Sweet Peril

“Ready to s-snuggle?” he asked Kaidan, a slight chatter in his voice. Only Blake could joke on a night like this and get away with it.

Kaidan shook his head and undressed down to his boxers, too, the tension finally shedding away from his frame.

“I swear, mate. If I feel something poke me in the back . . .”

Blake’s laugh was dry. “I’m pretty sure my junk froze off, man, so don’t worry.”

Kaidan climbed into the bed next to me. I put my back to Zania, pressing as close as I could to her. Kaidan faced me, and Blake lay behind him. It was a tight fit, but we were all skin to skin under layers of blankets, which is what we needed. I slid a leg between Kaidan’s thighs and I felt him take a jagged breath before relaxing. Together we all shivered while our body temperatures rose.

Blake got up after some time, claiming he was sweating because of Kaidan, the human furnace. As my internal thermometer stabilized I fell in and out of sleep. I seemed to recall a visit from Azael, saying the Dukes were at the airport, headed back to Vegas. As the boat began to move, my mind registered that we were safe and I passed out hard.

I dreamed of Flynn “the Ghost” Frazier bouncing on the balls of his feet in the middle of the ring. His giant smile. Our fearless ally. I dreamed that Kaidan told me he loved me, just before Rahab and Pharzuph pointed guns to our heads. And all the Dukes laughed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

TRUTH COMES OUT

I woke up sweating, covered in four blankets. I pushed them off and let out a little squeak when I realized I was in my bra and panties. I yanked a sheet back over myself and looked around, but it was only Zania and me. She’d kicked off all but the sheet, too. I sat up, spotting my clothes laid out across chairs. With stiff, painful movements I got up and grabbed the shirt and shorts. They were still damp, but dry enough, so I put them on. My phone sat on the tabletop where I’d left it the day before. I sent Dad a message: A911, then went up to the deck.

I shielded my eyes against the bright morning sun to see we were docked at the port outside Los Angeles, a warm breeze blowing through the sunny skies. Kope and Kai were both dressed, standing at opposite ends of the boat and looking out. Kope’s arms were crossed, while Kai leaned against the side on his elbows. I shook my head, sad to see they were still at odds. With so much against us, we couldn’t afford any rifts.

I went to Kai and took his hand, winding my fingers with his. He continued to stare out at sea. I didn’t like the blank look on his face—the one that had always meant he was shutting down—shutting me out. I knew he was thinking about the things we’d heard last night. I squeezed his hand and he looked at me.

My insides unraveled in relief as his face softened.

“Nice hair, luv,” he said, tugging a dry, salted lock.

I snorted a laugh and leaned my forehead against his chest. He wasn’t leaving me this time. Whatever was going to happen, we’d face it together, no matter how many miles separated us. That brought me no end of comfort. And then Flynn’s face floated into my mind and I clutched Kaidan’s stiff cotton shirt. Tears welled and a sob stuck in my chest. Kai pulled me closer and rubbed my back. Realizing we were in public and whisperers could be about, I yanked myself away and dried my eyes. Kai seemed to understand.

My phone buzzed with Dad’s number.

“Still in L.A.?” he asked when I answered.

“Yes, sir.”

“Take the girl where you need to take her. The son of Alocer’s got a flight out this afternoon, and you’ve got one this evening. I’m on my way there right now to talk in person. Azael said something’s going on.”

“He’s right.” My voice was thick as I pushed down the sadness and anxiety.

Dad let out one of his frustrated sighs and told me he’d see me soon.

Zania came up the steps with her hair in a sleek ponytail and her clothes slightly rumpled. But she stood tall with her chin up. She and Kope made brief eye contact before both examining the water and anything else they could look at. Blake walked up the dock toward us.

“All right everyone. Boat’s turned in. Time to go.”

He tossed each of us a protein bar and we ate as we trudged to the parking lot. The bright sun was a strange contrast to our darkened moods. The car was quiet the whole way to the convent. We all wore glassy-eyed looks, minds overwhelmed.

We parked in the gravel lot and I led us to the entrance, where we were greeted by the nun I recognized from two years ago, Sister Emily. I could have sworn she was wearing the very same flowered dress. Kope, Kai, and Blake hung by the door while Zania and I walked into a sitting room. I explained that my father helped save Zania from dire circumstances in the Middle East, and now she was a refugee. Zania allowed me to talk, nodding to confirm facts about her struggle with alcoholism and a difficult past with men.

The fact that Sister Emily’s colors never wavered from those of compassion helped dissipate some of the fears I knew Zania had.

“This will only be temporary,” I told the nun. “My father is in the process of finding her a home.”

“I’m so glad you’re here with us, Zania. We offer counseling services, rooms, and meals. You’ll be safe here.” Her smile was endearing. She didn’t try to touch Z, but her eyes promised warmth and affection to anyone in need. “I’ll let you say good-bye to your friends.”

We stood and went back into the hall, but Kope wasn’t there. Blake and Kai nodded to an open set of doors at the end of the hall. A chapel. The four of us walked down the quiet hall and looked in at the small sanctuary with five rows of pews.