“We will leave in twenty minutes. You need to get dressed.”
I walk into the bathroom, grab one of my suits, and then head to one of the other bathrooms to get ready. I can’t be near her. I can’t help her put clothes on. I doubt she will wear anything suitable to go out in public in any way. I’ll just tell her she has to stay, and I’ll deal with her a different day.
I glance at my watch after twenty minutes exactly have passed.
“I’m leaving. You ready?” I shout up the stairs. I continue fidgeting with the watch, remembering the one Kai stole when I hear her footsteps stomping down the stairs. Even as light as she is, she has no idea how to be quiet on her feet.
I look up when her feet still in front of me.
“Fuck,” I curse.
“That bad?” she asks.
I don’t know what to say. I thought at most she’d wear a loose T-shirt. Maybe she’d find an oversized dress I had Westcott pick out to fill her closet. But I didn’t expect this.
Kai is dressed in tight dark jeans, a flowy black halter top that pushes her boobs up, and strappy heels. She’s not wearing any makeup, but she’s combed her hair into shiny tendrils framing her face in dark lines.
“I couldn’t find any makeup, and my hair could use a trim, but I thought I looked alr—”
“You look beautiful, Kai. You don’t need makeup or anything at all, but I’ll make sure Westcott buys you some before your next outing.”
She smiles with a nervous lip.
“You going to be able to walk in those shoes?”
“I didn’t figure I’d be walking far.”
“You never know when you’ll need to run away from danger at Surrender.” Or me.
If she would find a way to disappear, then I could let her go. I’m just not sure she’s strong enough to leave alone.
She follows me to the garage and hops in my Porsche without waiting for me to tell her to. It’s like something has changed in her overnight. She’s tired of living scared. It’s like knowing that more of her life was taken than she realized made her want to start living her life now instead of waiting.
I’m in my own head on the drive over, trying to decide why I want her at the club.
Because Surrender is where the truth will eventually come out—whether that’s today or a year from now. Eventually, she will learn the truth here.
I pull up outside the back entrance to the club. No one knows of this entrance but me, and now Kai. Everyone else enters through the single entrance at the front.
“Ready for this?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I’m guessing I will pass out in fear and you’ll have to carry me home again.”
“Please don’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Just don’t. I won’t push you. If you need a break, just tell me or Langston or Zeke, and we will find a private room for you by yourself.”
“No, push me. I need to be pushed to heal.”
I lead her inside. Through the dark hallways that only she and I can see in. It’s nice not to have to touch her to lead her or turn on a light. I prefer the black.
We walk to one of the main public rooms, and I find Langston prowling.
Kai stalks in behind me, holding her head up and proud.
“Katherine, would you like a drink?” I ask using her true name instead of the one people might recognize here as the dead coming back to life.