Page 57 of Deadly Betrayal

Kaden wished something like that were in thecards for himself. A wife, a family. Someone to come home to.Someone to warm his bed, to whisper to him in the dark of nightwhen the nightmares got to be too much. Someone who’d love himdespite his flaws—of which there were many.

It was a nice fantasy, one he indulged infrom time to time. But he was no prize. Not husband material. Whatwoman would understand his choice of profession? Kaden had to beready to die, quite literally, to protect his clients. No womanwould accept him putting another’s life before his own.

Beforeherown.

“Allo?”A woman’s voice coming overthe speaker, scratchy and distant, interrupted his thoughts. Avoice that was clearly that of Nic’s younger sister.

“Rachel.”

“Nic?” She squealed with joy. “How is thetour going?”

“Good, really good. How’s everything atRachel’s Haven?” Nic had named the ranch after his sister whenthey’d first moved there. Turned out, the name had been veryprophetic. In the past few years, she’d established a verysuccessful equine-therapy camp for children with spinal-cordinjuries.

“The new therapy session started yesterday.”Her enthusiasm reached across the miles. “The kids were thrilled totry out the new indoor practice arena.”

Nic beamed. “I hope you took somephotos.”

“Marie-Soleil took a bunch. Don’t worry aboutus, big brother. We’re holding down the fort while you’re offbasking in the adoration of your legions of fans.” Her laughterfilled the line.

Nic’s eyes clouded over. “Je t’aime, mabelle. Now go get my wonderful fiancée.”

“I love you too, Nic. Oh, and say hi to Jake.And Kaden too.”

Nic’s gaze shot to Jake and he frowned. Kadensmirked. Jake blushed, but wisely, didn’t respond.

Lauren spoke next, and Kaden did his best toignore the mind-numbing fest of mushy romantic greetings. Theytalked about Jason, who’d be sorry he’d missed Nic’s call becausehe was at school.

When the conversation dipped into R-ratedterritory, Kaden cleared his throat. “Hello, Lauren. Jake and I arehere too.”

“Oh!” She giggled, and from the muffledsound, she probably had her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry you hadto hear that, guys.”

“I’m not,” Jake said with a lascivious waggleof his brows. Kaden kicked him under the table. “Ow! What was thatfor?”

“A reminder,” he whispered sternly.“Bodyguards are supposed to be silent sentinels.”

“But you talked,” Jake sputtered.

“Yeah? I’m older.”

“I’m cuter,” Jake shot back.

Nic laughed. “And I’m hotter. Just askEntertainment Buzz.”

A third female voice broke in. “You’re allwrong. My Rémi’s by far the cutest, hottest,andsexiest. Sothere.”

A growl that could only be Rémi’s rattled thephone’s speaker. “Alyssa. You aren’t supposed to say shit like thatto my friends.”

“Why the hell not?” Indignation flared in hervoice. Kaden grinned. His buddy had sure found his she-wolf withthat one.

There were more muffled words, then Rémisighed. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to apologize for, man. You luckedout,” Jake said, echoing Kaden’s thoughts.

“Don’t I know it.” Pride and happinesswrapped Rémi’s words. “She’s been a little overprotective of mesince… well, you know.”

Just a few months ago, Rémi and Alyssa’sinvestigation into drug dealing on the Blackriver Reserve, home toRémi’s people, had ended in a bloody showdown between two factions,each led by one of Rémi’s cousins. And if that wasn’t bad enough,Alyssa would have died in the crossfire were it not for Nitro, amysterious biker from her past, who’d managed to alert Rémi to whatwas going down.

“Any news from Nitro?” Kaden asked. TheViper’s head hit man had disappeared from the hospital where he’dbeen recovering from a gunshot wound.