The Insiders (The Insiders Trilogy 1)

I choked out, “Kash?”

His arms folded around me, tugging me the last bit of space and holding me against him. He buried his head in my neck, his body slightly trembling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He breathed out against my skin. “It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re safe. It’s just me. It’s Kash.”

A light turned on.

His hand came back. He was cupping both sides of my face.

His forehead was almost touching. His eyes boring into mine. A fierceness in there that had me pausing, waiting.

“Tell me you’re okay.” His hands tightened on my face. “Tell me, Bailey. I need to hear the words.”

My mind was spinning. Different thoughts were coming at me, snapping at me. They were quick and harsh and terrifying.

I paused, my heart pounding.

I sucked in a shuddering breath. “I’m fine.” I said it faintly, but I was. And I said it stronger, clearer, because I meant it. “I’m fine. I’m sorry. I just—”

His hands were sweeping back my hair and he shook his head, his forehead moving on mine. “You’re fine. I grabbed you fast. I wasn’t thinking. It’s me.”

His arms moved more around me, and I could feel his breath. His lips were so close to mine, but then he was talking. “We can talk later. I promise. But first…” He moved back again, the same glittering fierceness coming back. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Oh.” I rested my head against the wall, my insides sagging in relief for the moment. “Matt said you called, said Peter was coming back also. Quinn wanted me gone.”

His hand had tightened as I spoke, until the last part. “The fuck?”

I didn’t know what to say, so I only lifted a shoulder up and down. “We have security on us…”

“I know. That’s how I found you. I flew in thirty minutes ago.”

Thirty. Whoa. He had come straight here from the airport.

“We’ve been trying to locate the Arcane team after their last attempt. They went underground after losing you.”

That was—wow. That was just wow.

“Their last…”

Last.

And then, “Their last attempt?” Now my eyes were blazing. “What haven’t you been telling me?”

A sad look had him dropping his hand, but he didn’t move away. He closed his eyes, standing toe to toe with me. Chest to chest. Forehead resting on mine, and he said softly, “This was their third try.”

I hadn’t heard that right.

No way.

I couldn’t have.

Right?

Third. Try.

Third. Attempt.

This.

This was what it felt like to have the world fall from under your feet, because I dropped.

I was mad. I was pissed, but I was also light-headed.

Seriously light-headed.

My knees buckled and my body went down, but Kash caught me.

“Whoa. Bailey.” He grunted from the surprise and swiftness of it, but then he was swinging me up in his arms.

“No, Kash.”

“Shh.” He shifted me, cradling me, and his one hand smoothed back some of my hair. He pressed my head to the crook of his neck and shoulder. “Come on. I’ll take you to my place.”

I couldn’t process what was happening. My world had been turned upside down for the final time, and I was out.

The booze might’ve helped.

I felt him move, kicking the door. It was opened from the other side.

“Wha—”

“Call ahead. I want my car brought to the rear. We’re going out that way.”

Kash was carrying me through the nightclub.

“Mr. Colello.” An anxious female, maybe a staff member? “Is everything okay? Should I call for an ambulance?”

“No,” Kash clipped out. “I need a clear path to your rear exit. That’s it.”

“Yes, sir. Certainly, sir.”

She rushed off.

The guard veered in close. I heard him say, “Matt is looking for her. He’s worried.”

“Matt?” Every inch of Kash went rigid underneath me.

“I meant Mr. Francis.” A pause. “Sir.”

“You’ll tell him I have her, and escort him to his own place.”

“And when he asks where you’re taking her?”

Kash stopped again, rounding with a snap. “Excuse me?”

The guard sounded apologetic. “You know he’ll ask, sir. He’ll come around to look for her too.”

Kash’s voice rumbled from his chest, and he started forward again. “Tell him I have her and I’m taking her back to the estate.”

“And are you?”

Kash stopped and pivoted back once again.

The guard added, “Sir.”

“How the hell is that any of your business?”

He waited.

No answer.

I lifted my head up. The two were in a stare-off. The guard took me in, and his features tightened. He dropped his face, saying, “She’s cared for, sir. By others now.”

“Fucking hell.” Kash’s arms tightened under me, his hand digging into my thigh. “You’ll relay my message to Mr. Francis, then you’re relieved for the night, Helms. Don’t come to work for three days. You and I will have a meeting before you’re back on duty. Or, I swear to God, I will drop you right now.”

I frowned. My head was pounding. I didn’t understand the animosity, but Helms dipped his head in an abrupt nod. “Yes, sir.” One step back, his eyes flicked up to mine, and he was swallowed up by the crowd. He had stood out before, following me from the upper level. Now he hid.