Page 94 of Storm Warning
She pushed the fear away, leaning into Nick, his arms surrounding her, his warmth seeping into her bones. Peace washed over her like a tide; she was safe with Nick and his brothers. “Flashes. The water. Foliage. A figure in black that scares me.” Even saying it made her skin prickle with unease. “A beat-up wooden floor. That’s about it.”
She listened as Zach related the story of how she had been taken, and how they found her. Each word sent a fresh wave of disbelief through her. She thought he left out a few details—his tone was too neutral in places—but she was equally sure she didn’t really need to know them.
Kate’s heart raced as the reality of the situation sank in. Someone took her from Nick’s resort and kept her unconscious. The thought made her shrink into herself, vulnerable—scared—and her muscles stiffened. Nick pulled her closer, and she drew strength from the solid wall of his chest against her back.
She sighed and thanked the stars for Nick and his brothers. They had risked themselves to keep her safe. The knowledge settled warm and heavy.
As they talked and she nibbled on her food—the eggs were fluffy, melting on her tongue—Kate sensed the unshakable bond between the men. It hummed in the air between them, a deep, unbreakable connection. Zach was fiercely protective of Nick, would do anything to protect him.
David, too, played an integral part on their team. He appeared quiet and unassuming, speaking little, but Kate was positive he had hidden depths—still waters run deep. Helooked at Nick like he hung the moon and stars. There was a story there.
She was in the presence of skilled and trained individuals who would stop at nothing to protect those they loved. It didn’t mesh with her perception of them as corporate heads, but it felt right, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. She’d ask Nick about that later.
She pulled her wandering mind back to the present when Zach and David stood up.
“Good night, Kate. We’ll leave you now to rest. Finish that bagel and drink lots of water. Expect to sleep more than usual tonight as the remainder of the drug works its way out.” She followed them with her eyes until they vanished into the mansion, their footsteps fading into silence.
Chapter 50
Revelations
She snuggledon Nick’s lap, with the evening air cooling around them and the rhythmic crash of waves providing a soothing backdrop. Nick spoke. “Kate, I need to tell you something.” His voice was flat, intense in a way that made her stomach clench.
She looked up at him, her mind still disjointed and fuzzy. Hadn’t they gone over everything already? What else could there be?
“Did you notice that Zach’s story… had a few holes?”
“Yes, but I figured I didn’t need to know every little detail.” Unease spread through Kate like spilled ink. Had something happened to her, or to one of them, that they hadn’t told her? “Is there something else I should know?”
Nick sighed, and his arms tightened around her, as though he needed the contact to steady himself. The tension radiating from him set her nerves on edge.
“If… if this relationship is going to go any further, you need to know something.” His voice was hesitant, almost halting, each word carefully chosen. “Zach didn’t tell you because it’s my story to share. But you deserve the truth.”
Her pulse quickened, thumping hard in her throat. Whatever he was about to say, it mattered. It mattered in a way that could change everything.
“All right,” she whispered. “Just say it.”
He took a deep breath, his chest expanding beneath her; his gaze locked on hers with an intensity that stole her own breath. “I’m a telepath. I can pick up thoughts if they’re directed at me, or if someone’s emotions are loud. I can also link minds with my brothers so we can communicate silently. That’s how I knew you were missing. I heard you scream my name.”
The words slid through her mind, surreal and impossible, like something out of one of her own novels. For a heartbeat, she wondered if the drug had messed with her brain, if she was hallucinating this entire conversation.
Kate blinked, trying to process. “I’m sorry—what?”
“I know it sounds crazy?—”
“Crazy doesn’t even cover it,” she cut in, her voice high with disbelief. She tried to pull back, needing space to think, but he held her in place—not forcefully, but firmly enough that she couldn’t escape. “Telepath? You expect me to believe you can hear thoughts?”
He nodded, solemn. “Yes.” She searched his eyes for signs of a joke—a twitch of his lips, a sparkle of amusement—but only found concern and… fear? Was he afraid of how she’d react? Was heserious?
“Prove it,” she pressed, heart thudding in her chest like a drum. “If this isn’t some elaborate prank—prove it to me now.”
His eyes searched hers, then softened with something that looked like relief. “All right. Think of something—anything—and focus on sending it to me.”
Her mind skittered, blank. What was she supposed to think? What didsendinga thought mean? She closed her eyes, trying tolatch onto a thought, any thought.If this is real, my entire world just changed.
Nick’s voice, low and intimate, slid into her awareness—not through her ears, but somehow inside her head, resonating in a space she hadn’t known existed.I know. I’m sorry to drop this on you, but I needed you to know.
Her eyes flew open, breath catching. “Oh, my God. I heard you! In my head!” Her heart hammered against her ribs so strongly she thought they might crack.