Stolen to Remember - Alexa Riley Page 0,2

gives in. “Fine.”

“It’s all going to be okay,” Kade tells me and I nod.

He puts his arm around me and I lean into him, not only because it feels good to be held but because I have no clue what’s happening. I have to trust him and I pray that I’m making the right choice.

Chapter 2

Kade

I sit on the side of the bed and watch her sleep. The plane is high in the sky but we’re still hours from the island. Her shoulder-length dark hair fans across the pillow and her bronze skin glows against the sheets.

My fists are clenched at my side because I dare not touch her. It was all I could do to hold her against me in the car and to help her back into bed before I lost control. Even now, breathing the same air as her is threatening to break my control, but I can’t look away from her. I’m afraid to blink because the thought of her not being here when I open my eyes sparks a wave of terror within me.

She’s been asleep for so long already, but the new doctor said this was normal. I had her look Collins over before we boarded the plane and she gave me the reassurance we were both seeking. Now the doctor, with all her supplies, is being transported to the island on another plane.

She told Collins her brain needs to rest in order to process the trauma.

The trauma.

Reaching out, I slowly slide my hand across the cool cotton but stop just before I make contact with her skin. I keep telling myself she’s safe, and she’s going to be all right, but watching her look into my eyes and not know who I am has broken something inside of me. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her remember, no matter the cost.

With a heavy heart I stand up and walk out of the small bedroom. With one last look at her I close the door and walk to the front of the plane where my brothers are sitting. Xander is staring out the window and doesn’t even bother to look up at me when I take the seat across from him. Vaughn is sleeping on the couch nearby and his quiet snores irritate me. How can he sleep at a time like this?

I grab the tumbler of dark liquor next to me and down the contents in one large gulp. Maybe this will help me close my eyes and not see my beautiful girl look up at me like I’m a stranger.

“Are we going to talk about this yet?” X says without taking his eyes off the black ocean below us.

“No.” The word is final but I can see him clench his fist in his lap and I know he’s not taking no for an answer.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” he hisses as Vaughn makes an unintelligible sound and then goes back to snoring.

“Does it matter?” I stare at him until he faces me and leans back in his seat. I don’t break eye contact because I have nothing to be sorry about.

“Let’s try this.” He leans forward and I can see the controlled anger in the way he grips the arm rests. “Why don’t you tell me who the fuck that is back there and why we’re taking her to the island?”

“My wife,” I say simply as I grab the bottle of liquor off the table next to me and refill my glass to the brim.

He laughs humorlessly, leans back and throws his hands up. “Your wife? Kade, I’m your goddamn blood, don’t try and bullshit me. There are no doctors around anymore, and she can’t hear you.”

“My blood,” I agree. “So when I tell you to do this for me, you don’t ask questions. That’s what blood means.”

“I won’t follow you blindly to jail.” He leans back in his seat like he wants to distance himself from this.

“You will.” There is a threat in my voice and I know he doesn't miss it. “You’ll do it because I’d do the same fucking thing for you.”

We stare at one another for a long, silent moment before he looks out the window again. I take another gulp of the dark amber liquid and lean back.

The quiet of the cabin is only broken by Vaughn but after a moment I let out a breath.

“Do you trust me?” When he looks at me and rolls his eyes, I raise an eyebrow. “Answer the question.”

“You