Page 40 of Kai (Alpha Heroes #13)

Cece

“Sorceress?” Kai’s voice startled me out of my head. A frown scrunched his forehead, and concern flickered in the stare he lasered on me. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Looking away from Kai, I blinked, trying to shake off the human light show taking place around the men. The stubborn auras refused to go away.

I forced myself to return my attention to Javier.

His aura had not dimmed. It was different from Kai’s and also noisy as hell in my head, strumming like the overture of a techno hit.

Did this mean that, although the man who had become my sister’s lover was a bit of a hothead, he was telling the truth?

“Forgive me for saying this.” Javier cleared his throat, and his aura flared as if it was going to go nova anytime now. “It’s hard to have a rational conversation with you right now, or to keep from being distracted when you’re dressed—or should I say undressed—as you are.”

“Guzman.” Micah slapped his hand on his forehead.

“Dumbass.” Kai shook his head. “You had to go there.”

“What?” Javier lifted his hand toward me as if I was proof of a crime. “It’s true!”

For a second there, I had no idea what he meant. Then I glanced down at myself. Only then did I remember I hadn’t dressed for a fight. I’d dressed for seduction.

Fuck .

Half asleep and in a rush, I’d forgotten that my goal had been to tempt Kai in the morning. Lo-and-behold. That’s why he kept offering me that damned towel!

For a smart woman, I was batting a thousand on the stupidity scale.

The skin on my face ignited. My lack of clothing made me feel exposed and pissed me off. I gritted my teeth, wishing I wore my gi and black belt instead.

Kai stood up and approached me. “May I?”

He draped the towel over my shoulders. I nodded my gratitude. Fisting my hands around the ends, I yanked the terrycloth over my chest. Somehow, it helped that Kai stood beside me. It was almost as if he was on my side.

Never mind that. He has no feelings for you. Remember? Finish this.

I squinted at Javier and his aura until it fizzled along with its sound. Maybe he wasn’t a bad guy, but still my skepticism lingered.

“Do you want me to believe you love my sister?” I challenged him with a lift of my chin. “Then you’re going to have to show me that you’re worthy of her.”

“Wow.” He shook his head and screwed up his face. “You are…”

Micah waved his hands frantically, and, standing beside me, Kai shook his head in a protracted no.

“You are relentless,” Javier finally said.

“I swear, I’m gonna spend the rest of my life showing Missy how much I love her.

That’ll be the ongoing answer to your question.

I’m a guy with principles. Okay, well, maybe only a few principles.

One or two, but they count. They are: ‘protect Missy’ and ‘make Angel happy.’” He stuck out his chest. “You wanna beat me up? Go ahead. Take your shot. For Missy’s sake, get it over with.

I’ve taken far worse for her before. I’ll gladly take your blows, too. ”

“Dammit,” Way to defuse the bomb ticking inside of me. By then, I didn’t want to fight the guy anymore. “When you talk like that, I can’t fight you. If you refuse to defend yourself, it wouldn’t be fair.”

“I guess you’re in a pickle then.” Javier flashed the dazzling smile that must’ve melted most females he met, including Missy. “Still, if you need a punching bag, I’m your guy.”

“Ah, shit.” I hated when nice triumphed over hateful. It always put me at a disadvantage.

I wasn’t a hundred percent persuaded of Javier’s good intentions toward my baby sister, but he hadn’t failed my test, either.

For now, it was time to end this skirmish and get myself out of sight from three guys who had done their best to keep their eyes on my face instead of my boobs.

I appreciated the effort, but like Affie used to say, once you’re naked—or semi-naked in my case—you can’t be unseen.

“Time to exit this theater.” Micah stood up to his full ginormous height, reached for his tank, and propped it on the table. With his timely intervention, the giant I’d so carelessly called an idiot showed a glimmer of brilliance.

“Before you go.” I met Javier’s wary stare. “I want to answer your questions.”

“Or we could talk later,” Javier suggested ruefully.

“We talk now.” Might as well go out with a bang, even though it wasn’t the original kind of banging I’d hoped for.

“To answer your first question: no, Kai hasn’t fallen for me.

” I ignored the flicker of pain in my chest and also the frown I spotted on Kai’s face.

“You heard him. He told you himself. He’s doing his job, so stop pestering him and get off his case. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Javier said, but I caught a twinkle in his eyes.

A twinkle of what? Amusement?

Never mind that .

“To answer your second question,” I continued. “I’m even tougher than my profile suggests. I like it that way. Since your team named this mission Operation Sorceress, I presume you know I’m named after a ruthless mythological sorceress?”

Javier nodded.

“Circe, Cersei, or Cersi, however the hell you want to spell it, was the offspring of a god and a nymph.”

“A nymph?” Javier looked at Kai and grinned. “Lucky you.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “Goof…”

“You’re missing my point.” I flashed Javier a pointed look. “Cersi used potions and incantations to change men into beasts. Turning guys into pigs was her favorite trick. Personally, I believe men turn themselves into pigs, but hey, if I can help, all you have to do is misbehave.”

“There’s no danger of that,” he said. “Missy is everything to me.”

“I hope you’re right.” I smirked and crossed my arms. “Like my namesake, I know a lot about chemistry. You wanted to know? That’s also my witch’s take on witching. Shriveling someone’s dick would be oh, so easy.”

Javier barely disguised a wince.

“For my sister’s sake, try not to turn into a pig,” I continued. “If you ever hurt Missy, if you break her heart, I will come after you.”

“Noted,” Javier rushed to say. “But I’d rather die before I hurt Missy.”

“Best answer you’ve given all night.” I widened my smirk before I whirled, opened the slider, and, tugging on my towel, hesitated at the threshold.

“One last thing, so that we’re clear,” I tossed over my shoulder, keeping up my bravado to the last moment, for my sister’s benefit. “ I’m the only Astor witch you’ll ever have to worry about.” I twirled my fingers in the air. “Night, night, boys. Have a nice swim.”

***

Kai

“Wowzers.” Guzman let out a rush of air, trailing Cece’s departure with wide eyes.

“Stop ogling her.” It was hard enough that I’d had a hellish boner the entire time she’d been standing before us, tempting me as if she was a nymph herself. Dealing with Guzman’s irreverence? It wasn’t gonna go well, not tonight.

“I was talking about her temper,” Guzman clarified, his voice tainted with resignation. “That’s a walking, burning wildfire if I’ve ever seen one.”

“She’s powered by dynamite,” Bozeman observed with insight I didn’t know he had. “Interesting, albeit explosive.”

“She’s a blast waiting to happen,” Guzman agreed. “And Bozeman, get with the fucking times. Who the hell says ‘albeit’ in this day and age?”

“I do,” Granite stated as he donned his tank. “There’s no shame in speaking the language well. Now, let’s go before she comes back and burns you alive.”

“She’s tough, man,” Goof muttered, putting on his tank, rearranging his gear and fastening his carbine to his back. “I mean, Missy warned me that Cece was protective of her, but tonight? She was really fired up.”

“You deserved what you got.” I stepped up to check his equipment. “Cece’s been through a lot. If she thinks you’re a threat, she’ll treat you like one. It’s not fair to judge her in one night.”

“Who the hell is judging?” Guzman said as I inspected his tubes, gauges, and valves. “Sometimes my teasing goes too far. I come across as a jerk. I’m working on it, but I’m stunned. Your woman—”

“You heard her.” With a yank, I tightened his diving belt, fighting a surge of aggravation. “She’s not my woman.”

“Yet,” Guzman quipped, making a show of wincing. “She will be soon.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked, moving to check the fastenings on his back.

“She didn’t get… um, what should I call it?” He tossed his annoying grin over his shoulders. “She didn’t get dressed up for Micah or me. Or should I say, dressed down?”

“It’s been a long night,” I groused. “You don’t wanna piss me off.”

“I didn’t think that was possible, Chill King.” Guzman slid up his neoprene hood and perched his mask on his head. “Anyway, I was gonna say that your woman has an amazing—”

I almost snapped. “If you comment about her ass, I’m gonna punch you black and blue.”

“Dude, let me finish,” he said as he got busy checking Bozeman’s diving gear.

“Your chill is flickering on and off tonight. It’s a side of you I’ve never seen before, but I get it.

What I was trying to say is that your woman has an amazing amount of courage and that she’s fierce.

She was riding me hard, testing me to make sure I’m good enough for Missy. I can’t fault her for that.”

“Well, I’ll be.” I came around and stared at Guzman. “I’m impressed. You noticed that?”

“Of course I did.” Guzman tapped his finger on one of Granite’s gauges to make sure it was functioning properly. “I’ve got some insight. Occasionally.”

“I concur with that assessment,” Bozeman said, checking his cylinders. “The woman was evaluating Guzman’s performance. I’m not certain he passed muster. At best, he’s on probation, but she gets high marks from me. She’s a worthy opponent. She would make an excellent Marine drill instructor.”

“Well, fuck me.” I chuckled. “For once, you two agree on something.”

Guzman grabbed his fins. “If Missy is as smooth and sweet as Texas tea, Cece is as sharp and tart as key lime pie. And before you give me shit, Texas tea and key lime pie are both delish.”

“Shut up while you’re ahead.” Bozeman clipped Javier on the back of the head.

“Hey!” Javier rubbed the spot. “What did I do?”

“You talk too much, and my ears have reached their limit for today.” Micah climbed down the ladder and entered the water. “King, focus on Bravo. Be there.”

“Aye, aye,” I returned. “Be safe, Bozeman.”

Granite strapped on his mask and fins and swam away from the boat.

“Goof,” I said. “Give Cece a break. Remember that Richard Astor did a number on his kids.”

“I know that.” Guzman bent his knees and sat on the platform, his long legs dangling over the edge and in the water. “Thena’s way is duty and loyalty. Missy’s approach is goodness and kindness. Cece’s angle is… what? Fire and brimstone? Torments of hell? Wrath of God?”

“She’s hardest on herself,” I said. “Be patient. You’ll grow on her.” At least I hoped so.

“For Missy’s sake, I hope you’re right.” Guzman slid on his fins and flashed me a smile. He genuinely wanted Cece’s approval. He lowered his mask over his face. “See you, K-man. Watch any acid compounds you may have lying around the catamaran. Don’t let them near your manly parts.”

I cocked my eyebrows. “Really, Goof?”

“Just saying. Shoot up a few flares if you need rescuing from Sorceress’s spells, will ya?” The clown laughed, gave me a sloppy salute, and dropped into the water. “Good luck with Bravo,” he added when he surfaced with his DSV in his hand. “You’re gonna need it.”