Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

“Hey, Kai,” I heard a woman say.

I turned my head to see two girls walking down the hallway, neither of whom I recognized. Not that I should know them.

They glanced at me, their eyes dropping down my body and taking in my appearance. They turned their eyes away again, but I didn’t miss the look they shot each other as they passed me, barely waiting to make it into the bathroom before breaking out in quiet laughs.

I looked down at the floor. “Can I get the hell out of here now?”

Kai stared at me, his jacket and shirt partially open, revealing the olive skin of his chest. “Don’t worry about them. They’re just drunk.”

I pulled my hat on, not bothering to stuff my hair back up into it. I couldn’t muster the patience. “Like you give a shit,” I spat out. “You wanted me to be uncomfortable. That’s why you had me come here, around these people, so you could remind me of my place.”

“I didn’t—”

“I don’t care about your bullshit.” I glared at him, familiar anger heating my blood now. “You think I’m not used to the way people like that look at me? Men thinking if they prettied me up they’d be doing me some kind of favor, and women laughing behind their hands. It’s been that way my whole life. I don’t give a shit what they see when they look at me. Your world is empty, and it can teach me nothing.”

I’d let myself down. I’d gotten carried away with him. Again. But thankfully, it hadn’t gone too far. Blame it on stress or the attraction toward him I always felt, but I’d stopped it. I could at least feel good about that.

I tilted my chin up. “I have Damon. He’s all I want.”

Kai’s eyes thinned on me, and I could hear his slow but hard breathing from here. Yeah, think what you want, but it was true. My brother was the only man who wanted me strong. The only man who would never hurt me.

I turned on my heel and walked back down the hallway, toward the stairs.

Rounding the bannister, I quickly descended the steps, seeing Kai following me out of the corner of my eye. He trailed slowly, though, so I knew he wasn’t trying to catch me.

In two minutes I’d be outside and away from here. Just go.

But reaching the bottom, I looked up, seeing a scuffle starting in the middle of the living room. What the—?

Lev stood with his hands locked behind his head, grinning at David and Michael standing toe to toe. Ilia stood back with his arms crossed over his black suit coat, while Rika, Will, and several bystanders stood near, watching what was boiling.

“What’s happening?” Kai called behind me, brushing past me.

The desk clerk from downstairs, still in his three-piece suit, turned and spoke up. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said, looking rattled. “Mr. Crist said anyone could come up, but they looked out of the ordinary, and when I called to check in, they just took the elevator. I’m sorry.”

He looked between Michael and Kai, his eyes worried. I wasn’t sure why he was apologizing to Kai. It wasn’t his apartment.

“It’s fine,” Michael assured him and then looked to my guys. “Who are you?”

“They work for Gabriel,” I called out, pushing through the people. “David, what are you guys doing here?

I saw them in Thunder Bay a couple hours ago when I was picking up the contract, but they were supposed to be in for the night. I wasn’t expecting them in the city this late.

David turned his head, looking down at me. “Do you want to go home?”

“I was just leaving.”

But Kai stepped in, glancing at me. “Sit,” he told me.

I steeled my jaw, glaring up at him. What?

Hell, no. Screw him and this power trip. I’d had enough for one night.

“You’re not prepared to start something with these guys,” I said, getting cocky.

Real easy to do when I had back-up. Yeah, I was a little shit.

But Kai spoke to David instead. “Gabriel agreed to this. She works for me now. Leave.”