Page 44 of Judas (The Lito Duet #2)

“Come on, let’s go up to the room. You need real rest and I need to check in with Ez, see where we are at with narrowing down Lucien and Sadie’s location.”

Leaning into Ra, just for a second, I give a once-over to the shop again then turn to follow him up the stairs.

He’s right, and I hate admitting it, but I’m exhausted.

I haven't slept in a real bed in so long; there’s a great possibility I’ll melt into it and just pass away from comfort—and a heartbreak.

A long hot shower, a nap, real food, and a big ass cup of coffee later and I feel like a completely different person.

While showering, Ra went out to the car and brought the bag of clothes up he and Ez got for me, and apparently a backpack of his own that only has computer equipment in it.

No toothbrush, toothpaste or other hygiene products, clothes—nothing.

Oh, yeah, that’s what he didn’t tell me.

He bought this place when he put the GPS into the bat mobile and had some personal shopper stock it.

When he was ‘getting the keys,’ he was finalizing a few documents and the rundown of the local area.

Opulent fucker.

With coffee in hand, the warmth seeping through the ceramic, I join him at his side. Hair piled high on top of my head, a shirt that’s too big but feels so much better than the shit I wore in Bluitt, and brimming with curiosity. Taking a sip, my eyes skim over the screens.

“Ez have anything for us to use?”

Ra tilts his head and looks me over only to return to his set up.

“Yeah. Your guy went into the national park and disappeared. The cameras caught him headed northwest but never made it to the next stop where campers hang out at. Which means he’s in this area.”

Tapping on the touch pad, he brings up a map and shows me a huge area circled in red. A single road bisecting it, mountains off to the west before they give way to the ocean miles away. To the east, it’s more of the same, just at a greater distance.

“My guess is he’s in this vicinity,” he says, circling a smaller zone within the red perimeter.

“Why that area?”

“It runs parallel to the road; easy to get into if you know what you’re looking for.

This area, according to Ez, is known for having old rich people vacation homes.

In the early eighties, this park was a hot spot for tourism, then the parks in the States started to improve and offer amenities that Canada chose not to allow in theirs.

So, the homes were mostly sold off, some abandoned. ”

At some point, my eyes moved away from the screen and focused on him. He’s a smart cookie; his brother, too.

“Your people, then.”

“Mine? No. I don’t associate with the rich.”

“Could have fooled me with how you flaunt your money around.”

Ra leans back in his chair, one hand still swiping across the touch pad as the other rests on his thigh. He doesn’t like this, being attached to money, but enjoys the benefits of it.

Double-edged sword; must suck not struggling to pay your bills or buy food.

With another sip, I turn, leaning against his makeshift desk and look down at him.

I know I’m not traditionally educated, I have a high school diploma and that’s about it, but there’s no way I’m a stupid bitch.

He had a well funded childhood and it’s bled into his adult life; one he can’t escape because there’s no amount of brilliance that will lift you out of poverty.

It's to be a good heir and rake in Mommy and Daddy’s fortune, or starve, intelligence be damned.

“You hate it, don’t you? Born into luxury, not having to want, taking things for granted.”

Remember when I said I wasn’t a stupid bitch? Hah!

“We’re not discussing me, Nadia.”

“Oh, we are. You don’t just get a call from prison and throw yourself at the mercy of a woman you don’t know. Help her across the country with nothing to show for it other than a headache and possibly heartburn.”

He is out of that too-small chair in a blink of an eye, and I don’t even flinch.

It doesn’t take much effort for him to tower over me, either.

His deep-green eyes stare down at me, all dangerous and shit but I’m not buying it.

Instead, I take a sip of my coffee antagonizingly.

When I don’t add, nor back down, he turns and stalks off to the kitchen.

Wouldn’t say I’ve touched a sore spot; no, I dug my fingers into it and swirled them around.

Following, there’s only about five feet between us when I place the coffee cup on the kitchen island and start to poke the bear.

“You want to give it away so bad, I—“

Ra swivels and grabs me, one hand across my mouth again, the other fisting the messy bun that took me far too long to put up—awarding him a scowl.

I’m going to need this fucker to stop grabbing me like this; it makes my hackles rise while also wanting to stab him.

He steps closer, the warmth of his body overpowering the front of mine, his rough hand keeping me muffled and held in place.

“I said we are not discussing me. What is with you gouging for shit that has absolutely nothing to do with you?” His timbre is low and sharp.

“Mhmph, hpmhphm, mphump.” Mumbling, I know I didn’t utter anything intelligible.

“Stop… talking. You do not speak unless spoken to,” Ra growls.

Smirking behind his hand, I wiggle my tongue out and lick across his palm.

The man goes rigid, eyes locking in on me but I don’t stop.

Doing it again, he rips his hand away and takes a step back.

Poor guy is fuming, look at him. Brows furrowed, his mouth pressed in a straight line, even his shoulders are lifting with meticulous breaths.

Trying so damn hard to reel it in but he’s failing.

Just one more push.

“You should really calm down. Blood pressure is no joke.”

His hands are back on me in a flash, both hooked under my ass and gripping the back of my thighs when he lifts me up and drops me on the island.

They push my knees apart where he can step between them, crowding space I no longer care about.

I’m absolutely molten for this man. When he slides one steady palm to the small of my back, the other settling into my hairline at the base of my skull, I give in.

Fisting his shirt, I yank him to me and our lips crash together.

Tongue swiping along his bottom lip, seeking entry into the heat of his mouth.

When granted, I moan. He slides back into mine, filling it and teases my tongue with desperately deep strokes.

Feeling myself being pulled to the edge of the counter, I hook both legs around his waist. Aching for the harsh touch of a starving man.

All that money, and this is the one thing he can’t buy—not the kind he wants, anyhow.

Releasing his shirt, I invade the zeroing stretch, arms now hanging over his shoulders.

One cradles the back of his head as the kiss deepens.

The way I’m pressed against him has me so fucking sensitive I can feel every minuscule scrape of clothing across my skin.

It’s rubbing me raw, dragging me away from how good Kace feels in my arms again.

My heart sinks, and it takes nothing to push Ra back and wrench myself away.

“I… fuck.” Choking on the stuttered words, I can’t speak.

Ra holds his hands up in surrender. Watching me as though I’m a wounded animal cornered, about to lunge and snap my fangs at him.

He doesn’t move, giving me the distance I need which doesn’t feel adequate enough when I’m breaking apart.

Told myself I would let him go, I would let Kace rest and stop dragging his memory back up, but I can’t.

He was the love of my life and there’s no replacing him.

Not now, not ever.