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Lorelei remained asleep peacefully. |
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Cody sighed tiredly. "It's almost 2 in the morning. Go get some shut-eye, brother." Cody muttered, standing and walking to his room. Kai nodded and walked back to Lorelei before sitting beside the bed with a sigh. He buried his face in his hands and broke down in tears. |
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Lorelei woke to the sounds of him crying. "Kai?" She murmured, blinking her eyes open. She immediately rushed over. "Honey? What's wrong?" She whispered, settling beside him and comforting him. |
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Kai frantically wiped away his tears--something his father had always said were a weakness for a man and no Vitelli he would have would ever show weakness. "Nothing, go back to sleep. I'm fine" He lied, not making eye-contact. He had never been too good at lying and never to Lorelei especially. |
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Lorelei swung a leg over his lap, straddling him so he couldn't move. She cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. "Kai, love, talk to me, what's wrong?" She whispered gently. |
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Kai hesitated. "I can't protect you. I shouldn't be here. You shouldn't want me. I should be dead so you aren't at risk and the girls aren't at risk. Emily and Cody can hold their own, but imagine my father gettin his hands on those girls--on you. I can't have him take you again." He breathed, tears streaming down his face and his voice breaking a couple times with fear. |
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"Kai, honey, he won't find us," she whispered. "I love you so much. He doesn't know where we are, it's okay, we're safe, the girls are safe, Emily and Cody are safe. He wants to kill me no matter what you do, it's not your fault. You're keeping me safe, honey," |
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"I'm failing you. I'm failing you, Lorelei. I can't protect you. You're not safe with me." Kai breathed, unable to calm |
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"Honey, I'm safe with you. You protect me," she whispered, kissing his cheek. "You're not failing me. You've protected me since the day I met you. You were sent to kill me, but you chose to protect me, to love me," |
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His eyes met hers and something in his mind clicked. The tears slowed as he nodded and kept his eyes locked on Lorelei's |
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Breezy and Pleasant
