Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

31. Whatll Be

Chapter 31

What'll Be

A s we drive south, my thoughts swirl. Despite everything that’s happened, I can’t find it in me to be angry at Kai. After all, I consciously decided to take him back into my life, fully aware of his identity. I willingly slept with him and chose to stand by him. These were my choices. I could have easily betrayed him to his father or the authorities or rejected him and his past actions from my home and bed. But now that the initial physical attraction has faded, I realize that my connection with him runs deeper than just a purely physical one. It is something spiritual and profound. I’ve always struggled with feelings of worthlessness, but can it be possible that I can help redeem a criminal and find love?

He doesn’t have to change... but I’ll help him if he wants to.

A sly smile tugs at the corners of Kai’s lips as he speaks up. “I know where we can go.”

“Where?”

“On my first vacation, I stole a boat just in case I ever needed to disappear,” he reveals with pride. “It’s been waiting for me for two years. I guess I was just waiting for you to make the move.”

“You stole a boat?” I echo back, incredulous. The corners of my mouth twitch upward despite the mess we’re in. “Well, you certainly never fail to surprise me.”

He grins back at me, mischief lighting up his eyes. “It’s part of my charm.”

The tension eases. We go through the desolate streets while the city sleeps, unaware of our rush against time.

Kai’s hand finds mine, and his hold is comforting and strong. “Let me call Victor back. We’ll come up with a plan. But you cannot tell him about the boat. It’s too dangerous.”

Despite the fear and uncertainty flooding my body, my heart races excitedly at what lies ahead. A small part of me is thrilled at the unexpected adventure that awaits, an adventure with Kai.

“No boat talk.” I nod and press the phone icon on the dashboard.

“So, what’s it going to be?” Victor’s laughing tone cuts through the line.

And then Kai begins to tell his story. I can hardly believe what I’m hearing. With all that Kai has shared, Victor now has enough information to destroy the Kwunaru empire.

“Can you explain the escape plan you have for us now?” I ask.

“You sure about that, girlie?” Vic asks.

“Yes!”

“All right. I have a car waiting at the impound lot in Eugene, Oregon. Inside, there are new passports for both of you and some cash. Just leave and keep moving until things settle down. You can do whatever you want, but I recommend constantly changing locations for at least a year. The more you move, the harder it will be for anyone to track you down. And don’t make any friends— it’s too risky.”

It sounds like a dream come true. I let out a derisive snort and gave Kai a nervous look.

Why does it sound so wonderful?

“But you’ll have to cross the US border without getting caught,” Victor reminds us.

Because it is!

I burst out laughing. Me, a fugitive. In love with a criminal.

“Why, Pop-pop?” I hear him sigh. I know his reasons, but I want to hear them from his mouth. I’d slap him for the emotional roller coaster if he was here.

“Marianne, you were the only one who gave me a second chance when no one else cared.”

Tears well in my eyes as I absorb each heartfelt word.

“You saw the worst parts of my life and still pulled me out of the closet. A little girl showed me what it meant to be responsible. I was drunk, and you took me to the bathroom to help me; you didn’t judge me based on my past. You made me enroll in A.A. meetings and even came with me to the first ones. I promised myself that if I ever got the chance, I would return the favor and help you.”

A shaky breath escapes Victor, and I nod, even though he can’t see me.

“For the past two years, I’ve seen you dream of starting a new life in a city where no one knows your past. You deserve a chance to reinvent yourself, like how you gave me a chance to become a better person. How you helped Seven see the good in himself.”

A small smile tugs at my lips, and my tears stop.

“You always see the best in people, except for yourself. But I see it. Since that first day, I’ve watched a young woman fight against her own demons to remain kind and sweet. Marianne, you deserve a second chance at happiness.”

Despite his troubled past, he turned his life around with my support.

“You might be angry now, but I don’t regret introducing you to Seven; this situation may be exactly what you need—a fresh start.”

A long pause makes me release a deep breath. “Did you know it would end like this?”

“I considered different scenarios, and this is definitely the worst.” He chuckles, but it only angers me more. “I thought maybe Seven would charm you.”

Victor Salem – a professional security guard and matchmaker extraordinaire. What an awesome asshole.

“Seven’s pretentious, violent, and has no moral compass.” And yet, I love it all—the idea of starting over with a new name, a new life, and no one to hold me back. I’ve always wanted to travel and write fiction without limitations or judgments.

My life is full of regrets but not much remorse. Fear has always held me back from taking control and making important decisions, causing me to miss out on relationships and experiences. But now, I have the chance to change that.

This choice will alter my entire life, and I have no one to guide me through it. The pain from my recent attack serves as a constant reminder of the dangers that come with living with Kai.

Calling the police in this situation would be useless; they ask too many questions and have no real power. I glance at Kai’s weapon resting on the dashboard.

“I’ll hang up, Marianne. Call me back when you’ve decided. Time is limited… The twins…”

“We know,” Kai mutters. “They’re alive.”

“And they’ll hunt you down. You better protect my Care Bear, Seven. Or I’ll haunt you in the afterlife.”

And I say something I never believed before. “I can handle myself.” It resonates in the confines of the car and makes Kai smirk.

I say goodbye before hanging up. This moment is crucial—it’s the crossroads of my existence. But for once, I’m not afraid of making the wrong decision. When I think of Kai’s touch, his kisses, his passion... I panic at the thought of losing him.

His love makes me feel alive, as if my soul was waiting for him to soar.

But running away with him means leaving behind my family and friends for a year or two—including Arietta.

How can I leave her without knowing if I’ll ever come back?

Despite our precarious situation and the danger that comes with it, I must call her. I dial her number, but it goes to voicemail, so I bombard her with messages until she finally answers.

“Privet,” she greets me in Russian.

My heart races as I try to explain why I can’t speak to her in English. Damn, I never thought speaking Russian would come in handy.

I hope she doesn’t mock me.

Sitting next to me, Kai’s lost expression shows he doesn’t understand Russian.

“Shit, Riri, what happened? Did your fucktoy break?”

My emotions overwhelm me, and tears start streaming down my face. Maybe I’m scared. “I messed up, Ari. I’m in a weird situation.” Of how thrilling this is.

“Go ahead,” she responds. “I’m listening.”

Inhaling deeply, I pour out my predicament to her without holding back. I trust her with my life, and she reacts with laughter, shouting, sighing, and more laughter. Arietta is always energetic, intense, and fearless when it comes to life. Within minutes, I shared everything—Kai, myself, Eric, Victor, and even the SUV that I blew up and the man I killed.

Everything.

Then there’s a long silence. It’s torture.

“So, he confessed his feelings for you?” Arietta finally speaks up.

“Yes.”

“Do you think he was sincere?”

“I believe so.”

“And he’s good in bed?”

A giggle escapes my throat at the mental image of Kai’s stubble between my legs. “Yes.”

“Can you imagine waking up without him tomorrow?”

My heart sinks at the thought, and tears start flowing again. “No, I can’t. But what if I never come back?” I ask through sobs.

“You’ll have a new home. In a year or two, I’ll come and visit you. This isn’t the end; it’s just a new beginning, like one of your silly fiction stories.”

My crying subsides slowly. Since I was fifteen, I’ve been writing stories like this—stories that are not real, that don’t involve me. They’re just fantasies of an unloved girl.

“I know it’s a strange situation,” Arietta continues. “But you’re not obligated to stay in it for a long time. If things don’t work out or you don’t want him anymore in a few weeks, you can end it or take things slower.”

Donovan protests in the background at those words.

Yeah, that man would die if Arietta ended their thing.

“Set the ground rules for your relationship early on. Clearly define what you won’t tolerate and give him a chance to prove himself.”

“Doesn’t it make me a coward for running away? What about him?”

“It depends. If you truly want this, be selfish for once and claim him. Listen to what he wants, too. You deserve to be happy, no matter how absurd it may seem.”

Arietta is my voice of reason. Behind her playful temperament, she’s the least na?ve person I know. She always has three hundred solutions to a single problem.

I love her.

“I can’t believe you blew up a car. That’s spectacular!”

Our conversation ends there. Arietta isn’t one for seriousness. She takes everything lightly, a refreshing contrast to my tendency to overthink.

“Thank you, Ari. I adore you.”

“Me too, Care Bear. I’ll see you when you can.”

I hang up.

Am I really going to do this?

Taking a chance on love could be risky. I’m nervous.

“If we’re going to do this, I have some conditions,” I say, turning to Kai.

He runs his hands through his hair and lets out a sigh. “Okay, what are they?”

“First, the second you lift even a finger on me, we’re d-o-n-e. Done.”

His muscle tone vanishes at once. “What are you doing, Marianne?” he stammers.

“Second, the minute I tell you it’s over, you go. No fit of tears, no pleas, nothing. You scram, and you never come back.”

Kai’s face splits with a genuine smile.

“Third, if you ever lie to me again, I’ll feed you to the sharks, all chopped up like chum.”

My heart races as realization dawns in his eyes. My emotions are all over the place—happy, angry, relieved, sad, uncertain. He leans in to kiss me, but I put my finger on his lips to stop him.

“Nope,” I say.

He looks confused.

“Promise,” I demand.

“What?”

“Promise to respect my terms.”

He lifts his head and gives me the most serious look I’ve ever seen from him.

“Marianne, I swear on my mother’s love that I’ll honor all your conditions, present and future. Cutie, I love you.”

“Okay, then, let’s go.” I smile.

As soon as I’m done speaking, he squeals the tires and laughs like a maniac. I hit the button on my phone to call Victor back.

“So, girlie, did you say your goodbyes?” he asks.

“Not really, no.”

“Hey, Victor,” Kai says with a smirk.

“Oh, shit,” Victor exclaims. “She kept you!”

“Don’t get too excited,” I retort. “I’m keeping him as a bodyguard for safety reasons.”

There’s no way I’m telling Victor that I’ve fallen for a criminal. Kai needs to hear it first. Ultrasexygerous scratches his cheek in disappointment.

I blush bright red, then laugh it off. “Anyway, his name is Kai.” I can’t name him Kai Kiken. It’s too obvious and, well, not real.

I need a Japanese name.

“Haruno,” Kai answers for himself. “Kai Haruno.”

Victor laughs loudly. “And what’s your new name, Care Bear?”

Good question.

And it’s Kai who answers again. “Anna Salvador.”

Oh, it’s perfect.

“You need a middle name, Anna .”

“Rosita.” Like my mother’s middle name. “I’m Anna Rosita Salvador.”

“All right, you both need new identities. I’ll call my contact,” Victor declares.

“I’ll take care of everything for Kai Haruno. All the necessary information for your new lives will be waiting for you in a car parked in the municipal courtyard of Eugene, Oregon. I’ll text you the license plate number. Technically, Anna Salvador is already in the United States, so you must enter without being detected. Everything you need will be in the car: maps, cash, and information about your new life. I also suggest burning the Civic before you reach Eugene. Once you’re on, you have it. Email me, and then there will be no more communication. It’s too risky. Good luck, coconuts.”

“Pop-pop?” I ask.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

After all these years of seeing Victor as a grandfather figure, he has again offered me his help. The mysterious glint in his eyes finally makes sense now, and the locks on my apartment door are no longer a mystery. Despite feeling uneasy with the tracker still implanted in my body, I understood why it was necessary.

“I need to change.” I sigh.

Kai parks the car, and I get out, tending to my burns that still need attention. I wonder how we will have intimate moments without causing me pain.

“Does it hurt?” Kai asks with concern.

“A lot.” I groan.

I wince as I apply ointment and curse under my breath. Then, I wrap a bandage around my wounds. Kai’s expression changes as I change out of my nightgown and into something more suitable for our escape. He gasps, his eyelids fluttering and his lip twitching.

I love knowing that I can still turn him on despite our situation.

“What?” I ask, acting innocent.

“Nothing.”

I sit in the passenger’s side, leaning back and grabbing a pillow for support. Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my body.

“Oh, fuck!” I yell.

“What?” Kai asks.

“We forgot Bonsa?.”

“Marianne, damn it, you scared me,” Kai scolds.

“Bonsa?…” I say, a naughty smile on my lips. “Ah, I scared you.”

Kai shakes his head with a scoff. “We’ll buy a dog. You can name it whatever you want,” he says, trying to pacify me.

My heart swells with warmth. We’ve never talked about this.

“You want a dog?” I ask, failing to mask my surprise.

“I would love to get you one.” He smirks, eyes alive with fondness.

I settle in my seat with a sweet sensation in my chest. “Please, wake me up when we reach the border,” I say, snuggling up with my pillow.

“Sure thing,” he agrees, and we continue our journey. I nestle my head against the soft pillow like a lover and drift into peaceful slumber.