I'm pissed I gotta leave my gun behind, but I’ll be able to find one easily where I'm going.
Exiting my room, I look over to the guest room. Fuck. Sam. How could I forget about him? Damn it.
“Sam,” I whisper into his room, expecting him to be asleep. But he's not. He's sitting on the bed with all the lights on, watching something on the tablet I let him use.
“Hi,” he says, smiling brightly. God, this makes it so much worse.
“Can we talk?” I ask, stepping farther into the room. He looks at my bag and frowns.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“About that," I say, biting my lip. "That's what I need to talk to you about.” I place the bag on the ground and take a seat on the edge of the bed. “There's a lot you won't understand about me or my life. And I know we just met, but I feel this connection to you. I want you here. I want you safe. I have to go away for a little while. But I'll be back. You can stay here; this apartment is yours. No one but Evie is allowed in here. She will be here for you when I can't.” God, I hope he understands because I'm already about to piss off enough people.
“Oh,” he says, looking down at his hands.
“Sam...”
“No. I get it. I don't know why you have to go, but I just hope you come back the same... you,” he grins sadly.
“And what “me” would that be?” I laugh.
“My guardian angel,” he whispers.
LIKE A FUCKING NINJA, I sneak through the guys’ house. I waited until night to say goodbye to Rosie. Cass isn't home right now, and I don't want to risk waking up the others. If Neo found out that I was leaving, there's no way he would let me go. I would have to shoot him, just to slow him down.
Cass asked me where I was planning on going, but I didn't tell him. I didn't want to risk Neo beating the answer out of him to come after me.
As hard as it is to admit to myself, I am falling in love with the crazy bastard. And I feel like shit with what I'm about to do. But Cass is right. I need this. I can't think right with everything that's going on. Big changes are about to come, and I need to be ready. Mind, body, and soul.
Just when I think I’m about to make it undetected to Rosie’s room, I almost trip over something. “Quack!” Daisy practically yells at me.
“Shh! Don't blow my cover, you little shit,” I whisper harshly at the duck. “Shouldn't you be in there with your mother? It's way past your bedtime.” She just quacks at me again.
Quickly I scoop her up and dash into Rosie's room. Placing Daisy down on the bed, she ruffles her feathers before getting comfy and falling asleep. Shaking my head, I slightly chuckle. Silly bird.
“Mama?” Rosie’s eyes blink open. Her beautiful, blue ones find mine. I'm hit with a wave of guilt and sorrow. How the hell do I leave this amazing, little human behind for any amount of time? God, I hope she doesn't hate me.
“Hey, Kiddo,” I smile.
“What's wrong?” she asks, sitting up.
“Nothing’s wrong, Sweetie, Mama just wanted to see you.”
“Oh,” she tilts her head. “No. That's not it,” she shakes her head.
Smart kid.
“You're too smart for your own good sometimes,” I grin, and she giggles. “Mama wanted to talk to you before she leaves.”
“Leaves? Where are you going?”
“I have to go away for a little bit. But I'll be back. Mama’s been working really hard, and I need to get away for a little while.”
“Can I come?” she pouts. Fuck.
“No, Baby Girl. Where Mama’s going, little girls aren't allowed,” I say, wanting to shoot myself in the foot for crushing my baby girl's heart.
“But you're gonna come back?”