“He said it might have something to do with EVE. Is there someone named Eve involved with the case?”
“No,” Blane said, deciding to explain before she did anything else rash. “EVE’s not a person, EVE’s a thing. They call it Electronic Voting Evaluation. TecSol wrote the software that the city is using for the first election where all voting will be done online.”
“The case with TecSol—wasn’t it about election fraud?” she asked.
“Yes,” Blane said, impressed at her memory. “Six months ago, someone came forward from TecSol claiming to be a whistleblower, saying that the software had security flaws. They were terminated and sued for disclosure of proprietary information. They countersued for wrongful termination under the Whistleblower Protection Act.”
“What do the Santini brothers have to do with any of this?”
“They own TecSol through a front company,” Blane answered.
“What’s the status of the case now?”
“The case is no longer pending, as the plaintiff is dead,” he said. Conveniently dead, unfortunately.
Kathleen turned around to face him. “The whistleblower is dead?”
Blane nodded. “Car wreck.” With a little help from Jimmy, he was sure.
“You know they were killed,” she said and Blane nodded. “But they can’t do that. They just can’t go around killing people!”
“I know,” he said, “and I’m working on it. But you need to stay out of it. It doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns me now,” she retorted. “Mark said he knew about the problems with EVE, and that he’d come forward. He said someone at the firm betrayed him and now Mark’s dead. But he gave that information to me. I can’t just ignore that. And you!” Her eyes narrowed at him and she quickly pushed backward on the bed, away from him. “You work for them! Whose side are you on? Did you betray him?”
Blane’s hand flashed out and snagged her waist, dragging Kathleen back toward him. She fought briefly, but Blane quickly pinned her down. He needed her to listen to him, not be afraid of him. Her life could depend on it.
“I didn’t betray him, Kathleen, I’m on your side,” he said, “but you’re not helping me protect you. I don’t want them to know about you or what Mark told you. You could very well end up dead.”
It seemed like Blane had finally gotten through to her because she paled. “I think they might already know,” she said weakly, “or will soon.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Kade,” she said. “He threatened to tell them if I didn’t bring him the drive.”
Growling a curse, Blane sat up, releasing her, thinking quickly. Perhaps he could play good cop to Kade’s bad cop.
“I was going to give it to him,” she said, sitting up. “He said to meet him tomorrow night at Monument Circle.”
Perfect.
“Good,” Blane said. “He’ll leave you out of it so long as he gets what he wants. Kade’s number one priority is himself.” He glanced at the bruise that stood in stark relief on her cheek. “And I’ll take care of James.” That part he was very much looking forward to.
Blane went to stand, but Kathleen grabbed his arm. “No! You can’t!” she said, trying to tug him back down.
Blane paused. “Don’t tell me you have feelings for him,” he said. “Not after what he did to you?”
“Of course not! He’s a bully and a jerk!”
“Then why are you stopping me?”
“Because he’s crazy!” she said. “Really crazy. And he has this weird competition thing with you and I don’t want you to get hurt!”
It was the first time she’d admitted feeling anything for him except sexual attraction or gratitude. Their eyes caught, held.
“I couldn’t handle . . .” she began, then stopped and took a deep breath. “Please. Just . . . stay. With me. Please stay.”
Blane’s gaze raked Kathleen’s body, his memory filling in what was currently covered up. “This isn’t a good idea,” he said, almost to himself. But it was pointless to pretend he wasn’t going to do exactly as she asked. The challenge would be to stay and not have sex with her. Her inebriation might make her less inhibited, as proven by her striptease, but it would be up to Blane to keep his hands to himself.
Blane turned off the light and kicked off his shoes. As he went to climb into the too small bed, he was stopped by Kathleen. She’d risen to her knees and now was proceeding to undo the buttons of his shirt. The prospect of her touching him again kept Blane from interfering and he was gratified by the pleased sigh that left Kathleen once his shirt was off and tossed to the floor.
“You’re still drunk,” Blane said, a reminder to himself more than to her, but she only shrugged, scooting back to make room for him under the covers. She wasn’t shy, cuddling right up next to him and laying her head on Blane’s chest as he held her.
“I’m not a virgin, you know,” she said.
Blane stilled. Talking About Sex With Kathleen was up there on his Don’t Do list right beneath Have Sex With Kathleen, yet he found himself too curious for his own good.
“Tell me about your lovers,” he coaxed. Just how experienced was she? Enough to assuage any guilt he might feel if he were to add himself to her list?
“Not lovers, plural,” she said. “Lover, singular. Men are always thinking women are as promiscuous as they are.” Her disgruntlement made Blane’s lips twitch.
“I stand corrected,” he said. “Tell me about your lover.” Only one? Probably a long-term thing. Maybe she was on the rebound? Blane wouldn’t mind being her rebound guy.
“That’s really too romantic a title for him,” she continued, oblivious to the direction of Blane’s thoughts. “I was sixteen. It was homecoming and his father had a big sedan. End of story.”
Blane squeezed his eyes shut. This wasn’t as bad as if she’d been a virgin, but damn close. “How was it?”
Her answer took longer in coming and was preceded by a long yawn. “Quick. Painful. Embarrassing.” She said nothing else and Blane could tell that she’d fallen asleep.
This was bad. This was very bad. At least, that’s what Blane kept telling himself even though the side of him that was growing increasingly possessive of her seemed to stretch its claws, like a lion scenting prey, and anticipation oozed through his veins. He could show her what sex could be, what it should be. Blane would worship her body with his until every bad memory of her first time was wiped away.
Blane’s last thought before he drifted to sleep was so much for his chivalry and not wanting to hurt Kathleen. It seemed he was willing to risk the possibility if it meant he could have her.
Dreams of Kat merged with a warm reality when Blane woke in the morning. She lay on her back beside him, the covers tossed aside. The pajamas she wore were twisted and askew, her breasts nearly falling from their silken confines. The shirt had ridden up, exposing her smooth abdomen. Sunshine fell on her hair, making it shine like molten gold against the pillow.
Being a SEAL had conditioned Blane to being fully aware immediately upon waking, so there was no grogginess to his thoughts as he looked at her. Turning on his side, Blane rested a hand on the bare skin of her stomach. Depending on whether she woke with a hangover, a Saturday spent in bed with Kathleen seemed an excellent idea. And if he wasn’t overestimating his talents, Blane would lay odds he could convince her to acquiesce in less than sixty seconds.
His thumb brushed her ribs and she stirred, like a kitty cat purring. Her eyes fluttered open, their depths a clear blue. When she saw Blane, a small smile curved her lips and her eyes slipped closed again.
“I knew this was a bad idea,” Blane whispered in her ear. “I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” His hand skated down inside her shorts, insinuating itself between her thighs. She was warm and slick and it was almost too easy to slip a finger inside her.
Kathleen gasped, a sound that went straight to Blane’s dick, and he covered her mouth with his. She kissed him back
eagerly, her tongue sliding against his as Blane stroked in and out. Her arms went around his neck and he added a second finger to the first, her tight passage growing wetter as he pumped his hand.
She tore her mouth away, her breath in quick little pants. Her hips pushed up against his hand and Blane moved his thumb to press against the little bud of engorged flesh hidden between her dripping folds. She jerked in his arms and he did it again.
“God, I want you Kat,” he groaned. She was so responsive. Another few seconds and she’d come with just his fingers fucking her.
A pounding at the door made Blane freeze. His first thought was maybe they could both ignore it and pick up where they left off. His second thought, as the pounding came again, was that perhaps it was James.
That was enough to propel him up and out of the bed. If James was out there, Blane was going to kick his ass, and if it was someone else here to hurt or intimidate Kat . . . Well, he would have a surprise for them. Blane grabbed his gun off the battered coffee table, racking the slide before he pulled open the door.
The girl from next door stood there, hand raised to knock again. Her gaze swung from Blane to somewhere behind him. Kathleen must have followed from the bedroom.
“Er, sorry to interrupt,” she said.
“Not a problem,” Kathleen said before introducing her to Blane. Her name was CJ.
“I was just wondering if you saw this.” CJ handed Kathleen a newspaper.
Kathleen gasped and Blane leaned over her shoulder. “What is it?”
“It’s James,” Kathleen said. “He’s entered the race for district attorney. It says here the previous candidate pulled out of the race citing the need to spend more time with his family. He’s endorsed James in his place.”
Blane took the paper from Kathleen, skimming the article. James had given no indication that he was contemplating running for D.A. Considering what was going on with TecSol and the union, James’s move looked highly suspicious to Blane.
CJ was saying something to Kathleen, but Blane didn’t pay attention as he read and when he put down the paper, belatedly realized she’d left. Dropping the paper on the couch, Blane turned back to Kat, just now noticing that she wore his shirt over her pajamas.
It looked much better on her than it did on him.
She was blushing, her cheeks turning rosier by the second. Blane would have liked nothing more than to take her right back to the bedroom, but he had to talk to Kade, figure out what this meant with James.
“I’d better get going,” Blane said, tucking the Glock in the back of his jeans. He grabbed his keys, cell and wallet before approaching Kat. She was watching him, her eyes drinking in every move he made.
“I’m going to need that,” he said, peeling his shirt slowly from her body. His hands brushed down her arms and he heard her breath catch. Blane pulled on the shirt and did up a couple of buttons, his eyes still locked with hers. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as she watched him. The tension between them hadn’t abated. If anything, the interruption had served to fuel the fire. Sometimes anticipation was foreplay in and of itself.
Blane’s gaze fell on the bruise on Kathleen’s cheek. Raising his hand, he brushed the damaged skin. James would pay for that. It would be an excellent way for Blane to relieve some of the sexual frustration he was currently feeling.
Pulling her into him, Blane kissed her, wanting to leave with her taste on his tongue. He would have preferred the more intimate flavor between her legs, but that would have to wait. When he pulled back, she was breathless.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said. She just nodded, her lips wet and swollen.
And if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t leave at all.
The chill in the air was a stark contrast to the heat in his blood as Blane jogged down the stairs to his car. He was on the phone with Kade before he’d even left the parking lot.
Seventeen Years Ago
The first real snag they ran into after Kade came back was when Blane wanted to take Kade to the doctor for a physical before school began.
“I’m not going,” Kade declared, plopping down on the couch in the den and flipping on the television.
“You have to go,” Blane said. “It’s required for school that you have a physical.”
“I’m fine,” Kade said. “I don’t need a physical.”
Blane knew better than to attempt to physically force Kade to the doctor. He hadn’t touched Kade since that first time outside of the orphanage.
Bribery had worked before. Maybe it’d work again.
“I need to hit the electronics store,” Blane said. “Want to come with?”
Kade cocked an eyebrow at him. “What are you going there for?”
“I could use a new computer,” Blane said. “Or, maybe you could.” Blane had caught Kade a few times messing with his computer. He’d said he didn’t do anything to it and Blane believe him, but might as well get him one of his own.
“Really?” Kade asked.
Blane nodded. “Sure. We could stop by . . . after we go to the doctor.”
Kade heaved a sigh. “Bribing me for my cooperation? That’s not what the parenting books say to do.”
“Lucky for you I’m your brother, not your dad,” Blane tossed back. “Do we have a deal?”
And that was how Blane got Kade to go to the doctor. He’d had the foresight to call ahead and inform them of Kade’s . . . unique circumstances. So there were no surprises when they arrived.
The doctor was a nice man who was friendly despite Kade’s sullen demeanor. He didn’t say a word about the scars on Kade’s back as he listened to his lungs. Blane didn’t turn away this time, making himself once again view the scars.
Kade’s eyes met his, but neither spoke as the doctor finished his exam.
“Clean bill of health,” the doctor said with a smile. “I’ll send the nurse in with the necessary vaccines, then you should be good to go.”
Blane thanked the man as he left, leaving him and Kade alone. Kade quickly threw on his shirt.
“Chicken pox scars,” he said curtly.
Blane nodded as if he believed him. “And the one on your chest?”
Kade shrugged and glanced away. “Got in a fight.”
Blane let it slide, knowing he’d get nothing further out of him. Mona had been trying to convince Blane it hadn’t been his fault, what Kade had gone through. There was nothing he could’ve done. But it didn’t ease the guilt that gnawed constantly at his gut. At times like this, it became a sharp stab.
“I don’t want the vaccines,” Kade said abruptly. “I got the clean bill of health. Let’s go.”
“You have to get the vaccines,” Blane explained. “They won’t let you in school otherwise.”
“I don’t give a shit. I don’t do needles.” He headed for the door but Blane blocked his path.
“Kade, I understand if you don’t like needles, but you have to get the vaccines. It’s not optional.”
The nurse came in then and Kade’s face went stark white when he saw the needles in the tray she carried. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and Blane realized Kade hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he disliked needles. He looked terrified and inches from passing out.
“Ah, listen,” Blane said to the nurse, who seemed utterly oblivious to Kade’s anxiety as she readied her supplies, “can we just take a minute? He doesn’t really care for needles.”
The nurse looked up in surprise, finally realizing the state Kade was in. “Oh! Of course,” she said quickly, stepping back to give Kade some space.
Blane stepped in front of Kade, blocking his view of the needles. “Look at me,” he said quietly. Kade didn’t move, didn’t even blink from where his gaze had been fixed. “Look at me,” Blane repeated more urgently.
Kade’s eyes finally lifted to meet Blane’s. His breathing was fast and shallow, every muscle in his body tight and stiff.
“It’s going to be fine,” Blane said. “Just keep your e
yes on mine, okay? Don’t think about it. Just breathe.”
Kade’s blue gaze didn’t waver and he didn’t blink as he stared into Blane’s eyes. Blane motioned with his hand and the nurse moved quickly and efficiently. When she wiped Kade’s arm with the alcohol swab, he flinched. Instinctively, Blane reached for Kade’s hand. To his surprise, Kade let him touch him, gripping his hand tightly in return. His palm was cold and clammy with sweat.
It was the first time Kade had shown any fear to Blane, and the first time he’d let Blane touch him, help him. They stood there, eyes and hands locked, while the nurse injected the vaccines. She was quick and Kade didn’t so much as twitch again as she gave him the shots, though Blane knew they stung.
Finally, it was over and the nurse left without another word.
Kade blew out a breath, his body sagging, and Blane guided him to a chair, giving him a little push so he sat. Blane crouched down in front of him.
He forgot sometimes, that Kade was only ten, just a child. He acted so much older, spoke with the wit and cynicism of a person twice his age. Kade hadn’t yet let go of Blane’s hand and neither did Blane.
“When my mom died,” Kade said, his voice a hoarse rasp, “they sent me to this place with other orphans. But they didn’t separate us by age, so the young kids were mixed in with the teenagers. A lot of the older guys were into drugs, turned tricks to score a hit. One night a group of them, three or four, were high. They wanted me to try it and I wouldn’t. So they tied me down, stuck a needle in me, and shot me full of meth.”
Kade was staring over Blane’s shoulder at nothing. Blane listened in horror as his brother described the effects of crystal meth, how he’d nearly died by the time they found him the next morning, how even with just the one dose, he’d had to go through detox. Finally, he stopped speaking. His eyes refocused on Blane.
“And that’s why I don’t like needles.”
It seemed he just then realized he still held Blane’s hand and abruptly let go, getting to his feet and moving past where Blane still crouched, unable to move. His mind reeled, trying to cope with what had just happened. What to do? What to say? Not only did Blane feel woefully inadequate to know how best to help Kade, the guilt was crippling.
Turn On A Dime - Blane's Turn (The Kathleen Turner Series) Page 15
