Sweet Hatred
Chapter 107: "This is kidnapping!"

Chapter 107: "This is kidnapping!"

My heart was already traitorously thudding at the sight of him. He was here. Real. Inches away. I wanted to grab him by the collar and kiss him until I couldn’t breathe—but god, I also wanted to slap him. Repeatedly.

I turned, ready to storm back inside. But Kael’s hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist. "Aria—"

He tugged gently, just enough to make me stumble into his chest. His arms closed around me. And I—

I froze.

His warmth seeped into my skin, his scent all clean spice and something darker. Something mine.

"I’m sorry," he murmured into my hair. "I should have said something."

God. He actually sounded sorry.

I hated how easily my anger folded under the weight of his sincerity. My fists curled weakly against his chest. "You can’t just..." I muttered, breath catching. "You can’t leave me hanging like that. I don’t give a fuck if this isn’t real, It’s still not fair."

"I know," he said, eyes softening like he was looking at someone who meant something to him. "I fucked up. Just give me five minutes. Don’t pack. I’ll get you whatever you need. I just—need you with me."

I looked up at him, still scowling, but my lips were trembling. "Five minutes."

His eyes didn’t waver. "Five minutes." Those goddamn beautiful green eyes that I liked.

I yanked myself out of his hold, cheeks burning like fire. "I wish you didn’t come," I muttered.

"No, you don’t," he said, smug as hell.

I flipped him off and stomped back into the building, hoodie half-zipped, heart beating like a damn war drum.

I slipped back inside like a criminal, face hot, limbs tense, hoodie sleeves half-pulled over my hands like they could hide my embarrassment.

Olivia glanced up from the couch. "Why’s your face red?"

Mom squinted. "Oh my- Did you develop a fever out there?"

"I’m fine," I mumbled, waving them off, avoiding everyone’s eyes as I beelined for the hallway. "Probably just the cold."

Kaleb popped up like a nosy meerkat. "You were outside for like three minutes." He said holding out four fingers and then pausing to count if he was holding the correct number of fingers.

I walked past him, stroking his hair once and slammed my bedroom door shut behind me.

And then I just stood there.

The silence in my room was thick, the hum of my racing heartbeat louder than anything. I sat on the edge of my bed, not quite breathing right, staring at the floor like it might give me the answers I needed.

What the hell was happening? One moment I was brooding over an unanswered call and the next, the bastard was in front of me flesh and blood.

And what the hell was I doing?

He wanted to steal me away. Steal me. Like I was something to be taken, not asked for. And somehow—somehow—that didn’t piss me off as much as it should’ve.

Instead It made me nervous. Because I knew I’d go. I knew I’d follow him without hesitation, and that scared me more than anything.

Even as his father’s voice echoed back through my mind. Cold. Cutting. A reminder of my place in his life.

I bit my lip. Should I just tell Kael to go home? Slam the door in his smug, beautiful face?

But even as I asked the question, I knew. He’d probably break down the door. And worse—I’d let him.

With a sigh, I shoved my charger, earbuds, and face cream into the tiny purse I could find. I didn’t even think as I changed out of my clothes.

I cracked my door open like I was escaping a hostage situation. But of course, I didn’t even make it halfway through the living room before Olivia narrowed her eyes at me.

"Where are you going?"

"Sarah," I blurted. "Emergency. She—uh—broke a nail. Very painful."

Michael arched a brow. "Is she bleeding?"

"I have work to do, and I don’t remember permitting you to speak to me," I snapped, pointing at him with the authority of a sleep-deprived dictator. "And you better not get into any trouble while I’m gone."

Mom looked suspicious. Lily clapped unaware of anything. Olivia smirked. Kaleb rushed to my side giving me those puppy eyes. He didn’t want me to leave but I knew how to bribe him with his sweet tooth.

I didn’t give them time to ask anything else—I just turned on my heel and bolted for the door, praying they wouldn’t follow.

A minute later, I was standing on the sidewalk hair up and twisted in a sad bun, dressed in fuzzy pink pajama pants with cartoon cats on them and an oversized hoodie I’d stolen from Olivia two years ago and never returned.

A tiny purse hung off my shoulder like it was embarrassed to be part of this whole situation.

Kael was leaning against the car, arms folded, eyes fixed on me like I’d just walked out in fucking lingerie. The grin that spread across his face? Wolfish. Dangerous. Way too amused.

"Say one word," I warned, "and I swear to God, I’ll shove your keys down your throat."

He stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning me head to toe. "You look adorable."

"You look punchable."

"I missed that mouth," he murmured. Then—before I could blink—he ducked low, grabbed me by the waist, and hauled me right over his shoulder like I was a damn sack of rice.

"Kael!" I shrieked, kicking. "Put me down, you psycho!"

He laughed, low and pleased, carrying me toward the car like he was enjoying every second of my struggle. "Nope. You’re mine now."

"This is kidnapping!" I smacked his back. "My human rights!"

"You gave those up the second you walked out here in cat pajamas, baby."

I didn’t realize I was smiling until I caught my reflection in the window—half-upside down, red-faced, and grinning like a lovesick idiot. My heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.

The car door opened and he gently set me down in the passenger seat like I was made of glass. His hands lingered just a second too long on my waist. His eyes met mine and for once, neither of us said anything. But I broke the silence.

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