Page 28

Chapter twenty-eight

Big Bad Wolf

Gideon

“S he’s out.” I stared at Axel and Chase, furious with them and the whole situation. How could they be this careless with her after Santos’s sudden appearance this morning?

“She’s sleeping. Adrenaline crash. But she should be fine after a nap.” Chase shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“I can’t believe you put her in danger like that.”

“Kylie’s fine. She had fun. Which, after this morning, she needed.” Axel chimed in.

We were in the room with Mateo’s bank of computers, which had become our base of operations in the house. I glared at the duo. “You fucked her in the back seat when we’ve got Santos hunting her.”

“I had it under control. He won’t get her on my watch.” Axel scowled.

“Oh really? If that were true, he wouldn’t have surprised us all this morning with his visit.”

“And how do you want us to handle this, boss?” Mateo asked from his seat before the bank of monitors and computers. The guy was one of the most brilliant computer hackers in the world. I’d seen him infiltrate computer systems that were supposed to be impenetrable.

“Chase, I need you stocking the yacht. Use the underground escape tunnel we located to access the marina.”

“Are you certain that’s necessary?” Chase asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

“I don’t want to leave anything to chance. Santos is unpredictable. His move this morning proved it. While this house is grand, it won’t survive a direct assault.”

“Do you think there will be one?” Axel asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“We can’t pretend it’s not a possibility. It’s best if we prepare for the worst. While you guys were out playing today, I packed clothing, medicine, toiletries, including feminine supplies for Kylie. And I also started packing it with food and water and anything else we might need. Luckily for us, Kylie’s bastard of a husband had used the access tunnel to smuggle guns, drugs, and anything else illegal through that tunnel, and we’ve got the cart with the trailer to haul supplies. I want it fully loaded by tonight.”

“Do you think an attack is imminent?” Mateo asked. “Because I’ve not been able to find any chatter on the matter.”

“Which means Santos is planning something big. We can’t make any assumptions. If we do, he’ll make a move that will take us all down and leave Kylie to fend for herself against that madman.”

“What do you want me to do?” Axel asked.

“Guard her. Don’t let her out of your sight. Santos isn’t above kidnapping. And we’ve seen what happens to his victims. So that means for the time being, keep your hands to your fucking selves. There’s far too much on the line.”

“I’m on it and her. You know I won’t allow anything to happen to her.” Axel nodded.

“I’ve been working to increase security. This morning, I installed more motion sensors and cameras around the property far enough away from the house to give us time, should an attack come,” Mateo stated.

“What do we tell Kylie?” Axel asked. “If we’re distant, it will fuck with her head.”

I gritted my teeth. Still pissed about the shopping excursion this morning. But, there was a part of me that was glad. It forced Santos to play his cards. And instead of sitting and stewing, waiting for him to make a move, now we knew he was gearing up to make his play.

“I’ll talk to her. You guys get to work. Mateo, I want hourly updates. Chase, I want all the supplies set aside in the basement loaded onto the yacht by dinner time. Axel, patrol the inside of the house. I’ll go watch over Kylie until she’s awake.”

“You got it, boss.” Mateo swiveled in his chair, his fingers flying over the computer keyboard.

Chase and Axel nodded solemnly. I left the command center and headed to Kylie’s room. Santos wouldn’t get her. There was no way I would allow him to take another person I cared about from me.

***

Kylie

Awareness crept into my limbs, and I stretched. Rising, I felt renewed after the skydiving and great sex.

Gideon sat in a chair facing my bed, his face unreadable.

“Gideon. Is everything okay?” I couldn’t stop my heart rate from speeding up.

“We need to talk.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry about this morning. You were right, and it was stupid of me. It won’t happen again. And I’m not mad at you. I know you’re just trying to protect me.”

“Be that as it might be, there will be no more going out like that. At least not for the time being. Our job is to keep you alive. My team and I can’t do that if you decide to ignore me and act like you don’t have a mafia boss hunting you.”

My bottom lip trembled. The fear I had tried to ignore spilled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me anymore. I promise from here on out I will listen and follow orders.”

Gideon swore softly and rose. He approached me with a frown marring his forehead. He scooped me up into his arms and sat on the bed with me cradled against him.

And I knew he would protect me with his life. I knew if he had breath in his body, he wouldn’t stop fighting for me.

“Deep breaths for me, babe. And I’m not angry, I’m worried about you. I know what Santos is capable of and the thought of him harming you in any way drives me crazy. I care about you. You’re not just a job to me.”

At his admission, I lifted my head. Our gazes connected. “I care too.” But when I went to kiss him, he stopped me.

“We’re going to have to abstain for the next few days.”

“But?”

“Kylie, when I’m with you that way, when we all are, we can’t see anything but you. Santos is planning something. It’s obvious by the way he so brazenly approached you on the street this morning. Santos is watching our every move and waiting for an opportunity to attack. It’s not that I don’t want you. Christ, I want you so badly I ache with it. But for the time being, we need to be on guard.”

I pouted. I couldn’t help it. He just admitted he has feelings for me, but I couldn’t kiss him. It was so unfair. “I understand.”

He pressed a kiss against my forehead. “Good.”

And he simply held me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and snuggled with him. Who knew Mister Bad Ass himself had such a soft side? We had torn up the sheets together, but I never expected he was this sweet.

“I should probably get started on dinner.”

“You don’t have to cook for us.”

“It will give me something to do. If I just sit around with nothing to do, I’ll go crazy.” I glanced up at him and grinned. “Besides, I promised Chase coq au vin.”

“Sounds tasty.”

“One bite and you will all be my slaves.”

“Who says we’re not already?” He teased and helped me to my feet. His gaze slid down over my naked body. “Although it would be best if you put clothes on first. Otherwise, we’re going to be walking around with hard-ons all night long.”

I giggled. After the sexcapades in the SUV, they had brought me inside and deposited me into bed without dressing me. “Good call. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“I’ll wait while you dress.”

“Is it that bad that you have to be my shadow?”

“We’re taking every necessary precaution with your safety.”

Unease settled in the pit of my stomach. It must be bad if he didn’t want to leave me alone. I grabbed a change of clothes, snagging a tank top and shorts with a pair of matching bra and panties, then headed into the bathroom. I washed myself up in the bathroom sink. Tonight, I would take a shower, but for now, the whore’s bath would do.

When I was dressed, Gideon escorted me down to the kitchen. While I sliced, diced, stirred and sauteed, one of the guys was always nearby. They hung out in the living room while I was in the kitchen. It gave me a measure of freedom that they weren’t fully underfoot.

The afternoon flew by while I made dinner.

The meal was subdued that evening. A pallor of danger hung over our heads. Luka Santos was back and making dangerous advances. The specter of what his next method of attack would be weighed on our minds.

“Dinner was fantastic. The best I’ve ever had. Thanks for making it for me.” Chase pressed a kiss to my forehead after dinner. Then headed off to patrol the grounds.

Mateo murmured something about needing to check the camera feed, and Gideon left with him after thanking me for the meal. They left me alone in the kitchen with Axel while I rinsed dishes and loaded up the dishwasher.

“Are you all right?” Axel came up behind me, crowding me against the sink with his enormous body.

“Sure. I’m great. I have an evil mafia boss after me who wants to make me his prisoner, among other things that I don’t want to contemplate too closely. And he’s made his next move and let me know while it’s been quiet, he has gone nowhere, nor is he likely to while he’s still breathing. So, I’m just peachy keen.”

He rubbed a soothing hand down my back. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know. It’s just frustrating.” And terrifying, but I kept that part to myself. They already had a heavy burden trying to keep me alive. They didn’t need to know how scared I was because then they might focus on making me feel better instead of doing their job.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got you. I promise I won’t let that asshole get his hands on you.”

I leaned into Axel. Out of all the guys, it was Axel I felt the most deeply connected to. I cared for both Gideon and Chase, too. How could I not? I lusted after all three of them. I wanted more kisses and carnal indulgences. And okay, so a part of me lusted after Mateo, too. Mainly, because I was curious what it would be like to be with all of them at the same time.

“I’m not sure I can rid myself of worrying that easily. But I will try.” Easier said than done.

He lifted my chin and looked me in the eye. “You always have me.”

Sucking in a swift breath at his declaration. It seemed to be a day for them. First Gideon and now Axel. What he wasn’t saying wasn’t lost on me. He cared about me. Even though fear dogged my footsteps, his admission warmed the far reaches of my heart. This was a man I was already falling for hardcore. He might be gruff and a total bad ass to the outside world, but with me, he was a total teddy bear. And I loved that about him.

I went up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips over his because this man affected me deeply. The kiss was simple and sweet, no more than a sign of my affection. But I kept it from going further, retreating and putting some distance between us. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands off him.

“Just so you know, Gideon has me on patrol duty tonight, given the circumstances. So I won’t be sleeping beside you tonight.”

I knew that would be the case. Gideon had warned me as much. But it still stung that I wouldn’t have his solid presence at my back. In a vastly short amount of time, I’d grown accustomed to sleeping within the shelter of his powerful arms. “It’s okay. I’ll miss you. But I could use a decent night of sleep.”

“Have we been wearing you out?” He teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Just a little. But maybe you could come wake me up in the morning.”

Axel’s eyes went dark with lust. “That I can do. My shift ends at four. I’ll join you when I’m done.”

My heart swooned. I was falling for this man. He took such gentle care of me when he wasn’t banging my brains out and making me scream in ecstasy. But I wanted to know more about him. “I just realized I don’t know a lot about you, but I want to.”

Axel smiled warmly. “What do you want to know?”

“We can start with little things. What’s your favorite food?”

“Anything you cook.”

“I’m serious. If you tell me, I’ll make it for you.”

“Angel, whatever you want to cook for me, I will eat. But if you really want to know what my favorite meal above everything else is,” he leaned in and murmured low, “it’s your sweet pussy. I could eat your cunt every day for the rest of my life and die a fortunate man.”

“Axel,” I sighed and hugged him.

His arms circled me. We stood in the kitchen, holding each other and saying nothing. But I reveled in the intimate moment. It was more than simply sex with him. Leagues more.

With my head against his shoulder, I yawned. “Excuse me. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been wearing you out.” He pressed a kiss against my forehead.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to head to my room, take a bath, and then call it a night.”

Axel released me. “Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Then he strode off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I started the dishwasher and headed to my room. With fatigue settling in, I opted for a quick shower instead of a bath. Then went through my nighttime ritual and dressed for bed.

I snuggled beneath the covers. Axel’s scent lingered on the pillow he used the night before, and that’s the one I slept on.

Exhaustion dragged me down into the abyss, and I was out like a light.

***

Kylie

My eyes snapped open. Darkness filled my room. I wasn’t sure what had woken me. I shivered and noticed the window near my bed was open. The curtains billowed with the breeze.

That couldn’t be right. When I went to bed, it had been closed and locked. Had one of the guys come in and opened it? But why would they do that when the air conditioning was on?

My eyes adjusted to the dark as I rose. I scooched to the edge of the bed.

Huge male hands gripped me. They dug painfully into my shoulders. I gasped in pain and fear because they were like iron bands. I tried to jerk out of his grasp. And I stared in dawning horror into dead eyes that had no soul. He was a killer. Deadly. Dangerous. Malice rippled off his features hidden by the darkness of the room.

Fingers of dread slithered along my spine while I attempted shoving him off me. But my efforts were akin to a feather trying to move a truck.

He shoved me onto the bed. A scream ripped from my throat. I bounced on the mattress. Then scrambled backward across it, trying to escape. If I could just reach the doorway and call out, my guys would come running.

Surely, they would see the attack on the security feed. Help was on the way. I had to believe that.

The attacker snagged my ankle. I kicked out, trying to connect with his groin and take him down so he would release me. But the man was strong. He batted away my attempts.

As loud as I could, I screamed, “Axel, Gideon, help!”

He caught my other leg and yanked me closer. Panic fluttered in my chest. He batted away my feeble attempts to stop him. Then he was on top of me, using his weight to imprison and subdue me against the mattress.

With my fists pounding against his chest, I fought valiantly, but there was no way I could move him. He was too heavy. And it was clear I was outgunned. If I could only hold on, help would come.

But then his massive hands circled my neck. I clawed at his face as he squeezed, choking me, and cutting off my air supply. This couldn’t be it for me. I had so much to live for. I wanted to see where my relationship with Axel would proceed. I wanted more with all the guys, including Mateo.

But he was so strong. Too strong. And my strength waned at the lack of oxygen. Spots swam in front of my vision.

Luka Santos was exacting revenge. He hadn’t liked that I’d been with Chase. Instead of eliminating Chase, he was launching an assault to remove me from the board.

My struggles grew sluggish. The lack of oxygen slowed my responses.

I was losing. This was it.

Darkness swirled. I fought bravely. But I was no match for my assailant. And what was worse, he knew it. The fucker had the audacity to smirk like he enjoyed my pain and fear.

Tears slid down my cheeks.

The dark abyss of nothingness beckoned me into its waiting arms. From a far-off distance, the sound of wood splintering filled my ears.

But it was too late. My body struggled too hard to breathe. I ran out of air. The darkness descended, and I blacked out.