Page 103 of Risky Obsession

Lacey/Tory

Blood pounded in my ears as Kane and I strolled hand-in-hand up the front steps of our luxury hotel, acting like everything was normal.

Normal.I didn’t even know what normal was anymore. I didn’t even know who I was. I expected to have handcuffs slapped onto my wrists at any second and swallowing hard, I fought the urge to glance over my shoulder.

“Mr. and Mrs. Devlin!” A pair of hotel staff wearing crisp uniforms hurried toward us with concern drilled onto their faces. “We heard about the incident at the ball. Are you okay?”

News traveled fast.

“Yes, thank you. We managed to get away before things got too out of hand.” Kane gave me a reassuring smile and stroked my hand wedged in the crook of his elbow like he was patting a kitten.

I forced a smile, trying to project an air of calm I didn’t feel. “It was just a shock, that’s all.”

“We are so relieved to have you back safely,” the bellhop said with a smile that I was sure elicited many decent tips.

A young staff member with short-cropped hair and black pearls for earrings fell into step beside me. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. My name is Maria, and I’m on reception all night.”

“Thank you,” Kane said. “We just need some rest and quiet now.”

“Yes, sir. Of course.”

They both backed away, and Kane led me to the elevator.

When the doors shut, I scowled at my appearance in the mirror behind the door. My hair looked like I’d been attacked by an eagle, and the adrenaline rush made my neck and cheeks flushed and blotchy. Kane, however, looked like he had before the ball, although somehow sexier.

On the third floor, the doors opened, and he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me forward. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt straight to my heart.

He ushered me into our room and locked the door behind us. “Home sweet home.”

I sat on the massive bed to take off my necklace and the soft bedding seemed to mock the hard truth festering in my mind. As I fiddled with the annoying clasp at the back of my neck, my mind kept skidding to the fear in Gunter’s eyes.He was terrified.

I wished I had my phone. I needed to contact Aria.

“Are you okay?” Kane removed the yellow envelope from inside his tuxedo, draped his jacket over the back of the chair in front of the mirrored dresser, and pulled his wallet from his pants pocket.

“Yeah, I guess,” I lied, forcing a smile onto my lips as I put the necklace on the side table.

“Look, Tory, what happened with Gunter got a little crazy, I admit. But we didn’t hurt him.” He tugged the silk bow tie from around his neck and tossed it onto the dresser.

“He may not be physically hurt, but emotionally . . .”

“He started it.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s no excuse for what we did.”

“But it was worth it, now that we have another clue.” He waved the yellow envelope.

As I removed my dangly earrings, my mind raced with conflicting emotions.

“Was it worth it?” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “We crossed the line back there.”

I had arrested people for doing less than what I did to Gunter.

Kane strolled to me and rested his warm hand on my bare shoulder. “Hey, I agree, things didn’t go down how I anticipated. But we rolled withit, and it’s done now. Remember, Gunter’s actions triggered that attack on us.”

He locked his eyes on mine, surprising me with his calmness. His demeanor was vastly different from his performance in front of Gunter.

“Were you really an interrogator in the military?” I asked.