Page 58 of Deadly Betrayal

“No. And it’s bugging the shit out of me. Onthe one hand, I’m glad the fucker’s out of our lives. On the other,he saved Alyssa, and for that I owe him. If he’s in some sort oftrouble, I want to help.”

“How’s Alyssa dealing with it?”

“She’s had a few flashbacks, but the doc saysshe’ll be fine.”

As a way to punish Rémi, Alyssa had beeninjected with heroin. Because he’d participated in the final epicshowdown, Kaden had pieced together a little more of the story.Asking Rémi about Nitro would hurt him, but there was a very realrisk to everyone at the ranch if the hit man were to return.Despite feeling like a shit, Kaden plunged ahead. “I was referringto Nitro being missing.”

The line was silent for a few moments.

“She refuses to talk about it. Tells me tolet go. He’s her past, and I’m her future.” Rémi’s frustration wasclear.

“Sounds like good advice,” Nic said.

Rémi laughed. “You’re one to talk.”

“Hey. I learned to let go. I won’t say it waseasy, but it’s been worth the effort.”

“I just can’t help feeling there’s unfinishedbusiness there,” Rémi said.

Kaden glanced at Azita, sleeping on themattress just a few feet away. Yeah, he knew all about unfinishedbusiness and how it could eat at you, twist your perceptions,magnify some events while diminishing others, and distort youremotions.

“She’s a good woman, Rémi,” Nic said, hiseyes warm with compassion. “Don’t let this come between you. She’smade her choice.”

“I hope you’re right, Nic. I don’t know whatI’d do if this all came crashing down.” Rémi sucked in a breath asif willing himself to continue. “She’s everything.”

“Iamright,” Nic said, supremelyconfident.

Kaden coughed. “On that happy note, care totell us how things are going? Any problems with the guys? Are thewomen running you ragged?”

“Everything is quiet and under control.Alyssa’s been putting your new guards through the wringer.” Helaughed. “You should have seen her take Moses down.”

Kaden grinned. Compared to them, Alyssa wasjust a little thing. A deceptive little thing. Years in the Sûretédu Québec’s organized-crime unit had honed her into a lethalweapon. She could easily best men twice her size.

“It’ll do him some good,” Kaden said. “Womencan be as dangerous as men. We’ve all learned that the hard way.”He’d been guilty of underestimating them himself, and it had almostended in a failure to protect Nic, a hard-earned lesson he’d neverforget. His gaze met Nic’s and a silent understanding passedbetween them.

“How’s everything going on your end?” Rémiasked. “I hope you’re all keeping your noses clean.”

Kaden’s eyes once again shifted to thesleeping woman. All it would take was one word from her and he’dput himself into the worst danger, just for the sheer pleasure oftouching her, of tasting her. He longed for a repeat of last night,to take her in his arms and feel her skin against his. He wanted toexplore her body, to learn all its secrets. He needed to see herback bend as ecstasy overtook her, to see her come undone. Forhim.

When he dragged his mind and his gaze awayfrom her, Nic and Jake were watching him with barely containedlaughter.

“Fuck off,” he said, then was horrified bythe grit of desire he’d let slip into those two words. Both menlaughed even harder. Kaden glared.

“Not fair,” Rémi complained. “You can’t keepme in the dark like this.”

“Not a fucking word,” Kaden spat.

Unperturbed, Nic chuckled. “Let’s just sayKaden has gotten himself into something a little deeper than he’danticipated.”

“Interesting wording, Nic,” Rémi said withway too much amusement. Kaden wanted to wring all their necks. Atthe same time, something in his chest relaxed. These men, all threeof them, were his friends. Despite their vastly different pasts,they’d somehow bonded into a team, each one ready and willing tojump into any situation to help the others.

Kaden scrubbed his cheek, his palm scrapingagainst the unfamiliar beard. He wanted to say something to letthese guys know how he felt without getting sappy. He didn’t dosappy. “When Jake and I were on our last tour here, a couple ANAcommandoes were embedded in our unit for training. Unfortunately,the training was on the job. These guys proved themselves, theybecame a part of us, a part of our team. There’s an expression, asort of motto, we used that said it all.”

“Shoulder to shoulder,” Jake said. His eyeswere serious, haunted.

Kaden nodded and squeezed Nic’s shoulder.“That’s how we feel about the two of you. We’re a team.”

“Shoulder to shoulder.” Nic’s eyes weresuspiciously bright when his gaze collided with Kaden’s.