“Keep staring at me like that, Siren, and I can pull this car over right now.”
I almost accepted.
Gritting my teeth, I shifted my attention out of the window. “That idiot wasn’t hired by the Guild, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still hunting me. I need to clear my name sooner rather than later, or time will run out.” And by that, I meant my time on Earth. Because the longer I stayed at odds with the Circle, the more likely it was for someone to get a lucky shot on me.
“I won’t let that happen,” Kai growled, all possessive and dominant. Hot. Except I didn’t need him to protect me, I could do that all by myself.
“Uh-huh, cool. Anyway, I think I have an idea how to get to the Circle member who slapped a target on my back. And I think you can help.” I was still formulating my plan as I watched the scenery whip past my unbroken window. Kai was taking the roads back out to my mountain hideaway a whole lot faster than the speed limit. We would be back in no time at all—albeit with a touch of windburn from the freezing air buffeting our faces.
“Whatever you need, Siren,” Kai replied, his voice thick with promise, “whatever I can do to help, it’s yours.”
I shifted my gaze back around to give him a skeptical look. He’d literally just seen me shoot a man in cold blood, but it didn’t seem to have shaken his interest in me… not even slightly. What the fuck was up with that?
Rather than call him out on it, though, I just gave a thoughtful hum. “For starters, get your team working on finding out who else wants me dead. The bounty was only three mil, so it can’t be a major player, and I have enough on my plate without being distracted by an annoyance hit.”
Kai dipped his head in acknowledgement. “And the Circle?”
I pursed my lips, thinking. “I need a name of someone I can use as a stepping stone, someone who might know where Emmanuel Blanchet—the Circle member who wants me dead—is hiding out.”
“How will you get that?” Kai asked. “The Circle are supposed to be totally anonymous, aren’t they? Or do you want me to lean on our mole?”
There was a quiet confidence in that suggestion that had me squinting at him as he drove up the long winding road to the safe house.
“Does your mole know who all the Circle members are?” Because surely that would narrow down the options on who it was feeding them intel.
Kai gave a shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Not necessary, anyway. I’ve got it handled.” Because Leon would already know who I could lean on. If he hadn’t already gotten there before me.
Fishing out my own phone, I sent a message asking him to call me when he could. In other words, when he was secure enough that no one else in the Guild could trace my location. Sure, I could have asked him via text… but I wanted to hear his voice. I fucking missed the crazy son of a bitch.
Kai screeched our vehicle to a stop in front of the safe house, then in a flash, he was jerking me out of my seat and slamming me into the side of the car with a handful of my hair.
“Kai,” I snarled, “don’t make me hurt you. I’m not in the mood for games.”
“Neither am I,” he snapped back, then crushed his lips to mine in a hungry kiss that gave me no choice but to reciprocate. Especially when he tugged on my hair harder and nipped my lower lip with his teeth. The longer we kissed, the harder it became to remember why I was avoiding kissing him. His lips were pure sin and decadence, made for pleasure and worship, and his tongue…
He broke away from my mouth, pulling back just far enough to meet my eyes as his fingers stroked over my bruised jaw. “I hate the way you smile when you think about him, Siren. It makes me want to burn the whole fucking world down just to wipe him off the face of it. That smile is mine, and mine alone. It’s about fucking time you understood what that means.”
My breath caught in my throat, words failing me. Kai took advantage of my shock and tossed me over his shoulder, again, then strode up the steps to the house.
I should have been scared. I should have punched him in the kidney to make him drop me, then kick him in the balls for the audacity.
But I didn’t…
20
The low, steady beat of seductive music thumped through Timber Lounge, and I sat back in my comfortable chair to sip on my sparkling mineral water. I had to hand it to the Timberwolves, they knew how to present a classy as fuck bar. Even if it was just a pretty front for prostitution and money laundering.
Still, not all criminals were bad, and I was in no position to judge.
On the main stage, a gorgeous woman with honey-blonde hair moved with the music, holding the attention of every man—and most of the women—in the bar. She was down to her black, crystal-studded lingerie and crawling seductively across the floor, her eyes locked on one of the customers.
She made a good show of dragging her eyes away, giving attention to everyone in those front rows, but she kept returning to that one table. I bet I knew who was sitting there.
Her bra came off, her tits bouncing enticingly, but it did nothing for me. She was the wrong shade of blonde to stir my dick. Her eyes were too soft and vulnerable, and her smile too coy.
As she finished her set, she swept up all the money that’d been tossed onto the stage, murmuring sweet thanks to the customers sitting closest. Then as she glanced around the crowd one last time, she spotted me.
Her sexy strut faltered, her ankle wobbling in those platform heels that strippers loved so much, and I just raised my drink in a silent greeting. The smile slipped from her lips immediately, and she hurried out of sight and into the dressing rooms.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to check the message while I waited.
Instantly, I smiled. It was like my girl knew I was missing her.
3982: Marx, call me when you can.
Thank fuck. She was still safe. It was killing me that I needed to leave her to her own devices, especially knowing Blanchet had her in his crosshairs. But I needed to do this part alone, and it was too important to wait.
“Leon,” a rough voice interrupted my wandering thoughts. “The fuck are you doing here?”
I peered up at my visitor and offered a smile, slipping back into friendly hacker Leon. “Cass, hey man, it’s been ages.”
The big tattoo-covered man—one of the Timber lounge owners—just scowled and folded his arms over his chest. “You here on business?”
I laughed. “Aw, you know I couldn’t tell you if I was. How’s the family doing?”
He was in no mood to make small talk, which suited me just fine. This fake version of me was already grating on my own nerves. “De Rosa called the other day about the hit out on you, right?”
“Sure did,” I confirmed. “Thanks for the heads-up on that. I figure I’m safe here in a Copper Wolf venue, though?” I tipped my head to the side in question. Copper Wolf venues were all owned by the Timberwolves and were supposedly neutral territories for gangs and criminals. Fights and disputes within a Copper Wolf bar were punished swiftly and without mercy, meaning most shady characters followed the rules.
Cass jerked a nod. “You should be safe anywhere in our territory. The boss doesn’t want anything to do with Guild business, so won’t allow any of our people to accept the hit.”