Like the freaking jack-in-the-box he has been all my life.
I stand here for what seems like forever until a large hand encloses my hand, slowly tugging the gun out of my grasp. My eyes are still fixated on the dead body in front of me, his muscular forearm covering my collarbone as he presses his chest against my back. I stand there frozen in place, scared to breathe, and feeling my heart racing in my chest.
“It’s over, baby,” Kane whispers against my neck.
Hearing his voice snaps me out of my hypnotized state, and I reach up to hold on to his arm, finally feeling safe enough to lean into his touch and close my eyes.
Sucking in another deep breath, I feel tears well up in my eyes as I bite my lip to keep them inside.
“It’s really over, baby,” he says once again as I turn in his arms, wrapping my arms around his body.
“I know,” I murmur against his chest. “I know.”
Thirty-Seven
Kane
Present day
I have my arm around her shoulder, escorting her out of the warehouse as we walk outside. Although I feel the warmth of her body through her coat, I can also feel the numbness that has permeated her soul.
“Are you okay, baby?” I ask, dipping my chin when the fresh air of the Montana night hits our face as we walk outside.
There are at least a dozen black SUVs parked out front, both from my team as well as Wolfe’s.
I escort her around the dead Reyes men before I stop in front of Franklin Wolfe, leaning against the hood of one of his cars. He narrows his eyes at us, looking at Callie with an intense gaze.
“Baby?” I repeat. “You okay?”
“Y-yeah.” She snaps out of her trance, flashing me what I can tell is a forced smile.
I don’t believe her, but it will have to until we get home.
“She’s the real deal, Carrillo?” Franklin nods his head at her, resulting in her lifting her head up to look at him.
I nod in agreement before Callie opens her mouth.
“Franklin Wolfe.” She slightly shakes her head. “I can’t believe you’re Reign’s big brother. I bet I pissed you off all those years ago.”
The corner of his mouth curls in an amused grin while he looks down, him towering above her. But like a fucking queen, she looks up at him, defiance radiating from her.
“Not gonna lie. I was not happy with you keeping my brother in the Big Apple for longer than necessary.”
She cocks her head a little while crossing her arms in front of her body, clearly hearing new information before she quickly glances at Reign who is talking to Liam in front of the warehouse.
“I never kept him in the Big Apple.”
“I know. But clearly,” he says, glancing at me before he looks back at her, “you are hard to leave behind.”
She keeps his gaze, a silent conversation of respect traveling between the two of them.
“Thank you for tonight. I know you didn’t have to do that. I owe you,” she finally says, a smile forming on his face when she reaches out her hand.
He grabs it with sparkling eyes, again surprising me as it’s probably the most expression I’ve ever seen on his face.
“You’re welcome, Angel,” he says before letting go and reaching out his hand to mine.
I grab it, giving him a grateful smile.
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“Don’t,” he says with a stern expression. “You know I’ll come to collect one day.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“Reign, let’s go!” Franklin shouts at his baby brother, who flips him off like the annoying little brother he is.
“I’ll see you in a few days, fuckface,” Reign bellows back.
Franklin turns his head back to Callie.
“See? You are hard to leave behind,” he scoffs before saluting me and getting into his car.
Thirty-Eight
Callie
Present day
When we arrive back at the house, Imogen jumps in my arms, hugging me tightly before she grabs my head with both hands and starts examining my face. She is pale from the stress she must have endured during the last two hours, and I chuckle at the sight of her.
“Is he dead?” The tone of her voice is desperate, begging me to give her the answer she wants to hear.
“Yeah.” I nod before she lets out a sigh of relief, jerking me back against her body.
“Let her go, blondie. She needs a second to rest. And shower.” Liam turns his nose up while he walks past us, followed by a chuckling Reign.
“Shut up, grumpy,” she admonishes before rolling her eyes.
When they land back on me, I’m looking between Liam and Gen with widened eyes.
“What?” she balks.
“You guys have nicknames now?”
She places her arm over my shoulder, dragging me inside.
“Whatever. I have nicknames for everyone.”
“Yeah, what’s Kane’s?” I cock an eyebrow at her.
“Okay, maybe not everyone. Although I may just stick with asshole.”
“I heard that,” Kane growls from behind us as we all walk past the threshold.
“Who cares?” Imogen taunts before letting go of me. She plants a kiss to my cheek, then gives me a sweet smile. “I’m glad you’re okay. Let’s talk tomorrow because based on the way your man is glaring at me, he wants me out of the way. Bye, Kane,” she sings to him, rolling her eyes before walking to the living room.
“Bye Gen,” he replies before sauntering towards me with a hungry look in his eyes.
“Hi, baby.” A sexy smile widens Kane’s face before he presses his lips against mine as he cups my cheeks.
I moan at his touch before he ends the kiss, brushing his nose against mine.
Feeling exhaustion spreading throughout my body, I suck in a breath, ready to give in to it as I press my forehead against his.
“Let’s go to bed.”
I slept the entire fucking day like a damn log. I remember getting into bed with Kane’s chest pressed against my back last night, or early morning, whatever you want to call it. He stroked my stomach in a seducing way, but I was too tired to let out any sounds of agreement. As soon as my head hit that pillow, I was gone. I vaguely remember Kane getting out of bed when daylight was already flashing through the curtains, but I couldn’t be bothered by it for a second.
When I finally woke up around seven at night, it felt like I’d slept for a week. I had let my eyes roam over the ceiling, realizing how much has happened in the last four months. Thinking back on that first night in Magenta, where a pair of arctic eyes changed my life in ways I never could’ve expected. When we were in Havana, there wasn’t a day that went by when I wouldn’t think back on my time on the yacht with him, wondering when I fell in love with him. And every time I asked myself that question, I saw his arctic eyes, sauntering into that damn elevator, captivating me with his gaze.
Seducing me with a boyish grin.
Even though there is nothing boyish about Kane Carrillo.
My entire life, I’ve hated men who tried to dominate me, determined to never let that happen in any kind of way. But there is no denying that Kane Carrillo dominated me from the second he set his eyes on me. Regardless of how we met, I never stood a chance.
He pisses me off a lot of the time, but just thinking about him right now brings a love-struck grin to my face and a whole zoo of shit in my fucking belly.
For the first time, I have no clue what comes next, and I don’t even give a shit.
I lay in bed for a few more minutes, then I throw back the covers and jump out, wearing nothing more than one of Kane’s gray t-shirts as I walk to the balcony. The September air is crisper today, and it takes a minute before the cold air fully wakes me up as I breathe in the smell of the trees. My eyes graze over the mountain tops until I notice the steam of the Jacuzzi on the right side of the deck.
Without a second thought, I pull the t-shirt over my head an
d walk towards it, dipping my feet into the hot water.
The deeper I sink my body, the better the heated water caresses my aching muscles. I lay down on the built-in bench, only keeping my head above the water.
With a jet of hot water slowly massaging my sore back, I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation until I feel my mind slowly drifting away.
Naïve as it sounds, I hoped my nightmares would disappear the moment Junior left this planet, but instead, I have new nightmares occupying my mind. Dimitri Kulakov’s face appears in front of me with a kind smile, reaching out his hand for me until Junior shoots him in the heart. Blood spatter is plastered all over my face while I start to scream, trying to run as hard as I can as Junior chases me through the forest. My feet hurt from the old branches covering the earth, doing my best to stay out of his grasp, although he’s moving closer and closer.
I will get you, Hermanita.
His voice encloses my heart in a tight grip, making it hard for me to breathe while I feel as though with every step, I’m going slower and slower. Finally, his arms tighten around my body while he whispers in my ear.
Got you.
I jerk my body frantically, trying to release myself from Junior’s hold, screaming in terror, hoping someone will help me, until I feel water splashing in my face.
I wake up from the sloshing water as I feel strong arms tightening around my body. Confused as to who they belong to, I try to fight myself free until a comforting sound enters my ears.
“Callie,” Kane hollers. “It’s me. It’s me. You’re okay. You’re safe.”
I snap out of my dream, panting as panic continues to surge through my body. I swallow hard with wide eyes, blinking at his reassuring face before he presses me tight against his chest with one arm while the other fists my hair.
“Hey,” he says calmly, “you’re okay.”
I quickly glance around, taking in my surroundings before my eyes flick down, noticing how Kane’s clothes are soaking wet, clearly having jumped into the water without thinking.
Realizing the truth in his words, my eyes raise back up before I press my cheek against the wet fabric on his body and tears start to uncontrollably trail down my cheeks.
He shushes against my hair, rocking me back and forth, cupping the back of my head while he patiently waits until I let it all out.
The panic that just controlled my body is slowly fading away with every second while I pour out what feels like all the pain I’ve collected throughout my entire life. My lungs are heaving, trying to find a calming pace as I do my best to take in deep breaths but failing completely.
Kane never loosens his touch, and after a few minutes, the protective feeling finally calms me down. He keeps stroking my back for a few more moments until he grabs my hair, forcing my face back to face him.
“I’m here.”
There was a time when his arctic eyes would terrify me, scared that he would destroy me.
But now they’re the only thing that can save me when I feel like I’m walking off a cliff.
“He’s not here anymore.” He presses a lingering kiss to my forehead, and I close my eyes at the warm touch of his lips against my skin.
“I know,” I breathe out, sucking in the words that are on the tip of my tongue, not sure if I should voice my longing when I know I will never get it, anyway.
“What is it?” His gaze bores through my soul, as if he can read my mind.
“You’re all wet,” I state, trying to change the subject.
“Talk to me, baby girl.”
I look up, pressing my hands against his chest. The look in his eyes is determined, and I know he won’t let this slide.
“It’s just … I don’t know.”
“You don’t know what?” His voice is calm and patient, warming my heart.
“All my life, I thought I had a family. It was a fucked up one, I knew that. But I thought I had a family. I always wanted a family. Junior has always been a sick fuck, but I always hoped he would be my big brother one day. I craved the acceptance of a family that wasn’t even mine. I feel stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” he interrupts.
“But that’s how I feel,” I continue. “I feel stupid for wasting my time, my loyalty, and my energy on people who never saw me as more than a paycheck. That would kill me in a heartbeat.”
I swallow, not wanting to shed another tear for any of the Reyes men.
“But you survived,” Kane whispers as his minty breath fans my face.
“I did. And I’m grateful to be alive. I don’t know …” I ramble, while a tear creeps out of my eye, raising my frustration. “I just wish I still had family to go home to. To tell me about my father. To see where I came from. Where I belong.”
He kisses the tear from my cheek before he moves lower towards the crook of my neck, leaving a trail of kisses.
My heart slows down, and I let out a moan while I bend my neck, giving him more access. I close my eyes at his touch while he takes his time kissing me.
His breath is warming my skin, and the last glints of panic leave my body with every kiss he plants.
“I can’t bring your parents back. But I can give you a family,” he whispers, his lips flush to my ear while his hand starts to touch my thigh under the hot water.
My heart skips a beat at his words, making me grip his shirt in a demanding way.
I move my head to the side, almost touching his lips while I narrow my eyes at him.
“You mean that?”
“Every fucking word, baby. If that’s what you want.”
The corner of my mouth curls into a pleased grin. I’ve never been sure about whether or not I’d want kids and I sure as fuck never expected Kane to want kids, but now that he’s voiced it, I like the idea.
I want something that is half him, half me. I want something that will connect us forever.
Without responding verbally, I slam my mouth against his before he lifts my body from under him, placing me on his wet lap, our legs still under the water.
“What is it with women and baby talk that turns them the fuck on?” he growls before he slides his tongue against mine.
“I don’t know about women, asshole.” I chuckle against his lips. “But for me? It means you’re willingly stuck with me forever.”
“I’m not willingly stuck with you forever. You’re keeping my heart hostage.”
“Well, you kept me hostage first, let’s call it even.” I grin.
“Deal.” He sits up, climbing out of the Jacuzzi, his wet clothes dripping all over the deck.
“Where are you going?” I cry out incredulously.
“Lay down, close your eyes, and don’t move,” he instructs, sparking my defiance.
“Kane,” I grumble, running my tongue along my lip when he starts to unbuckle his belt.
“Don’t make me pull out my knife, baby.” He cocks his head, and even though he shoots me an exasperated look, he looks fucking cute to me.
“Fine.” I playfully roll my eyes then turn around, laying my head on the edge of the tub, my body completely submerged in the warm water while I listen to the sounds of him taking off his clothes. Looking up, I notice the bright light of the full moon, a smile appearing on my face for no reason at all, until I hear Kane’s footsteps heading back to me.
I wait, expecting him to come back in when he places a hand on my shoulder before slowly moving it over my skin. He brings his face beside my ears as he starts to nibble the sensitive area, his hands caressing my collarbone with his fingertips until he lowers them enough so he can brush them against my sensitive breasts.
“Aren’t you coming in?” I plead with longing in my voice, enjoying his soft touch.
“In a minute.” He rounds my nipples, making them hard as rocks before he pinches them, leaving a delicious sting. His mouth leaves a trail of kisses on the delicate skin of my neck while his hand moves back and forth over my torso, migrating a bit lower with every stroke. I turn my head to meet his lips b
efore my tongue darts out, following the seam of his lips. When he opens his mouth, I eagerly push inside, giving him slow, tantalizing kisses. Each push and pull of our tongues builds up a hunger that drums through my entire body, like I’m addicted to the feel of his tongue against mine. The hunger inside of me demands that he come closer, so my hand reaches up to grab his hair with a hard pull.
I have him closer for only a brief second until he pulls back, making me glare at him like he just took away my candy.
In my defense, he did.
“When are you going to learn, baby girl?” He moves his face closer, turning my head with his hand, giving him full access to my neck while he murmurs against my skin, his fingers brushing against my collarbone again. “I’m in control.”
I growl in response, equally annoyed as I am turned on by every word he says.
I bite my lip, trying to refrain from blurting out any more shit, though my body is craving to be tortured by him.
“Will you ever learn?” he rumbles in my ear.
The vibrations of his voice against the soft skin of my ear move all the way down towards my aching pussy, causing a shiver to run through me.
“Probably not,” I admit in a hoarse voice as I close my eyes.
The warm water forms a blanket, comforting my entire body while every single touch by Kane burns me inside. It’s a contradiction that has me suffering in an indescribable way, one I will gladly endure every fucking day.
For the rest of my fucking life.
“Probably not,” he repeats as if he can read my mind. “But I have the rest of our lives to teach you.”
A smile forms on my lips before I look up to the moon once more.
I have a lot of things to be sad about.
I have a lot of things to grieve.
But there’s one thing I’m grateful for that matters more than all of that: love.
The kind of love my mother warned me about.
Catching Fire (The Fire Duet Book 2) Page 23
