Page 26 of When He Fights (Protector & Defender #3)

Chapter Fourteen

Ding.

The elevator doors opened. Ana didn’t rush out.

She was far too tired to rush anywhere. Besides, Kane had a fierce grip on her wrist, and even though the top floor at the swanky hotel was supposed to be secure, he exited first. His gaze swept the hallway, apparently saw no threat, and only then did he tug her out after him.

The hotel was connected to a casino on the bottom three floors.

But at this time, nearing five a.m., no one had been inside the casino.

The hotel itself had been like a graveyard.

Grayson had sent two plain clothes Feds to provide extra protection for Ana and Kane, and the Feds stepped out of the elevator after her exit.

But they didn’t actually follow Ana and Kane.

More like, the Feds lingered in the hallway.

She looked back at them, frowning.

“Ana.” Kane’s voice. Low and determined.

Blinking, she turned her head back toward him.

“They’re going to stay in the hallway. Extra protection for a while.

Gray isn’t taking risks.” He had opened the door that led to the Royal Suite.

One hand was still around her wrist, and the other one had shoved open the door.

She didn’t even know what he’d done with the keycard. Probably tucked it in a pocket.

He’d changed clothes before they left the hospital. The change of clothing had come courtesy of Grayson. Grayson had given Kane a new shirt, jeans, socks, and boots. Grayson had assured them that they’d find anything else they needed waiting in the suite, including Ana’s go bag.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get you to bed.”

Baby. The endearment was so casual and easy.

Not like it meant anything. Kane had to be just as exhausted as she was.

But as Ana crossed the threshold and Kane shut and locked the door—setting the three locks on it—she realized that she wasn’t just exhausted.

Jittery. Maybe that was a better description.

Her fingers held a faint tremble, her heart seemed to race a bit too fast, and a nervous tension held her in its grip even as weariness pulled at her.

I will never forget the sound of those shots firing. The glass shattering. I will never forget touching the blood on Kane and fearing that he would die right before my eyes.

Ana exhaled. She pulled her wrist from his grip.

His jaw hardened. “You’re going to be safe here.”

Sure. She believed that. Safe for as long as she was hiding in the swankiest suite in town. One that had two Feds guarding its exterior hallway. “Are the Feds really going to just stand out there all day?” Because as far as she was concerned, night was long gone. Five a.m. equaled day time.

“They’ll stay as long as they are needed.” He scraped a hand over his jaw. “They are following Gray’s orders.”

Grayson is on Logan’s hit list, too.

Grayson and Kane.

“Logan wants to kill you,” she blurted, and Ana wrapped her arms around her waist. It had been bad enough when she was the one being targeted, but to know that Kane was in the line of fire? Because he’d tried to help her? Talk about a nightmare.

Kane shrugged. “I think the bedroom is this way.” He turned away. Moved to a door on the right. Threw it open. “Fuck.” His jaw immediately clenched. A hard beat of time passed before Kane cleared his throat. “Yeah, yeah, the bedroom is in here. You take it.”

She looked around the huge suite. It had a pool table.

An actual pool table. Why? She didn’t think that was super necessary.

But it did have one. A pool table. A gorgeous, white couch.

White end tables. Gleaming, white, marble counters in the small kitchen area. A tall, wooden table with four stools.

Even a baby grand piano waited to the right.

And then there was the bedroom. The one that had made Kane’s jaw clench. “What’s wrong with the bedroom?” Suspicion filled her.

“Not a thing.”

“Is the bed too small for us?” She closed in on him. When she headed for the bedroom, her body brushed past his.

Ana didn’t even pretend not to feel the powerful surge of awareness at that brief touch.

“You offering to let me in the bed with you?” he rasped.

She’d just caught sight of the bed. “Fuck,” she said, repeating his curse.

The bed was huge. It was also heart-shaped. With black covers. Satin? And red rose petals were sprinkled on top of the black spread. Champagne chilled on the side of the bed, nestled in an ice bucket. Two long-stemmed champagne glasses had been placed right next to the bucket.

“I think Gray must have told the hotel manager that he had a high-rolling couple who needed a place to stay. We both know how Gray loves his cover stories.” The words seemed gritted out from between Kane’s clenched teeth. “Guess we got the romance package, courtesy of the concierge.”

“Oh, God.” She looked at the scene, aghast. “Are we in the honeymoon suite?”

From the corner of her eye, Ana caught his wince.

As if she’d needed her answer confirmed. Okay, so, for future reference, the Royal Suite was the honeymoon suite. And it came with a big, heart-shaped bed. A bed that was, indeed, big enough for Kane’s large size.

“We’re in the honeymoon suite.” Now her words weren’t a question. “Got it. The cover is quick and probably necessary.” Her head turned. She’d needed to get her eyes off that bed. She found herself staring right up at Kane.

He stared back at her.

Honeymoon suite.

“I’m sorry Logan wants to kill you,” she whispered.

“He’s not killing me. I’m killing him.” Cold words. Brutal words. And, in the next breath, he’d leaned down and scooped her into his arms.

“Kane!”

He stalked across the room. Deposited her right in the middle of the bed. Rose petals drifted in the air. The sweet scent of the flowers teased her.

“I should have killed him long ago. The day the bastard put a knife to you and made you bleed.” Kane eased back.

Her hand flew out and caught his. “You’re not a killer, Kane.”

“Yeah, baby, I am.”

“No, you’re not. You’re a hero. We’re going to catch Logan. We are going to stop him. No one is going to die!”

A shrill ringing followed her words. A ringing that was coming from the back pocket of Kane’s jeans. “Hold the thought,” he told her.

Her hand fell back to the bed. A rose petal had fluttered over her thigh. She shoved it aside.

When Kane had picked her up and carried her toward the bed, she’d thought he was being all alpha and dominating and that he would kiss her. Rip her clothes off. Take her right then and there.

But, no, he’d just dropped her among the rose petals. And told her that he was going to kill her ex.

Still alpha and dominating and…

Scary.

Because Kane wasn’t a killer.

He was not.

Right?

Kane pulled his phone from his pocket. “Gray,” he said, when he saw the screen. His fingers swiped over the screen as he put the call on speaker. “Gray, are you missing me already?” he mocked.

Ana shoved another rose petal out of her way as she leaned forward.

“We found the truck.” Flat. No amusement from Grayson. “And the driver.”

Relief had her shaking. “That’s great news!” Ana chimed. The driver would lead them to Logan.

“You have me on speaker?” A sigh. “Dammit, warn a guy, would you?”

“Like you warned me that Ana and I would be in the honeymoon suite? With freaking champagne and rose petals waiting on us?”

“You’re welcome,” Grayson snapped. “Listen, how about you take me off speaker phone?”

“Don’t you dare,” Ana warned Kane. She got that Grayson thought he was cutting her out of the conversation. Not happening. Her life was on the line, too.

Kane rolled back his shoulders. “Whatever you’ve got to say, just spit it out.”

“Fine.” Grayson cleared his throat. “We found the truck. We found the driver.”

Ana crouched on her knees in the middle of the bed. “Get the driver to take you to Logan. This is the break we need.”

“Yeah…no.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“It means the dead can’t lead you anywhere, Ana.” Softer. “I’m sorry. The driver has five bullets in his chest. Close-range shots. He isn’t leading us anywhere. The guy was dead behind the steering wheel.”

She fell back on her ass. The rose petals fluttered.

“I’ve ordered the locals to keep their hands off the vehicle. I want a crime scene team from the FBI going over that ride. We will find proof that Logan was inside.”

“Logan killed that man.” Ana’s cheeks felt too hot. Then too cold. “And now Logan has vanished.”

“ You’ve vanished, too,” Grayson reminded her.

“You’re hidden, Ana. You are safe. He’s not going to look for you in that suite.

Stay out of sight. Rest. Order room service.

Do not leave that location. Do you hear me?

Do not leave. Get some rest. Eat. Sleep.

Repeat. When I know more, I’ll come to you. ”

Her cheeks seemed to be turning numb. “I thought the plan was to use me as bait.”

“You were the bait, Ana.” Stark. “Logan’s bait. He used you in order to lure both Kane and me to him.”

She couldn’t control her flinch.

“It’s ending,” Grayson told her. “We will stop him.”

Or he will stop us. He will keep coming.

“Keep eyes on her, Kane,” Grayson ordered. “Stay with her. Do whatever is necessary, got it?”

Kane’s eyes were on her. Drilling into her. “Got it,” he growled. “Watch your ass, buddy,” Kane told his friend.

“Already calling in backup,” Grayson assured him. “Someone we both trust. The cavalry will be here by lunch. And if he has to whisk her away, it will be done. Get prepared for that.”

Hold up. He was talking about whisking her away? “I have a say in what happens to me?—”

“I got a body to transport to the morgue,” Grayson cut through her words with his brutal announcement. “I’d rather not have to transport you, too, Ana. That would fucking suck.” He hung up.

Her breath shuddered. “Yep, a trip to the morgue sure would suck for me.”