at his sleeping form. Then, steeling myself against the ache in my chest, I turned and walked out of the room.
I headed straight to my father's room. He was sound asleep, but I couldn’t leave without the knowledge that I at least said goodbye to him. Because I may never see him again after I return home.
Stepping into the room, I watched the steady rise and fall of each breath that he took and was grateful I had the chance to meet him. Leaning over, I placed a kiss on his brow, and silently left the room.
The house was quiet as I made my way downstairs, my footsteps muffled on the thick carpet. I had almost reached the front door when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Leaving without saying goodbye?”
I turned to see Declan leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
“I thought it would be easier this way,” I said, barely above a whisper.
He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. “For you, maybe. Not for him.”
I felt a flash of anger at his words. “Don’t pretend you care about his feelings. You’re the one who put us in danger, who lied to us.”
Declan’s eyes hardened. “Everything I’ve done has been to protect this family. Including you.”
“I never asked for your protection,” I shot back. “I never asked for any of this.”
He set down his glass and took a step towards me. “But it’s who you are, Kat. Whether you like it or not, this blood runs in your veins. You can’t run from it forever.”
I hefted my bag onto my shoulder, meeting his gaze defiantly. “Watch me.”
As I reached for the door handle, Declan spoke again, his voice softer this time. “He loves you, you know. More than I’ve ever seen him love anyone.”
I paused, my hand on the cool metal. “I know,” I whispered. “That’s why I have to go. I’m taking your Caddy; I’ll leave it at Pearson Airport.”
Without another word, I stepped out into the predawn darkness, leaving behind the only family I’d ever known and the man I loved more than I thought possible.
∞∞∞
As I drove away from the estate, tears blurring my vision, I tried to convince myself I was doing the right thing. But the ache in my chest told a different story. I had barely made it to the main road when I found myself pulling over, overwhelmed by emotion.
I sat there for a long moment, my forehead resting against the steering wheel as sobs wracked my body. The sky was just beginning to lighten, the first hints of dawn painting the horizon in soft pinks and golds. It was beautiful, but all I could feel was the crushing weight of what I was leaving behind.
Tears streamed down my face as I pushed onward. How I made it to the airport was nothing short of a miracle, I thought to myself as I parked Declan’s Cadillac in the long-term lot, leaving the keys under the floor mat.
As I walked into the terminal, I began to feel lost. For months, my life had revolved around the Clan, around Rory. Now I was truly on my ownagain.
I woodenly went up to the ticket counter, my heart pounding. This was it. The point of no return.
“One-way ticket to Las Vegas, please,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
The attendant tapped at her keyboard. “We have a flight leaving in an hour. Will that work for you?”
I nodded, handing over my credit card. As she processed the transaction, I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Rory bursting through the doors to stop me. And if he had, I would have left with him in a heartbeat. But the terminal remained quiet, filled only with sleepy-eyed travelers and harried businesspeople.
“Here you are, Miss,” the attendant said, handing me my ticket and passport. “Have a safe flight.”
I mumbled my thanks and made my way through security. As I sat at the gate, waiting to board, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a terrible mistake. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t live in that world of violence and danger. I couldn’t be the person they wanted me to be.
“Now boarding Flight 237 to Las Vegas,” a voice announced over the intercom.
I stood up, grabbing my bag. This was it. As I walked down the jet bridge, each step felt heavier than the last. I found my seat and stowed my bag, then sank into the chair, feeling utterly drained.
As the plane taxied down the runway, I looked out the window at the countryside fading into the distance. Somewhere out there was the estate, and Rory, and the life I was leaving behind.
