Kai shrugs, swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, and I avoid looking at his sexy swallow so I keep focused. “You’ll have to ask Drew. All I know is the night before the heist, he told us about it in case we needed an escape route.”
I know Drew couldn’t have built the tunnel because it’s been there longer than our seventeen and a half years on this Earth, but was he the one responsible for the upgraded works to the tunnel and the rear exit? And if he was, why did he do it? My brother and I are long overdue a talk, and I file those questions away with the others I need to ask him.
“What happened?”
“Well, we didn’t get near your father for two reasons.” His jaw hardens, and his entire body tenses. “The first was that asshole, Louis.”
My stomach does a twisty motion, and a sour taste fills my mouth. “What did he do?”
“Nothing, because I put a bullet through his skull before he could move a muscle.”
I stare at him, abandoning my sandwich and crawling into his lap. I smack a kiss on his lips. “Thank you, baby. You’re my hero.”
“Your response should disturb me, but I guess I’m as fucked up as you, because all it does is turn me on.” He jerks his hips up, and I feel the growing bulge against my ass.
“As much as I’m down to ride your cock,” I admit, grinding against him. “I need answers more. Continue.” I climb off his lap, picking my sandwich up again as he eyes me with amusement.
“I wish he hadn’t died so painlessly,” he continues. “I was on top of his dead body pounding my fists into his skull before I even realized it. Lauder and Hunt were trying to pull me off, but I was lost in a fit of rage, and if Drew hadn’t come along, we most likely would’ve been captured by your father’s men.”
“Drew helped you.”
He nods. “Drew got rid of the body, and Xavier wiped the camera feed. Then we held a meeting, the six of us, and thrashed everything out.”
“What did you discuss?” I ask, because that’s not a satisfactory answer.
“We fessed up to why we’d hidden the documents from the safe although they’d already pieced the facts together from the night of the shootout.” He puts his sandwich and drink aside, turning to face me. “I told him I’d no idea my father had sabotaged your birth control and that I wasn’t a part of the plan to get you pregnant. He could see I was genuine, especially when I begged him to tell me where you were.”
“And did he?”
“He didn’t know where you were although Charlie and Drew guessed he had taken you to Parkhurst. They were as anxious as we were to rescue you, so we agreed to work together.”
Certain things slid into place. “That’s how Xavier knew you guys had taken me. And Charlie knew your brothers would kidnap me. That’s why he said it,” I muse.
“Said what?” Kai asks, instantly alert.
“Uh, nothing.” I attempt to dismiss it, but he’s having none of it.
“This truth thing works both ways.” He points between us. “Our relationship won’t work if we don’t trust one another implicitly. That includes sharing everything. So, spit it out.”
“We’re in a relationship?” I blurt.
He winds his hand around the nape of my neck. “You’re my girl, and I’m your guy. What else would you call it?”
I climb back onto his lap. “I can’t believe you forgave me so easy.”
He grips my ass cheeks, squeezing. “What makes you think you’re forgiven?” He slaps my ass hard. “This morning was only the start of your punishment. You’ll suffer for deceiving me, but I’m done punishing myself.” He drags my head down, kissing me with possessive intensity. “You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go again.”
“There’s just one tiny problem,” I reluctantly admit. “I’m technically engaged to Charlie.” I wet my dry lips. “And just before he got out of the car that day, he told me he loved me and that he genuinely wanted to marry me. He implored me to keep my options open, saying you weren’t the only choice.”
His eyes darken to almost black, and a muscle pops in his jaw. “I fucking knew it! I could tell every time he looked at you.” He grabs both sides of my face forcefully. “I’ll only ask you this once. Do you love him?”
I shake my head. “I don’t love him like that.” His eyes narrow, and I glare at him. “Don’t do that. He’s one of my best friends, and I love him the same way I love Jane and Xavier. In a purely platonic way.”
I want to add that the only one I love is him, but I’m fucked if I’m going to make myself that vulnerable.
He can say it first, and then I’ll return the sentiment.
His face contorts, and a myriad of conflicting emotions glints in his eyes. His features soften as he loosens his hold on my face, caressing my cheek with his fingers. “There’s something I need to tell you about Charlie. This’ll make me sound like a jealous asshole, but it’s more than that. I’ve wanted to tell you all week, but it means exposing you to something risky.”
He bites down on his lip, pausing.
“Don’t second-guess yourself. We agreed no more secrets. Just tell me.” I lean down and kiss him.
“Charlie is the reason you—”
The door to the hotel room crashes inward with a resounding thud, cutting off Kai’s statement. I jump off his lap, lunging for the gun on top of the bedside table, when a familiar figure storms into the room, flanked by two armed goons.
“I’ve found them,” Charlie says into his cell, frowning as he skims his eyes over my semi-dressed body, his gaze lingering on my braless chest. “I’ll have your daughter back in Rydeville before midnight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“What have you done?” I’m horrified as I stare at Charlie, wondering if I’ve ever known him at all. I inch toward the bedside table as Kai slowly climbs off the bed, keeping his gaze locked on Charlie the entire time.
Charlie gestures with his eyes toward Maurio and Benjamin. I understand it’s a warning to be careful what I say in front of my father’s bodyguards. “Your father has your best interests at heart,” Charlie says. “As do I. Which is why you will return to Rydeville with me.”
“Over my dead body,” Kai growls, stalking toward Charlie with murderous intent.
I grab my gun at the same moment Maurio and Benjamin withdraw their weapons, pointing them at Kai. I race in front of my boyfriend, shielding him with my body as I hold the gun out in front of me. “Back down or I’ll shoot.” I level the gun at Benjamin’s chest, gritting my teeth and steadying my hand. I don’t want to shoot him. But I’ll do it to protect Kai if it comes down to it.
“Wait outside,” Charlie commands them in an authoritative voice.
“Our instructions are to remain by your side at all times,” Maurio calmly replies.
“I don’t care what your instructions are,” Charlie says, eyeballing him. “I’m in charge. Leave. Now.” His cold tone matches the threatening look on his face.
Maurio considers it for a moment, glancing briefly at me, and I spot the flash of indecision before he concedes. Lowering his gun, he slips it back into his gun strap. “You have five minutes.” The two of them leave, and a layer of stress lifts from my shoulders.