Chapter 8 the confession

What's going on here?!

Eli?

I spring up from the couch and find Warren doing the same

Why is it so damn cold in this place?

is that really all he cares about? Wait... does that mean he didn't see us? That's a relief. I don't want to give him any ammo, and if he finds out, I've made him a cuckold...

The heater is broken, sir

Then why aren't you fixing it?

The closest heating company Is fifty miles out, and they can't get anyone over here until tomorrow

Eli rolls his eyes and tosses his briefcase on the kitchen table. He only acknowledges I'm there by nodding in my direction. Warren and I glance at each other, and it's obvious that neither one of us knows what Eli is doing here

Do you have any updates on who's threatening her?

Eli shakes his head

The police are useless

so....I'm still in danger?

.Well, maybe not as much as before, now that you've been successfully declared dead

Yes, let's talk about that, shall we? Why was I declared dead?!

Because nobody goes looking for dead people, Kiara. isn't it obvious?

so it was your idea?

of course not. The cops wanted to fake your death. it took a few days, but they found a junkie with no ID and no friends or family and then used her to stage your death. They slid your ring on her finger, planted her in our street, and lit the body on fire

I shiver and step back, bumping into Warren. I almost forgot he was there, not until he held me

.But that's....

Don't look so taken aback. Clearly, it worked, didn't it? I haven't received a single threat in five days

I can't help but feel hopeful at his words

Does this mean I get to come home?

Eli's eyes harden

Not until after the election

What? Why so long? Are you seriously going to let people think that I'm dead for two more weeks?!

Yes

Can't you at least tell Hannah and my family that I'm okay?

And why on Earth would I do that?

Are you serious right now?! They think I'm dead! They're probably devastated! They -

Enough! Don't pull that shit with me, Kiara. Your family wants nothing to do with you, or have you forgotten that? They hate you, and you hate them. They don't care whether you live or die

How dare you!

You know it's true. I'm the only one here who cares about you

Yeah, right

I even came here because I was worried about you. Because I wanted to explain why I did what I did. I was so scared that you'd run off and blow your cover that I risked someone following me here. I had my men search the grounds to make sure that didn't happen, of course

I scoff at him

Warren's been surveying the area this entire time, and he hasn't found anything suspicious

I learned long ago that if you want to get something done right, you do it yourself. One can never be too through

Did he just insult Warren's ability to keep me safe?

Anyway, I want to move you again in two days

what?!

Warren and I discussed it, and I believe it's the right thing to do

I turn to face Warren

When did you decide this?

Your husband and I spoke about this before we even left to come here. it's smart to keep you on the move. Staying in one place for too long is dangerous

Exactly. You get comfortable and start to slip up. That's when they'll get you

I guess that seems like a smart idea . if the culprits found out that Eli hired Warren, the information about the cabins location would leak

Two days, you said?

Two days. Make sure you have everything packed and ready to go.

We'll be ready

Good. I'll be in touch

Are you leaving already?

I was planning on staying in the cabin, but I didn't anticipate the heater to be broken

Eli's nose scrunches up in disgust

Not to mention, I'd clearly have to sleep on the couch, which would upset my back. Lock the doors after I'm gone

Warren's voice is strained when he responds

of course, sir

We watch Eli head to the door and throw it open. A gust of icy wind which pours into the room chills me to the bone, and I hear my teeth chatter as Eli slams the door shut behind him

Shit

His arms are around me before I can ask, and he pulls me tightly into his chest. I inhale his warmth and feel my shivering subside

Let's go into the kitchen

As soon as we're there, he heads over to the stove and turns it on

it's propane, so we'll at least bet a little warmer if we keep it on for a while. Are you okay?

It's just a little cold. You really helped warm me up earlier, so I'm feeling a lot better now

I playfully wink, but Warren doesn't look amused

That's not what I'm talking about

I don't understand

I don't like the way he treated you

Eli? That's how it always is with him. Belittling, demeaning, brushing me off.... it's nothing new

Warren turns his head to the side and looks down at the ground

You deserve so much better than that. He's constantly ordering you around like you're some sort of pet, not his wife

Well, he won't get to do it for long since I'm leaving him

I smile and change the subject

So... how about a drink?

A drink?

it's cold as hell right now, and alcohol would warm us up

I hop off the countertop and search the kitchen. Finally, I find what I'm looking for

Do you want to drink a bottle of whiskey?

You're damn right. I do

You know that's one of the only bottles I have left?

All the more reason to enjoy it now

Warren hesitates, but then I see the resolve settle in his eyes

Fine

I wait by the stove while Warren fetches two glasses. He pours a finger of whiskey into each glass, then hands one to me

We should toast

To what exactly?

I pause to think about it

To being together

Warren lifts his glass to clink against mine

Cheers

The second the liquid starts running down my throat, I can feel my body instantly start to warm. Warren turns around to shut off the stove, then reaches out to take my hand. I grab the whiskey bottle from the counter and follow him as he directs us into the living room. Warren pulls me onto the couch and drapes a blanket around my shoulders. He takes the bottle from my hands and shocks me by taking a long swig of it

Warren Garcia, are you actually drinking?

What do you mean? You just watched me drink in the kitchen

It's one thing to drink from a glass, and quite another to take a sip straight from the bottle

I need to cool off

He raises the bottle to his lips again. My eyes go wide as he takes three more swallow, his Adam's apple bobbling up and down

Maybe you should slow down

Warren surprises me by chuckling, and he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Something about the gesture is incredibly sexy, and I feel my core starting to heat up

Maybe you should speed up

it's not a race, silly

No, it's not. But I'll tell you one thing, I barely feel the cold now

Studying hid challenging gaze, I lick my lips and hold my hand out for the bottle. Warren smirks and hands it to me. I crinkle my nose as the pungent taste hits me again, then olace the bottle on the coffee table

how can you drink it so fast? That stuff is gross

Warren's smirk grows into a teasing smile

I guess i just have a higher tolerance than you

I won't agrue with you there. I'm already starting to feel a little tipsy

Really? You've barely had any

Whatever that stuff is, it's strong as hell

Warren settles into the couch, and I follow his lead and snuggle closer into him. He peers down at me and raises an eyebrow

You're warm

And you stealing my body heat?

Stealing it?

I laugh

I don't think I've ever been accused of doing that before. if you want it back, then you're more than welcome to try

I give him a sultry grin, but his smile suddenly slips, and his face grows serious. I lean away from him

What is it?

nothing

it's not "nothing", you were just laughing a moment ago. what changed

it's nothing, honestly

Warren glances down and starts playing with a loose string on the blanket wrapped around me. When he finally looks back up, there's a guilty look in his eyes, but he tries to hide it

Warren, why are you looking at me like that?

Have I ever told you that I love it when you say my name? The way your lips form around it is so unbelievably attractive

I almost choke

Did I just hear him correctly?

He goes to take another sip from the bottle, but I hold my hand out to stop him. Sitting up, I turn to face him on the couch

what's going on?

Just drop it...

No, I'm not going to just drop it. You can't say something like that and expect me to just let it go

Warren's eyes flicker back and forth between mine. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and I'm too shocked to move

I really tired so hard, but it's impossible to fight it

His voice is barely a whisper, and I find myself lowering mine as well

Fight what?

You really haven't made it easy for me. Do you know how hard it's been trying to balance my job with my feelings

I feel my heart rate pick up speed his other hands lifts to tuck my hair behind my ear

I can't do it any more. I don't want to

Warren, what -

His warm, whiskey lips are suddenly on mine, effectively shutting me up. Before I can even process what's going on, he pulls away and smirks

What just happened?

For such a smart woman, you can be so oblivious

I pout, and he smiles

I didn't have a chance in hell, Did I?

Warren's hands come around my waist, and he lifts me up so that I'm straddling his own on the couch A startled squeak leaves my mouth at the sudden movement. He kisses me again, his tongue slipping into my mouth, and all coherent thoughts leave my mind

Maybe I'm a little better at hiding it than I thought it was

Warren's hands travel down my waist and onto my thighs. He pulls me into him and the friction between my legs sends tinges of pleasures throughout my body

I've always been bad with words. I can never figure out how to express what I'm feeling. I....I tried to fight off these feelings, but you show how got under my skin. I don't want to spend another night without having you in my arms, Kiara

Warren leans forward and kissed just below my ear, sending shivers down my spine

Will you let me warm you up tonight?

You....are you saying you want me?

I can barely believe this moment is real . Warren's smoldering gaze holds me captivate, and I'm powerless to look away

You have no idea how badly I want you. I don't even think I could control it anymore

His fingers skin underneath my shirt, onto my bare skin, and the chilly air makes me shiver.. but he holds me in place

Are you cold, Kiara?

I nod, and he gives me a challenging look

Let me warm you up

I don't think this is a good idea. I'm really too cold

I wrap the blanket tightly around my arms, but my teeth are still chattering

come on, Let's get you to bed. We can lie underneath the covers together, and it'll help warm you up

I give him a skeptical look

Strictly professional. I don't want you catching hypothermia or frostbite

okay

We head into the bedroom. Warren and I are suddenly jolted awake in the middle of the night by a loud thud coming from inside of the cabin. I quickly scramble to get out of bed, but Warren's unyielding grip on my arm stops me from moving

is someone ins-

He puts a finger up his lips, then slowly climbs out of bed. I watch with terrified eyes as she makes his way across the room and over to the door. After a few tries at seeing him twist the door handle, I realize that something is wrong

Warren, what's wrong?

it won't open

is it locked?

He shakes his head, looking frustrated. I jump in shock when he slams his body against the door. He slams against the door again, and I feel the entire house shake from the force of it

something is blocking the door

how?

I don't know

I don't remember there being anything even near the door when we went to bed!

That's because there wasn't

Warren pauses and turns towards me

Get behind Ms. Someone's in the house, and when this door breaks open, I need to be able to protect you

I nod and hurry to get behind him. After one more attempt, Warren's body sails through the door, and it goes off the hinges with a loud boom. I stare in horror at the living room which has almost completely vanished behind the thick clouds of poisonous smoke. I feel my lungs start to burn as I inhale the fumes

Stay here!

Warren disappears into the smoke, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut to stop them from stinging

Warren told me to wait here. it would be foolish to run after him

I close the door, but the smoke still gets in, causing me to cough so hard that my eyes begin to water. I hear tumbling and shuffling sounds coming from the kitchen but nothing else

I hope Warren's okay....

Just as I think that, I see a familiar figure breaking through the heavy smoke

Warren!

We need to get you out. Follow me

I go after him into thhe kitchen and I immediately notice something is very wrong

someone turned on all the propane stoves and -

His coughs interrupt him as I staring to see his face

They put kitchen rags all around it. Whoever this was, they knew what they were doing....and had no intention of us coming out alive. I'm going to bring you outside the smoke clears

I nod, and he carries me over towards the door. As soon as he reaches for the handle and opens it, I notice a dark figure darting across the yard

Warren! Look, there!

I point, and Warren's head whips around

Stay here, Kiara!

Warren places me down and yanks the door open

Stop right there! Don't you dare move!

I peer out the doorframe in terror and see the figure turn to face Warren's hulking frame. A glint in the moonlight reflects off something metal in the man's hand as he lifts it in Warren's direction. My blood runs cold

Warren, he has a gun! He has a -

Warren tackles the man to the ground before he can even get a shot off. I scream when Warren gets a blow to the face, but he doesn't back down. The two men wrestle for the upper hand, and it's unclear who's winning. Warren is shouting something at the man, but I can't make out what he's saying. Warren manages to kick him hard in the ribs, and he reaches in his back pocket to pull out his own firearm

I said, get down!

Warren's voice echoes around the quiet woods as he aims it steadily at the intruder. The man hesitantly raises his hands and stands to his feet. I feel my shoulders relax

Maybe this can finally all be over now

I shiver from the cold and watch as Warren walks over towards the man in slow, controlled steps, never once lowering his hand. The man remains immobile and watches Warren's every move with a calculated concentration. Just when Warren goes to reach for the man's hands, he takes off again

Shit!

Gunshots ring out in the night, and I have to cover my ears against the sound. After the fifth shot, I watch Warren's shoulders slump in defeat before he turns around and head backs towards the house

Are you okay?

I'm fine. Just a couple of bruises

how could this have happened? How did they find us?

I don't know

Warren makes his way up to me and wraps his arms protectively around my waist, pulling me close. The worry in his voice make me shiver

Whoever that was, they just tried to kill us