Page 34 of Stolen Temptation

“I know?—”

“Shut up and listen. You brought that woman here. Now it’s your job to figure out how she’s connected to them.Whoshe is. Why she was at the auction. What she was trying to get away from.” Finn jabs his finger into my sternum for emphasis. “Every detail. And for Christ’s sake, keep your dick away from her. She was with the De Lucas. She’s bad news.”

My jaw clenches before I manage to hide my annoyance. “I know.”

And I do. I’m not an idiot. It’s not like I’m unaware of all the reasons I should keep my hands off her.

“Good.” He pins me with one final hard stare and proceeds to shoulder check me as he walks by. “We’re fighting a war on the outside and on the inside. We can’t afford any more complications.”

Finn stalks out of the medical unit. Once he’s gone, I release a long breath and lace my fingers behind my neck. I’ve never seen Finn that openly stressed out.

I shouldn’t be so surprised. Even I’ve been under crushing duress lately, and I’m not the heir to the Kings.

Resolve hardens my spine. Finn’s right.

We’re under attack. The only thoughts in my head should revolve around obtaining the information we need to hamstring Leonardo De Luca.

What I shouldn’t be dwelling on are thoughts about how my little kidnappee kicked Darren in the face…or nailed Finn’s chin.

Or how she head-butted me so viciously, I think I heard a bell ring.

I can’t stop picturing her dangling from a skylight like a kid on a jungle gym or a cat burglar. I can’t decide if I think she’s cute, badass, or certifiable…or a combination of all three.

All of which is beside the point.

My mind shifts from Kiara’s surprise combat skills to the way she flinched when Darren first tried to get her down, and when Finn stepped toward her while pissed.

The memory ignites a blaze in my chest, similar to the fury I felt when she trusted me back at the auction. A total stranger. What if I’d been someone else…someone even worse?

The more I recount Kiara’s show of strength, the more impressive it becomes. Especially considering, just a few hours ago, she was begging me to help her escape Leo’s notice.

De Luca. He’s the reason I kidnapped her. The reason I need to interrogate her.

I would do well to remember that, but even after I head back down the hall to Kiara’s door, I still haven’t regained control of my mind.

There’s just something about her. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is. All I know is that she managed to slip under my skin during our interactions in a way no one else has in a long time.

I prop my palm on the wall and contemplate banging my head on the door. She’s beautiful, sure, but so are a million other women. I’ve dated girls just as pretty as her before. Okay, almost as pretty. It’s lust, pure and simple. A sign that I need to get laid, and soon. Head to one of the Kings’ nightclubs like I’ve done in the past when the urge arises and pick from one of the many willing options.

If I don’t get my shit straight, I risk pissing Finn off further, which won’t do Kiara any favors either.

I’ll lay down the law with her, and that will be that.

Squaring my shoulders and setting my jaw, I push open the door to her room and find her seated upright against the headboard with her arms folded and the bedsheet coveringher legs. A sharp glint enters her eyes as her head snaps in my direction.

So, she was waiting for me. Good.

As soon as the door closes behind him, she starts lobbing questions.

“Who was that man who threatened me?” The slight wobble in her voice betrays the brave front she puts on.

I can’t stop my mirthless laugh as I drag a chair over to Kiara’s bedside. “That was Finn.”

“You’re all…Kings?”

Surprise that she knows who we are arcs through me like a spray of fountain water. I drop into the chair and lean back. I’m sitting closer to her than I intended to, but I’d look like a jackass if I retreated now.

“Yeah.” I drum my fingers on the armrest. “We’re all Kings, but Finn’s Gallagher blood.”