Home > A Sinful Encore (Brilliance Trilogy #3)(56)

A Sinful Encore (Brilliance Trilogy #3)(56)
Author: Lisa Renee Jones

  Kayden speaks then. “This display now falls under my protection, as do Aria Stradivari and Kace August. And I just want to add that if we ever find out who took Aria’s father, I’ll be involved in seeking justice.”

 When the event is over, Kayden and Ella join me and Kace. “When Kayden offers his protection,” Ella says, “if someone hurts you, then they bring the wrath of the entire world of Hawks down on them. That’s why a Lady Hawk is never a target.”

 “You both have my protection,” Kayden adds. “For the rest of my life and yours. My gift to you is your freedom.”

 I fling myself at Kayden and hug him, and then do the same to Ella. Kace and Kayden shake hands, but end up hugging as well. And a few minutes later when we climb back into the limo, I feel like a new person. I feel like a daisy in the wind, free to ride right into a new day.

 The only thing holding me back from absolute happiness is Gio ghosting me, and Kace’s dark secret, whatever it might be.

 

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN


 That night, the whole group of us goes out to dinner. Me, Kace, Kayden, Ella, Savage, Adrian, and even Sasha. The food and wine flow freely and so does the friendship. As does the charge in the air between me and Kace. We are in the middle of a group of people and it feels at times as if it’s just me and him. The way we share intimate looks and touches. The way he kisses one, then another, of the tattoos on my arms. I’m tipsy enough that he has to walk me to the bathroom. Once I’m inside, I realize that I’ve started my period. I’m late, which I hadn’t even realized, but I’m not pregnant. Which I know. I did or I wouldn’t be tipsy right now, but it affects me. God, how it affects me. I can’t explain how much this punches me in the gut.

 I open the door and Kace is leaning on the wall waiting on me, looking like the most delicious man on planet Earth. I rush to him and wrap my arms around him. “I’m not pregnant and I know it’s crazy, but I’m upset about it. I know we’re not married and I know we didn’t plan it, but—”

 He cups my face and stares down at me. “You need to know who I am before you marry me.”

 I blink, confused by his dark, rough reaction. “I know you.”

 “No. You refuse to see who I am.” He takes my hand and leads me down the hallway. We step into a garden with heaters glowing to keep the guests warm.

 Kace halts and turns me, my back to the railing, his hands caging me in. “I shouldn’t be doing this when you’re tipsy, but it’s eating me alive. The way we are—”

 “Is good. Isn’t it?”

 “Damn good, baby, but I’m not. I’m not your hero.”

 “This again? You are my hero. I decide who is my hero. And I thought you were going to stop pushing me away?”

 “Alexander is dead.” His voice is flat, hard.

 I blink. “What?” My fist clenches at my chest. “Oh God. How?”

 “Suicide.”

 I swallow hard, sobering up the best I can, quickly, acid in my throat. “Suicide,” I repeat. “Kace?”

  “I didn’t kill him or have him killed, but I might as well have. I know Maggie’s brother did this.”

 “And you think you’re guilty because you gave him proof of his sister’s murder?” I don’t give him time to answer. “You did not do this.”

 “I wanted him to suffer.”

 “That’s not killing him.”

 “You’re making excuses for me.”

 I wrap my arms around him. “Stop it. I love you.”

 His hand comes down on my head, his forehead against mine. “I don’t want you to wake up one day and—”

 I pull back and I don’t let him finish that sentence. “I don’t want to wake up one day without you. I can’t. I need you. And this isn’t fair to tell me this tonight when I’m drunk. I can’t properly articulate anything.” I poke his chest. “We are a team—good, bad, and ugly. That’s who we are. And damn it, don’t let me think we’re forever and then keep pushing me away.”

 “I’m not—”

 “You are. Love is not fair weathered. I don’t love only a piece of you, Kace. I love all of you.”

 He stares down at me, the air pulsing around us before his mouth comes down on mine and he’s kissing me, and thank God, this is no goodbye kiss. It’s love. It’s passion. It’s us, me and him, all the way.

 “God, I love you, woman,” he murmurs when our lips part, his hand sliding over my hair and tilting my gaze to his. “And I’m not pushing you away. I want you. I want us. And we can get pregnant. We can make that decision. We can do anything we want.”

 “Aria.”

 I jolt with the sound of Gio’s voice and Kace releases me, stepping to my side. He stands a few feet away, looking healthy and well.

 “Gio?” I ask, because I don’t know what to expect right now.

 “Hey, sis.”

 Kayden steps outside. “Hello, Gio. I’m—”

 “The Hawk,” he supplies. “I know.” He rotates to face Kayden. “I can give you the Blue Owls. I know everything you need to know to take them down.”

 “Why would you do that?”

 “Because it was always my intent to destroy them.” He glances over at me. “And because I want to earn my sister’s trust back.” His attention shifts back to Kayden. “I wouldn’t mind a job, either.”

 Kayden studies him for several beats and then glances at us. “Gio and I are going to take a walk.” He motions to Gio, and Gio looks at me.

 “I saw what you did today. You’re brave. Braver than I ever gave you credit for. I’m proud of you.”

 Tears prickle my eyes and he disappears with Kayden.

 ***

  I don’t see Gio again that night, and the next morning while Kace practices, I find Ella in the kitchen alone.

 “Where’s Gio?” I ask.

 “He and Kayden went to take down the Blue Owls.” She lifts her coffee cup in a salute. “That’s a good thing. Kayden likes him. So do I. He’s going to be okay, Aria. I promise.”

 A part of me shouts with relief. Another fears for his safety. “The letter with his name on it from my father,” I say. “Can you bring it to me?”

 “Yes. I will. You can go get it with me, if you like, and see our vault. He knows nothing about it or his inheritance. That’s your story to tell.” She pats the table next to her. “Come have coffee with me.”

 I fill a cup and join her and soon she’s telling me all about Gio and Kayden’s long talk. And the details are good. They soothe the soul of the long-standing control freak in me.

 It’s a full three days later, and I’m sitting at a coffee shop with Kace when Gio appears at our table. “Gio,” I breathe out, relieved, so very relieved at the sight of him.

 Kace stands and Gio offers him his hand. “I owe you about ten apologies. I’m sorry. You’re good to my sister. You really are a rock star.”

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