Free Vengeance by Kelly Carrero Page B

the lives that had been destroyed because people knew me. I knew it was all Nathan’s doing, but that didn’t stop me from feeling responsible for their deaths, pain, and suffering. I had to go to Chrissy’s funeral, even if we had been frenemies in the end. We were once best friends—Chelsea, Chrissy and me—and I needed to show some respect for that. I just hoped Chelsea felt the same way.
    “What are you thinking about?” Aiden said, coming back into the room.
    “Just the whole Chrissy thing.”
    He sat down beside me, put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.
    I rested my head on his chest. “I know we didn’t get along for almost two years, but I still never wanted her to die.”
    “I know.” He kissed the top of my head then rested his cheek against it. “Have you decided if you’re going to her funeral or not?”
    “I think I should.”
    Aiden agreed with me but didn’t say it aloud.

Chapter 9
    Two hours later, Chelsea was still asleep. Lucas had gone home to get some sleep, too. His body clock had been thrown right out with all the trips to the hospital in Australia.
    I had been dozing as I slouched against Aiden’s chest. He was watching some UK television show that he’d apparently loved as a kid, but it didn’t draw me in the least bit. “You should get some sleep,” Aiden said.
    “So should you.”
    Neither of us made any effort to move. Our minds were way too active to fully shut down in order for us to sleep. Being stuck in England like prisoners did nothing to help us relax.
    I wanted to get out of there. “Do you think Nathan would have a problem if we took off somewhere to sleep?”
    Aiden didn’t respond straight away, but he knew he didn’t need to. I could already hear his inner monologue as he tried to decide what Nathan’s reaction would be. For one, we had already been going somewhere else to sleep since Nathan had paid us that little visit while we were asleep and he didn’t seem to mind. But maybe he would have a problem with it after how long I had disappeared last time by myself.
    I scooted off the lounge, practically falling over Aiden’s legs. “He’s downstairs.”
    “Who’s downstairs?”
    “Nathan!”
    “What are you going to do?” Aiden asked as he pushed himself up off the lounge. He was worried I was going to rush in and do something stupid.
    I needed to do something about the way we were standing there, me pumped with energy and Aiden stricken with worry. I was sick of having to pretend for the cameras—if there were cameras at all. That was going to be one of the first things I was going to find out from Nathan when I saw him. But until I knew for sure, I had to play it safe.
    I picked up the end of Aiden’s shirt and pulled him toward me. He instinctively wrapped his arms around me and drew me into his embrace. I leaned my head against his chest momentarily before lifting my face to kiss his neck. If there were any cameras, I needed him to think we had just been playing around.
    “Kiss me.”
    He didn’t fully understand why, but he wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to get back to where we were before Kai interrupted. He pressed his lips against mine, but the kiss I returned was empty, just a cover.
    “I need you to stay here and watch Chels while I go downstairs and see what I can pick up from his thoughts. I’m also going to tell them that we’re going somewhere to get some sleep and we’ll be back in a few hours.”
    Aiden’s lips broke away from mine, and he trailed kisses along my jaw line until he reached my ear. “I don’t like this.”
    “I know.”
    “Be careful.”
    “Always.” I phased out of Aiden’s arms and reappeared in the casual meals room. Dave and Nathan were sitting at the table, eating a chocolate cake that smelled as though it had just come out of the oven.
    “Want some cake?” Dave asked.
    “Yeah, thanks.” I ignored the shiver that ran down my spine whenever I was around Nathan and