Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)
“Is there, as well.” He nodded, knowing what I was asking. “Looks like Damon was dividing his time between the two properties.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. That meant that when I was there, dropping off the contract at Michael’s party that night, my brother might’ve been in the building. I had no doubt he was in the city, but God…
Why had he never told me about Delcour?
“I’m ready to be done with this,” Michael said, dropping a duffel bag at the foot of the stairs. “He’s got us running around like assholes.”
“Exactly.” Will walked out of the kitchen with a beer. “We shouldn’t even go to The Pope. Let him to come to us. Let’s just leave the fucking door wide open. Why not?”
The muscles in Kai’s jaw flexed, and I knew he was frustrated.
“Please, don’t call the police.” I dropped my voice, leaning into him. “Gabriel won’t…”
“Won’t what?”
I didn’t want to tell them what my father’s next move would be. It might only give Kai ideas. “He won’t let Damon embarrass him with another arrest again,” I told him, keeping it vague. “I can get him under control. If I can talk to him—”
“He’s not coming near you.”
“He’s my brother—”
“It’s not happening!” Kai barked. “I will deal with him.”
“Will’s right.” Rika stepped forward. “Throw him for a loop and make him come to us. All this time he’s been here, he’s yet to be a serious threat anyway.”
But Kai just laughed, sounding more condescending than amused. “And sharks will circle things they’re trying to decide whether or not they’ll eat, too.” He looked down on her. “Sometimes they leave. Sometimes they bite. He may want to have a few words with us,” he gestured to Michael and Will, “but he’d love to get his hands on you two.” And he looked between Rika and me. “I’m not taking the chance that tonight is the night he decides to do that.”
“Exactly,” Michael replied.
“We’re meeting him later.” Kai pinned me with a stare that was more of a warning. “You, Rika, and Alex will stay here with Lev and David.”
“No!” Rika bellowed.
“Absolutely not!” I shouted. “I have just as much right to see him. If anyone can calm him down, it’s me. We’re not staying here and making cupcakes while the men go off hunting! If you think—”
Kai grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my torso, under my arms, and lifting me up. “I love you,” he whispered against my lips as he backed us away from the others. “And he can send me to prison again for a very long time. I’m not letting that happen now that I’ve found you. Please.”
His dark eyes, clouded with fear, were only for me. No one else would see.
He loved me?
I stared at him, wondering what was happening in his head. Why me? We didn’t fit. Was this really my home now? My bed upstairs? My clothes? My husband? Would I have our kids and know anything about being a mom?
God, the future looked so different now. These were things I thought would never be my life.
Instead of the direct line in front of me—a tunnel—my future seemed more like turning in a circle to find a road and instead finding only meadows and hills and mountains. So much to explore. No set path. I could walk and never step in the same spot twice.
But, for some reason, that didn’t really scare me. I wanted to dream again.
“Please, don’t hurt him,” I told him.
“I’ll try not to.”
He set me down and kissed my forehead before turning away.
But I pulled him back, whispering, “I love you, too.”
A smile flashed across his lips. Taking the back of my neck, he pulled me in again, kissing me on the lips longingly and then twice more, slowly.