All Chapters of Say it Again-Tell Me l'm not just another deal to you : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

I floored it from Bruce Marshall's ranch all the way out to Irvine on road signs since my internet was down, and my phone service was also down. The tornado-mini or not, that bitch was not friendly—struck the Ram a couple of times, putting me out off the road twice and making me spin into the other lane once. Miraculously, I had the road to myself as a crazy bastard and therefore did not crash into anyone.Since I had to arrive in New York in decent enough shape to take care of a toddler, I did have to drive carefully and at a reasonable speed to prevent flying off to the next solar system. That added an additional forty minutes onto my flight to the private airport. When I got there, I found that my phone network was still down in the majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth area due to the weather.I took an oath in seven languages, even though I was only monolingual, and snatched up a random airport worker's phone to dial Klaus. Her phone went straight to voicemail. I glanced at my watch.

The word resounded so thunderously that it filled the automobile, the block, the goddamn universe. Shane's personal driver flinched, the car jerking violently to one side before resuming its course on the road.I dug my fingers into my thigh to prevent screaming, bile surging the back of my throat. That initial reaction was partly because I realized that Klaus was in worse shape now and partly, I saw with dread, because I'd grown so attached to the little stinker."Kidnapped again?" I snarled."He, he, he, he…" Cal stuttered, gasping, her breathing shallow and rapid and out of synch, wheezing every time she tried to take in oxygen. "He just materialized. I-I-I thought you were back. I thought you had a key and knew it."White noise in the background was unmistakably a crowded Manhattan street. People chattering, laughing, sipping drinks, and horns blaring. She was walking in circles around the room. Not a good sign."He burst in. I struggled with him. I tried to shove him. I swear, Fl

"I know you did everything to make it here." The words ripped from my throat with massive effort, my stomach twisting. I didn't want to do this, say goodbye when every hello made my heart falter. But neither did I know how to release control over my heart without losing my mind. "And I'm not angry about it.". Even so…I wish you hadn't given that jerk Shane what he wanted. My face twisted."Fuck the corporation, Klaus. He can have everything. He could steal the penthouse, the shirt on my back. I rode all this way in a tornado, against all reason, against all odds, to tell you something very important.""And what might that be?""I love you."The words struck me so forcefully they knocked me keel over, as if an iron fist to the gut. When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about hearing those words. Tucker uttered them so rarely, and only when we were in bed.But now?Now I was shit-scared.Flinn wouldn't hurt me the way Tucker hurt me—he'd destroy what was left of me.And even worse, he'd

Hey, Bruce will be here in any minute. I'm gonna run on out. You'll be okay, Flinn."I was leaned against my kitchen island, pouting like a bitch, anything but okay. "How do you know?" I growled.Pete gazed at me in wonder. "I don't. It's just asshole crap people say, you know." He shrugged. "But most likely, you'll survive."."I don't think you survive your sister.""Dating her, I hear she's a mess too. Maybe it's not finished?"Hold up, what? My head swung up.The asshole was already pulling on the door handle, off he went. "Ciao, assface." He saluted. "See you later.""Wait, wait." I jumped up, stalked after him. He slunk out, and I crashed right into Bruce Marshall's body.Yay fucking me.Even his sad ass face, huge cowboy hat, and ridiculous buckle couldn't dampen my mood.Klaus was having a bad day? Great news. Maybe I still had a chance."Howdy, partner." He tipped his hat down.I felt a wave of nausea again. I wasn't tipsy this time, but sicked out by the coming conversation.

"Really.""But I just got back.""You'll be okay.""Gravity is asleep.""Let her stay here."It was not that I was too lazy to return to New York. It was that I needed to talk to him immediately. To beg my ass off."I love you, Mama.""Ti amo più, cara."FLINN"You're shitting me," I groaned."Flinn!" Zeta, Klaus's mother, reprimanded me from her front door, holding a kitchen towel menacingly towards me. "Conduct yourself better with your language. I informed you that she is not here, and that is all.""Where is she, then?" I asked snappishly.It was two in the goddamn morning, and I was on no food, no sleep, and no fucks. I had to get to Klaus. And because I didn't just so happen to have a private plane available at my beck and call, I'd driven here in the McLaren, hijacking every traffic law in existence along the way."Afterward, she went to New York and begged you to let her return." Zeta cinched her robe closer around herself."I'm not leaving until she—Wait, what?""She knew imm