Point of No Return

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Well, isn’t this cozy?” Branna said in the silence. No one replied. She turned to me and I stiffened. “So tell me, sweetie, do you plan on playing the damsel in distress indefinitely?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.

“Surely the two of them must tire of it,” she kept going. “It seems Blane already has. Kade surely isn’t far behind. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?”

“Why? Need some tips?” I asked, white-hot anger singeing my veins, even as I wondered how she’d found out about Blane and me.

Kade interrupted our bitch match. “Ladies, for fuck’s sake. Give it a rest.”

I bit my tongue to keep from saying, “She started it.”

After a few minutes of silence, Branna spoke up again. This time, thankfully, her words weren’t directed at me.

“What’s the plan tonight?” she asked Kade.

“We’re going to check things out,” Kade replied. “Try the nice approach first, see if it works.”

“And if it doesn’t?” I asked.

His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “Then tomorrow night we’ll do the not-so-nice approach.”

I looked away as Blane said, “Sarah doesn’t need to be harmed for us to get what we want, Kade.”

“How do you two know each other again?” Branna interrupted. “Kade, how in the hell did you hook up with a slimy politician? Or is it the fabulous vagina sitting next to me that brought you two together?”

“You mean he never told you?” I asked, feigning shock. “Wow. I thought you two were . . . closer than that.” I smiled and shrugged. “Guess not.”

That pushed some buttons.

“What the fuck, Kade—” she spluttered.

“Oh my God, he’s my brother, Branna,” Kade said in exasperation. “I’m about to dump both your asses on the sidewalk and let you fight it out.”

But the revelation that Kade had a brother was enough to silence Branna. Her expression looked stunned, hurt. Then she turned and gazed out the window and didn’t say another word.

I almost felt bad for her.

We approached a two-story brick mansion in a neighborhood filled with them. Lights glowed in some of the windows. Kade pulled up alongside the curb in front of the house and parked.

“I think it’d be best if Kat and I go talk to her,” Blane said, surprising me. “She knows me and she’s met Kat. A woman there might make her feel more like opening up. And Kat’s good at getting people to talk and trust her.” The last was said matter-of-factly. I thought it was the first time Blane had ever said something like that about me.

Kade glanced back at me, then nodded. “You have your gun?” he asked Blane.

“Always.”

With that, Blane and I got out of the car and I followed him up the long walk to the colonial-style front door. Reaching out, he took my hand, threading our fingers together. I nervously combed a hand through my hair, now nearly dry.

“Branna’s a lot like Kade,” Blane said out of the blue. I glanced up at him and our eyes caught. “Damaged. I’m guessing she’s been through some of the same shit he has.”

“It’s not my story to tell,” I replied. “You’d have to ask her, but yeah, I think so.”

Blane gave a curt nod but said nothing more as we stepped up onto the porch. Reaching out, he rang the doorbell. Though it was nearing ten o’clock, the door swung open quickly, revealing a butler.

“May I help you?” he asked.

Blane told him his name and asked to see Sarah. We were led into a sitting room that looked like no one ever really sat in it. I perched gingerly on the edge of an antique couch, glancing around at the decor, which seemed straight out of a European magazine. Blane remained standing, energy and purpose seeming to radiate from him as he paced.

“Blane? Blane Kirk?”

I glanced up to see Sarah Bradshaw entering the room, her brows furrowed in confusion as she inspected Blane.

“What on earth are you doing here? And at this hour?”

Blane smiled softly, taking both of her hands in his and pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Good to see you, Sarah.”

I got to my feet too as Blane gestured my way. “You remember Kathleen, don’t you?”

Good manners bred into her had Sarah sending an artificial smile my way and reaching out to clasp hands with me. “Of course,” she said, which may or may not have been the truth. We’d met very briefly at a victory dinner for Senator Keaston, and she’d barely spared me a glance then.

“Please, sit down,” Sarah said, gracefully sinking into a Queen Anne–style chair opposite the couch. Blane took a seat on the couch next to me.

“I heard about George,” he said, leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees. “And I’m sorry for your loss.”

Sarah’s smile was tinged with bitterness. “Thank you, Blane, but you and I both know George wasn’t a good man. He did a lot of things to a lot of people. It was bound to catch up to him.”

I was surprised at how matter-of-fact she was, but I guess you couldn’t live long in Washington without being disillusioned.

“Speaking of which,” Blane said, “it’s late, so I’ll get to the point of our visit.”

“I would appreciate that,” Sarah said.

“George worked for Robert for a long time,” Blane said. “Lately, Robert’s gotten . . . a little out of hand—”

“He’s a megalomaniac,” Sarah interrupted.

“Yes,” Blane confirmed. “He’s come after me, after Kathleen. She was nearly killed, twice, because of Robert.” Sarah’s eyes flicked toward me, then back to Blane. “I need something I can use, something that’ll keep him in line, and I thought you might know if George had anything like that. Maybe told you anything that might help me.”

“Why should I tell you that?” Sarah asked. “If Robert finds out I helped you, I’ll be dead. And how can I trust you? You’re related to him. For all I know, this is some test to make sure I’ll keep his secrets as well as my husband did.”

“This isn’t a test,” Blane said.

“And how do I know that?”

I figured it was my turn to chime in. “Mrs. Bradshaw,” I said, drawing her attention toward me, “a few months ago, Senator Keaston had me taken. Taken by people whose job it was to make sure I was never seen or heard from again. Not to be killed, but to be sold into human slavery, into sex trafficking. My crime? Falling in love with Blane. If not for Blane . . .” I turned to look at him, my hand reaching out. He clasped my hand in both of his. “If not for Blane,” I continued, looking back to Sarah, “I wouldn’t be here now. This isn’t a test. This is Blane asking you for help in taking down a very dangerous man.”

Sarah seemed to weigh my words, meeting my eyes steadily. I didn’t say anything more, just waited. After a moment, she spoke.

“There’s a man,” she said, “someone new. I could tell George wanted to be real hush-hush about it, but I know he was getting money from him. I don’t know how or why, just that the campaign coffers have received huge influxes in the past six months.”

“Do you know anything about this man?” Blane asked.

Sarah shrugged. “Very little. He came by the house one night, which made George angry. From then on, they met outside the house. I followed George once. I was worried about him, wondering what he’d gotten himself mixed up in. He went to this house, here.” She got up and went to one of the tables, pulling paper and a pen out of a drawer, then jotting something down and handing the paper to Blane. “Here’s the address. The man, he was tall, over six feet, and broad, with dark hair, a goatee, and dark eyes. He spoke with a Russian accent.”

“You’re sure?” Blane asked.

Sarah nodded. “I only caught part of a name, and I don’t know if it’s his first or last.”

“What is it?”

“Lazaroff.”

“Well, at least we have a name,” Kade said, taking a drink of the coffee the waitress had just poured for him.

We were in a late-night diner in a part of DC that had me questioning the wisdom of us stopping for dinner, no matter how hungry I was.

I sat across from Kade in the booth, Blane by my side. I toyed with the Pepsi I’d ordered.

“Yeah, but does it strike any bells?” Blane replied.

“This address,” Branna interrupted. “I’ve heard of it. Russians run an illegal gambling joint there and a brothel. Strictly high rollers only.”

“In the heart of DC?” Kade asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Some kind of deal with the Russian consulate,” Branna replied with a shrug. “Cops look the other way. The Russians get a taste of the homeland when they want to and occasionally a piece of a US politician.”

“You think George gambled?” I asked Blane. “Or Robert?”

Blane shook his head. “Maybe this was just Lazaroff’s home base. I don’t see Robert being stupid enough to indebt himself in gambling. He’s smarter than that.”

“We need to get in there tomorrow night and find this guy,” Kade said just as the waitress reappeared with our meals.

I dug into the blueberry pancakes I’d ordered, ignoring the fact that Branna had gotten a salad. It seemed everyone was hungry and conversation ceased

“I can find out more about Lazaroff,” Branna said after a few minutes. “I have someone I can call tomorrow. They might meet with me.”

“Might?” Blane asked.

Branna shrugged. “I shot him the last time I saw him, but it was just a flesh wound. I’m sure he’ll have gotten over it by now.”

Blane stopped chewing for a moment, then glanced at Kade, who hadn’t batted an eye at this information.

“You’re just going to let her go see some guy she shot who may or may not want revenge?” Blane asked.

Kade looked up from the Denver omelet he was eating just as Branna spoke.

“Excuse me, did you say ‘let her’?” Branna said, her tone making it clear exactly what she thought of that. “Need I remind you that I handed you your ass just twenty-four hours ago? I can take care of myself.”

“No, Blane’s right,” Kade said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “We shouldn’t split up, even if it’s just for intel. I’ll go with you.”

“You need to stay with Kathleen,” Blane said. “I’ll go with Branna.”

“Why does he have to stay with her?” Branna asked, sending a glare my way. “If someone’s watching my back, I’d prefer he not be troubled by things like morals and ethics.”

“I’m a lawyer,” Blane retorted. “Morals and ethics aren’t a problem.”

I watched the two of them continue to spar as I finished my pancakes. My brow furrowed, as it seemed they were only aware of each other. Surely, Blane wasn’t . . . attracted to Branna? The thought tumbled through my mind like a stray paper caught in the wind.

We were walking to the car when Branna suddenly asked me, “You’re not going to puke all over the backseat, are you?”

“No,” I said shortly. “But if I do, I’ll be sure to aim it your direction.”

“Don’t even breathe on me,” she scoffed. “I certainly don’t want what you have.”

I stopped at the car, turning to look at her incredulously. I grabbed Kade’s sleeve. “You didn’t tell her?” I was hurt. What the hell had he told her last night in my kitchen if not that I was carrying his baby?

Kade frowned, huffing out a breath as he studied me.

“Didn’t tell me what?” Branna asked.

My eyes were locked with Kade’s. “Are you just going to leave and pretend this never happened?” My words were quiet, but I couldn’t keep the pain and accusation out of them.

I could feel myself on the verge of breaking down, so I quickly turned away, jerking open the car door and climbing inside. I could still hear Branna.

“What is it?” she asked again. “Kade, tell me what’s going on. What’s wrong with—”

“Kathleen’s pregnant,” he interrupted her.

Branna was silent for a moment. “I take it congratulations are in order,” she said stiffly.

I couldn’t hear if Kade said anything, because the next thing I knew, she was climbing in beside me. Blane had already taken the front seat and Kade got behind the wheel without a word.

To say that the drive to the motel was awkward would be an understatement. Kade tried to meet my eyes in the rearview mirror numerous times, but I avoided looking at it.

I was out of the car as soon as possible when we were back at the motel, and I stood outside the door to our room, waiting stiffly for Kade to unlock it.

Movement caught my eye and I saw Blane looking at me before he opened the door and let Branna in ahead of him. Branna looked upset, and well she should have been. Kade and she were supposed to be close, yet not only had he never told her about Blane, he hadn’t even told her I was having his child.

I’d be pretty upset, too, if I was her. I wondered if Blane would comfort her, and then I wondered how I felt about that.

Kade unlocked our door and I hurried inside, not looking at him. I brushed my teeth in the bathroom, then took off my jeans and headed for one of the beds, all without speaking to him.

“Kathleen . . .” he began.

I ignored him, jerking the bedcovers down, then slipping off my bra and putting it in my suitcase. The T-shirt I wore was fine to sleep in.

“Kathleen,” he tried again, taking hold of my arm. “Could you stop and just listen to me?”

“What should I listen to, Kade?” I snapped. “The sound of you not telling Branna about us?” I jerked my arm away just as Kade released me and I stumbled backward, falling flat on my ass on the floor.

“Dammit!” Tears threatened, but I blinked them back, pulling my feet under me to stand. That’s when I felt it.

Kade shoved his hand through his hair in frustration, then leaned down to help me up.

“Wait,” I said urgently. My hands dropped to my bump as another cramp knifed through my abdomen. “Oh God,” I gasped, the blood leaving my face in a rush.

“What’s wrong?” Kade dropped into a crouch next to me.

“I don’t know,” I breathed. “It hurts—” Another cramp cut me off as I sucked in a breath.

In a flash, Kade had me in his arms and was hurrying out the door.

“What are you doing?” I asked, cringing. I didn’t even have pants on. But Kade was kicking on the door to Blane’s room.

“Something’s wrong with Kathleen,” he blurted when Blane opened the door. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”

“You’re what?” I squeaked. “I’m fine!”

“You’re not fine,” Kade said to me. “Get the car door for me,” he ordered Blane, who rushed to open it.

“Kade, will you just stop for a second?” Another cramp seized me and Kade saw my hands go to my abdomen.

“Nope,” he said, slamming the door and hurrying to slide behind the wheel. Seconds later, he was burning rubber as we sped out of the lot.

I tried to reason with him all the way to the hospital, but it was like talking to a brick wall. No matter how many times I tried to tell him that cramping sometimes was normal and that we should just go back to the motel, he ignored me.

I wanted to sink under the seat when Kade pulled to a shuddering stop at the ER entrance, grabbing his keys and rushing around the car to pick me up and carry me inside.

“You can’t just leave your car there!” I protested.

“Fuck the car,” he growled.

“You’re making a scene,” I hissed, my face burning as people turned to look at us.

“I don’t give a shit.”

There was no stopping him from bullying the admittance people, and soon I was ensconced in a bed in the ER, clad in a gown and awaiting a doctor.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I muttered. “I’m fine. The cramping has stopped. It was probably nothing.”

“Maybe it was,” he said. “But won’t you feel better to find out for sure?”

He was right, so I didn’t say anything.

The doctor and a nurse came in shortly after that and asked me a bunch of questions. No, I hadn’t had this happen before. No, I wasn’t spotting. No, I wasn’t cramping right then.

“Let’s take a look,” the doctor said with a kind smile while he snapped on a pair of latex gloves. He glanced at Kade. “Does Dad want to stay for this or wait outside?”

The look on Kade’s face was unreadable. “I’m staying,” he said, coming to stand by me. He took my hand.

“Everything looks all right,” the doctor said a few minutes later, discarding his gloves and lowering the sheet to cover me. “But let’s get a sonogram, just to be sure.”

He stepped out of the cubicle and didn’t return for several minutes, but Kade didn’t release my hand. When the doctor came back, a technician followed him with a machine in tow.

Baring my stomach, the doctor squirted some gel on my skin, then placed the sonogram device on me, moving it around. A fast, whooshing beat immediately came through the speakers.

“What’s that?” Kade asked.

“That’s the baby’s heartbeat, of course,” the doctor replied, watching the screen. He pointed. “There he is. Or she.” There was a white blob that squirmed.

My eyes burned with tears as I stared at our baby. Kade’s hand was like a vise, crushing mine, but I didn’t care.

“It looks like it was just one of those scares they like to do,” the doctor said, giving the tech the wand and grabbing some paper towels to wipe the gel off my stomach. “Get used to it. They only come up with more ways to make you worry about them.” He smiled, then discreetly handed me a tissue to wipe my eyes.

“Thank you,” I managed, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“You’re welcome. Take care of yourself, now.” He left, pulling the curtain shut behind him and leaving Kade and me alone.

I chanced a glance at Kade. He was staring at me. His gaze dropped to my mouth and he leaned down, pressing a warm, soft kiss to my lips. He cupped my jaw, his fingers sliding into my hair. I lifted my hand to lightly grasp his arm. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine.

“We made that,” he said, his voice hardly above a whisper.

My smile was a little watery. “Yes, we did.”

“We’re having a baby.”

“Yes, we are.”

Kade pressed a kiss to my forehead and helped me dress. He called Blane on the way back to the motel to let him know I was okay, and soon we were back inside the run-down room.

I got into the bed and he pulled the covers up over me. I turned, my back toward Kade, and I felt the bed dip as he lay behind me, his body stretched alongside mine. His hand brushed the hair back from my face.

“I didn’t tell Branna because I was trying to take your advice,” he said, his lips grazing my ear. His fingertips gently traced the curve of my cheek and jaw. “I just hadn’t had the chance yet to tell her that she and I aren’t ever going to be what she wants. That I’m in love with someone else. That I’m in love with you. And no matter how many times I tell myself that you and the baby are better off without me, I can’t stop wanting you.”

I turned to look at him, almost afraid to hope. “Do you mean that?”

He nodded, still tenderly smoothing stray hairs back from my face. “I left, but that never meant I didn’t love you. You own me, body and soul. From the moment I first laid eyes on you in the courthouse.”

“Then why, Kade?” I asked. “Why would you lie to me, pretend everything was going to be okay, that we’d be together, and then just leave me without a word?”

“I’m so sorry, princess,” Kade said, the anguish in his voice painful to hear. He gazed down into my eyes. “My staying would’ve put you in danger, and I couldn’t even say goodbye because I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to walk away from you. I wanted you to be safe, needed you to be safe. And I knew I couldn’t do it, but Blane could.”

I took his face in my hands, the shadow on his cheeks a soft abrasion against my palms. His eyes were beautiful pools of a blue so deep, I never wanted to stop gazing into them. “It’s you . . . or it’s no one,” I said simply.

Kade studied me intently, and I prayed he was finally hearing me, finally understanding that there was no one else for me—just him.

His gaze dropped and he slowly lowered his head. My breath caught. His lips brushed mine once, twice, then settled softly in a gentle caress. My fingers slid into his hair and it seemed my chest cracked wide open as Kade kissed me. All the longing and heartbreak of being apart was poured from me into him and back. Kade pressed kisses to my cheeks, my eyes, my jaw, then returned to my lips, the warm slide of his tongue against mine spreading heat through my body. I felt cherished as he held me, loved.

Yet a whisper of caution made me pull away. “Wait,” I said, my voice breathless from his kisses. Kade’s mouth moved to my neck and I had to tug on his hair to get his attention. “Wait,” I said again.

“What?” he asked. His lips were red and a little swollen, the slight sheen to them making me want to swallow what I was about to say and dive back into kissing him. I shoved the thought aside.

“I have to know,” I said. “Is this temporary? Are you going to leave me again?”

Kade’s expression turned solemn. “I swear to you,” he said. “I will never leave you again.”

My eyes stung, but I didn’t want to cry. I pulled his head down, kissing him with everything I felt, sure that if I didn’t find an outlet, the overwhelming love and joy and tenderness flooding through me would explode.

Kade kissed me back with the same desperation. I locked my arms around his neck, climbing out from underneath the covers until I was kneeling between his legs as he sat back on his haunches. His hands settled on my waist, my T-shirt riding up, and I impatiently pulled it up over my head and off.

Kade groaned, a sound that brought a smile to my lips, then my breath was torn from me when his mouth closed over a nipple. Pregnancy had increased the already acute sensitivity of my breasts, and Kade seemed to have figured that out pretty darn fast. His mouth and hands paid lavish attention to my breasts until all I could hear was a nonstop litany of whimpers and pleas falling from my lips. And all I could think about was the feel of his tongue, flicking against me before he sucked the flesh into his mouth. The insides of my thighs were coated with my arousal and I remained upright only because his hands were holding me up.

“Can we do this?” Kade asked, his lips moving against my skin. “I don’t want to hurt the baby.”

“I’m fine,” I managed to gasp. “The baby’s fine. Sex is fine, won’t hurt the baby. Don’t stop.” If he didn’t make love to me right then, he was going to be on the business end of one hell of a hissy fit.

Kade’s hand slipped underneath the elastic waistband of my panties, the heat of his palm branding my rear as he tugged the fabric down my thighs. The next thing I knew, his fingers were pushing into me from behind. I choked on a cry, a keening sound coming from my throat as he teased me, thrusting his long fingers inside me, then spreading my arousal to my clit, coating the flesh with moisture until I couldn’t breathe. Then he’d do it again, leisurely fucking me with two fingers, and all while his mouth, tongue, and teeth played relentlessly with my breasts.

I was hovering on the edge, each touch making me whimper and moan and beg until I couldn’t think, couldn’t process anything but what Kade was doing to me. I knew at some point I was mindlessly begging, each teasing brush of his fingers against my clit making my thighs tremble. I was so wet, I knew I should probably be embarrassed at the moisture dripping down my thighs, but was too far gone to care.

Kade suddenly withdrew his fingers and I moaned with disappointment. My eyes were closed but I felt his lips whisper against the skin of my neck, “Don’t worry, princess. I won’t leave you hanging.”

Carefully turning me, Kade laid me across the bed on top of the covers, tugging my panties farther down my legs and off. I was beyond coherent thought, my fingers scrabbling at the shirt he wore. I wanted to feel his skin, wanted his body inside mine. Kade pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it. A moment later, his jeans were kicked aside as well. The sight of his straining erection had me lifting to my elbows to see more, but then he lay between my legs.

Bracing his weight on his arms, Kade gazed into my eyes. “Tell me if I hurt you,” he said softly.

I was more than ready, and the head of his cock slipped easily inside me. I bent my knees, lifting my hips to eagerly take in more of him. Kade pushed forward, sheathing himself inside me, and I gasped. There was the tiniest twinge as my body accommodated his, then it was as though we’d never been apart.

Kade retreated then thrust hard into me, once, twice. That was all it took to send me splintering into a thousand pieces. He stilled inside me as my body gripped his, my orgasm rippling through me as though it were drawn from my toes. Dimly, I heard Kade groan at the sensation. I cried out, tears slipping from the corners of my eyes.

Kade started moving again before I’d even caught my breath. Our eyes locked and I couldn’t look away. I wrapped my legs around his hips as the pressure built inside me once again. I lifted my hips to meet his thrusts, the hard length of him stroking me in just the right spot, as he moved faster. I couldn’t help my eyes slipping shut as I moaned, repeating his name over and over like a litany, until I couldn’t keep up with him. His hands dug into my hips and sweat dripped from his brow. He grew thicker inside me, moved faster, harder, until I couldn’t hold out any longer.

Stars exploded behind my eyes as Kade’s body jerked into mine, guttural moans and gasps filling the space between us. His mouth suddenly covered mine, his tongue sliding inside my mouth the way his cock was deep inside my body, and I clutched him to me as aftershocks rippled through us.

Kade tore his mouth away, gasping for breath as he settled heavily on top of me. He tried to roll away, but I tightened my arms and legs, holding him in place.

“I’m too heavy,” he murmured in my ear.

“I like it,” I whispered back.

He buried his face between my shoulder and neck, kissing me there, his lips moving up to my jaw and cheek. Tightening his arms around my waist, he rolled us over, taking me with him so I lay on top of him. My legs settled between his as I rested on his chest, the feel of his heartbeat strong against the rhythm of mine. His lips brushed the top of my head.

“I don’t know how I thought I could live without you,” he whispered.

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping him tightly. “You can’t,” I said before glancing up at him. “And don’t you forget it.”

His smile was crooked, and one hand brushed my hair back from my face and over my shoulder. “I won’t.”

I was cold, so Kade rearranged us underneath the covers, my bare bottom nestled against his hips as he cuddled me spoon style. His arm lay in the dip of my waist, his palm pressed to my stomach. That made me self-conscious, thinking of the new bump protruding from my abdomen, and I tried to unobtrusively move his hand higher.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, the low timbre of his voice in my ear sending a delicious shiver through me.

“Nothing,” I hedged, “just adjusting, that’s all.” I laced my fingers through his, drawing his hand upward.

“But I like it down here,” he said, slipping his hand free so it curved over my lower abdomen. “Please tell me you’re not going to get all weird and start thinking you’re fat just because you’re pregnant, are you?”

My cheeks flamed and I didn’t answer because, well, when he put it like that, yeah, it sounded pretty dumb.

Kade suddenly loomed over me. “You know Branna was just being a bitch,” he said. “Hey, look at me.” His fingers tipped my chin up so our eyes met. “You’re beautiful, and your body is gorgeous. You’re creating a whole new life inside you, and there isn’t a damn thing about it that doesn’t amaze me.”

Who would have thought Kade would know just the thing to say to ease all my worries and fears?

I reached up and pulled him down for a kiss, and this time when he pulled me back against his chest and his hand settled on the little bump we’d made, I didn’t move away.

I woke to the sound of the door closing and sat up with a start.

Kade had just walked in and I guess I must have missed his departure, because he was fully dressed and setting two steaming cups and a paper bag down on the wood laminate table in the corner.

“Rise and shine,” he said, hooking his sunglasses on his shirt. “I’ve got coffee.”

It smelled wonderful, but I made myself go into the bathroom first. After brushing my teeth and showering, I came back out.

With one of the thin motel towels wrapped around me, I scurried over to the table for a cup of coffee. Kade had dug out his laptop and was sitting in front of it, a cup at his elbow. He glanced up, eyeing me with a predatory look in his eye.

“You’d better get some clothes on,” he said. “Blane’s on his way over and it’d be real awkward for him to walk in on me eating you for breakfast.”

I think even my ears turned red at that, and I wasted no time grabbing my clothes and hustling back into the bathroom, Kade’s soft laugh following me.

When I emerged again, both Branna and Blane were there. I was about to say something when I was startled by the sound of two people arguing in the room on the other side of us. My eyebrows shot up at some of the expletives hurled back and forth.

“Yeah, walls are pretty thin,” Blane said, turning my attention back to him. “You can hear just about . . . everything.”

Oh God.

Kade ignored him, with his and Branna’s attention focused on the laptop, but I caught the message loud and clear. I swallowed hard, feeling the color leave my face. Blane’s eyes were on mine, but I couldn’t read his expression. While I knew he had come to grips with the fact that I was with Kade, I never intended to throw it in his face as blatantly as it seemed we’d done last night. I wasn’t quiet during sex, never had been. It used to be one of the things Blane had really liked about me. Somehow I doubted he liked it much anymore.

“So go buy some fucking earplugs,” Kade suddenly piped up, swinging around to look at Blane, a hint of challenge in his tone.

“Can we get back on task, please?” Branna broke in. “Lazaroff is definitely a regular member here, and judging by the people going in and out, I’d say he uses it as a base.”

“Then we need to get in there tonight and see what he’s got,” Kade said.

“I think the easiest way is to just walk in the front door,” Branna replied. “Pose as a player, flash some cash, we’re in.”

“Sounds good,” Kade said. “We need to run by the electronics store, pick up a few things—”

“Hold on, wait a second,” Blane interrupted. “You and Branna are just going to go after this guy and, what, leave me and Kathleen here to watch the walls? I don’t think so.”

I was surprised he’d included me, but hey, I wasn’t going to complain.

“Suddenly you want to put Kathleen in harm’s way?” Kade asked in mock disbelief. “That’s not like you.” His derision had Blane’s jaw tightening.

“If you’re implying that I wouldn’t want to keep her safe just because she’s with you now, then you can go to hell,” Blane bit out. “I just know her well enough to get that she’s not going to stay behind while the three of us go to this place.”

Damn straight.

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. We’ll all go. Happy?”

Of course, I hadn’t realized that apparently the role Branna and I would be filling was as arm candy for Blane and Kade. Well, she obviously had more to offer, given her training and technical skills. I was solely decoration, it seemed.

Blane and Kade had left, returning later with clothes for all of us. Suits for them, dresses for me and Branna. Of course, arm candy couldn’t wear normal dresses.

Branna and I wore identical skintight sheaths that left our shoulders bare and ended right above mid-thigh. Mine was gold, hers silver. The guys had even managed to find matching designer stilettos. I did my hair and makeup to match, then eyed myself critically in the mirror. I looked pretty good, I guess, for what the purpose was tonight. I felt like I was showing way too much skin, but if I pulled the dress up to try and cover more of my boobs, then it just showed more thigh. Another couple of tugs and my vagina would be showing.

I exited the bathroom and struck a playful pose. “How do I look?” I asked.

“It’s about time,” Kade said, tucking his gun into his holster before glancing up. I did a little twirl for him, gratified when his eyes widened slightly.

“Holy shit,” he breathed.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I teased, giving him a similar once-over. He’d opted for black on black, big surprise, and looked so good I wondered exactly how much time we had before we had to leave . . .

Kade approached me, taking my hand and leading me to the table. “Let’s try and fit one more thing into that dress,” he said. “Put your foot on the chair.”

Wondering what exactly he could be doing, I obeyed, lifting my foot to the seat of the chair. Kade reached behind him, then inched my skirt even farther up my leg and fastened a thin knife sheath to the top of my thigh. His cologne drifted to me and I inhaled greedily.

“The knife isn’t big, but it’s sharp and it’ll do some damage,” he said, tightening the strap. I tried to focus on what he was saying and not on the feel of his hands touching me. His face was mere inches away and my eyes dropped to his mouth as he spoke. I must not have been that successful in concealing what I was really thinking, because he suddenly asked, “Are you even listening to me?”

I quickly nodded. “Of course,” I said. “Small but sharp. Got it.”

Kade’s lips twisted in a smirk as he gazed intently into my eyes. “Somehow I think your mind’s on . . . other things.” His fingers drifted farther up my thigh to lightly touch between my legs. I sucked in a breath, my nails digging into his biceps.

He leaned forward, putting his lips to my ear. “You look like you want to be fucked,” he murmured, sending my pulse into overdrive. He easily pushed aside the scrap of lace that covered me. I bit back a moan as a long finger pushed inside me.

“So wet,” he whispered against the skin of my neck. “Tell me you only get that way for me.”

But I couldn’t speak, my whole attention focused on the slow slide of his finger inside me.

“Tell me,” he repeated, withdrawing his finger. He brushed my clit, then circled the entrance to my body, teasing me. “Tell me you only want me.”

“Just you,” I managed to gasp. “I only want you.”

“Tell me no one gets you dripping wet like I do,” he said, his words a low growl in my ear. His finger slid inside me again and I clung to him, trying to stay on my feet.

I pried open my eyes to see Kade watching me. The expression on his face was fierce, his blue eyes blazing.

“No one makes me wet like you do,” I repeated, my voice breathless. “Only you can do this to me.” It felt freeing to say what he’d ordered me to say, as strange a dichotomy as that sounded. The words seemed to have an effect on Kade, too, because before I knew it, my panties were gone and he was unzipping his pants. A moment later, my dress was hiked to my waist and my back was pressed against the wall as Kade buried himself inside me.

It was hard and fast, and Kade’s tongue in my mouth kept my noises to a minimum. I came in a shuddering climax only seconds before Kade, then we were both panting for breath as he kissed his way down my neck. My legs were hooked around his waist and when I let my feet slip back to the ground, my knees trembled under my weight.

I heard the sound of Kade’s zipper as he put himself to rights and I tugged my dress back down.

“Gimme a minute,” I said against his mouth, his lingering kisses making me regret pulling away. I returned to the bathroom to clean up and put my underwear back on. My eyes were bright and my cheeks flushed, but I couldn’t make myself regret the immensely satisfying interlude with Kade. My body was humming with pleasure and I couldn’t help a satisfied smile as I reapplied my lipstick. It was good to know Kade was as susceptible to me as I was to him.

The plan seemed solid. Find this guy Lazaroff, figure out what he had on Keaston, confront Keaston, then Kade and I live happily ever after without having to look over our shoulders, and Blane is at last free from his uncle’s machinations and able to live his own life.

Of course, everyone knows what they say about the best-laid plans.

They always get shot to hell.