“Kai?” I called again, looking ahead. “Kai, are you down there?”
Of course, he didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t hear me anymore.
I sped up my steps and headed down the tunnel, coming to another stairwell. I looked up, unable to see the top. It just kept going.
I swallowed, my throat so dry. I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for hours.
Well, up was good, at least. The top must come out on ground level.
I jogged up, repeatedly glancing behind me to make sure no creepy things were on my tail. My muscles began to burn, and I slowed a little, not used to such a steep incline. Where did this go?
Reaching the top, I spotted a door opening into a room, just like the one I came through.
I reached out and pushed the wall open a little more to get a better look, the partition easily sliding away. What the hell was this?
I stepped into a massive room with vaulted ceilings and furnishings. Hardwood floors gleamed in the light coming from the burning fireplace, and a long, Persian rug laid under the black leather couches and fancy wooden tables. Art adorned the walls, a silver lamp sat on a desk strewn with papers, and I heard music coming from somewhere outside the study.
My pulse raced.
I followed the sound through the room and stepped into a large foyer, my head falling back and my eyes taking in the empty space above me as I turned in a circle.
“Oh, my God.” I trembled.
Another room, a living room, I think, sat across the hall, a wide staircase rose behind me, and two other hallways stretched on either side of the stairs, leading to the back of the…
House.
This was a house.
His house.
Everything I expected Kai’s house to be and more.
I could smell the fresh paint as I took in the ornate frames that adorned the pictures on the walls, and the beautiful tables, chairs, and sofas spread out throughout the study and living room. A crystal chandelier hung above me, tinkling with the slight breeze coming in from the tunnel.
It was a house designed by a man who cared about detail, reflecting both his Japanese and Italian heritages. Sleek, balanced, and uncluttered, but also ornate, rich in detail, and lush like a European manor.
I walked up the black staircase, following the music as my body flooded with adrenaline. Did his friends know about this place?
It was large and spacious, but also dark and cozy. Like a hidden chamber shrouded from the outside world.
Like he’d created his own personal confessional right here.
Or…his own Bell Tower, grave, The Pope…
Upstairs, I trailed down hallways, following the soft voice singing a song I finally recognized to be some version of Paint It, Black, and I passed a bedroom with the door open and stopped.
The black, four-poster bed was perfectly made, white sheets, comforter, and pillows, and I stepped in, seeing a framed picture on the wall. A black night with a red sun, rain, cranes flying…
And there was that Japanese symbol in the center again. The same one from Sensou’s sign.
War. That’s what it meant. Just like the name of the place.
I heard the shower shut off, and I walked toward the doorway, turning a corner toward the en suite.
Kai stood at the large, round mirror with a towel wrapped around his waist, combing his hands through his hair. Droplets of water glistened on his back, and steam filled the room.
“Kai.”
He paused, fixing his eyes on me through the mirror.
“What is this?” I asked, slowly entering.
“The house on the hill.”
“And this is your house?” I clarified. “Your real house?”
I knew it was—his scent was everywhere—but I wasn’t sure what I knew and didn’t know anymore, and I needed to hear him say it.
He nodded, smirking. “You didn’t actually think I lived in that dump, did you?”
I snorted, but I was so damn ready to cry, too. I was so exhausted. “Kai, Jesus—”
I started to protest, wanting to question him about what the hell was going on and why he hid this place, but he turned, shaking his head.
“Just give me ten minutes, okay?” he said, looking just as weary as I was. “Just give me ten minutes with you, and then we can get serious.”
Walking over to me, he peeled off my jacket and set it down on a bench near the tub.
Which was running with water. Bubbles rose higher as the fountain faucet poured water into the deep, white basin, and it was my instinct to fight him, but he spoke up, cutting me off.
“I’ll explain everything in ten minutes.”
My eyelids drooped, and I didn’t know what time it was, but it had to be late. I let him undress me.
Everything came off, and he didn’t try to grope or kiss me, although I wouldn’t have really minded if I weren’t so tired.
“Get in the tub,” he told me.
I stepped in, immediately feeling delicious chills spread up my legs as the heat of the water soaked my skin.
Slowly, I sat down, submerging myself up to my chest and brought my knees up, hugging them. Kai pulled off his towel, and I thought he was getting in, but he grabbed some lounge pants and slipped them on.
Something under my skin jolted at the sight of his nakedness, and I bit my lip. He looked up, and I looked away, but I could feel his stupid smile at catching me stare.
Moving my clothes to the counter, he sat down on the bench and grabbed a bath sponge, dipping it into the water.
Then he pushed all of my hair over my shoulder, and began soaping my back.
I twisted my head, reaching for the sponge. “I can do it.”
But he pulled it away, saying gently, “I know you can.”
I didn’t like people doing things for me. It was uncomfortable being taken care of. I wasn’t used to it.
Dipping the sponge in again, he squeezed the water over my back, letting it cascade down my skin, and I closed my eyes, surrendering.
“Oh,” I breathed out.
My head fell to the side as he rubbed the hot sponge over my shoulder and up neck, and it felt like a blanket I never wanted to leave. We didn’t speak, and he didn’t order me about, simply tipping my head back and pouring water over my hair before he washed it, and I kept my eyes closed the entire time. His fingers on my scalp, the hot water over my head, and the smell of him and his body wash made me dizzy and high, and I never felt so good.
I almost felt happy.
After he rinsed my hair, he washed my body, slipping the sponge between my legs, and I grew more alert, opening my eyes.
“Use your hands,” I told him. “They feel better.”
I saw his lips turn up in a smile, and he put the sponge down, soaping up his hands.
Slipping them between my legs, he hovered close as he washed me.
I was about to close my eyes again, but I heard a phone beep.
He turned his head, trying to see the screen where it lay on the counter. Then he let out a sigh and pulled his hands away, drying them off.
“What is it?” I sat up, hugging my knees again.
He stared at the phone, swiping the screen and reading. He frowned and tucked the cell into his pocket, standing up.
“Michael,” he told me, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “He’s at the gate. I need to go deal with him. I have clothes in the bedroom, so find whatever you want to sleep in, and I’ll grab some food on my way back up, okay?”
I nodded, reluctantly letting him go. He walked out, and I watched him until he disappeared down the hallway.
So, obviously his friends knew where he lived then.
Although, I wondered if they’d ever been up here. In my research there was never any indication Kai had this hideaway. I never saw him or his friends come to this house.
It was beautiful, though. And of course, I was right all along. There was no way he lived in that hovel.
I finished washing
and pulled the plug on the water, rising to my feet. Picking up a towel off the nearby rack, I dried myself, wiping away all the suds and wrapped the soft, thick fabric around my body.
After I brushed out my hair—and got nosy, smelling his cologne—I went into the bedroom and pulled one of his T-shirts out of a drawer. I’d always worn my brother’s stuff, because that’s what he gave me to wear, but I smiled, putting on Kai’s shirt. I wanted to feel his clothes on me and his smell around me.
Glancing at the empty doorway, I quickly slipped it on and then took the towel back into the bathroom, tossed it in the hamper, and folded my clothes laying on the counter.
“No!” I heard a shout and stopped, turning my head.
“How could you take her anywhere near that piece of shit?” another voice bellowed.
Michael. I was surprised I could hear him all the way up here.
I dropped the clothes and crept lightly back through the bedroom and back down the hall, coming to the top of the stairs. Looking over, I saw that the foyer was empty, but I was just in a shirt. I wasn’t going down there if people were here. I walked to the top step and stopped, hearing shuffling coming from the study.
“I don’t need to clear anything through you. She makes her choices!” Kai growled back.
She? Meaning me?
“Rika is mine!” Michael’s voice lowered, but the fury was just as strong. “My partner, if you have any concept of what the hell that even means. We make decisions together!”
“You know, I’m right here!” I heard Rika yell. “Talk to me!”
Oh, they were talking about Rika.
And I guess Michael found out about the dinner tonight. Kai wasn’t supposed to let Rika go to Gabriel’s, I guess?
I spotted Will hanging back near the wall, his arms crossed as he just watched.
Kai continued, “You were the one who said she was one of us. She can carry her weight. She’s an equal, so—”
“She’s not equal!” Michael shouted.
And everyone fell silent.
Dammit, I wished I could see their faces.
“She will never be equal!” he went on. “She will always mean more than you.”
My heart pumped wildly, and I could only picture Kai’s face as those words hung in the air. Was he hurt Michael would say that?
But if it were me, wouldn’t I expect to mean more to the man I was going to marry than his friends?
Judging from the silence coming from the room, everyone was realizing the dynamics of their little crew were getting a very clear dose of reality.
“I love you guys,” Michael said, “but are you fucking dense? You’re my friends. She is everything. Maybe someday you’ll know what the fuck I’m talking about.”
And the next thing I knew, he stalked out into the foyer, toward the door, holding Rika’s hand as she cast a mournful look back at the guys. I reared back, out of sight.
I could tell she was sorry they got yelled at, but what do you do? Michael had been scared for her.
And he certainly wasn’t the only man who didn’t want his woman around my father.
They left, and Kai and Will filtered into the foyer, looking the worse for wear.
“What does this mean?” Will asked him, looking at his friend.
But Kai just stared at the door Michael had left through. “It means we need new horsemen.”
Banks
Present
“Hello, hello?” a cheery voice pierced my sleep.
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, finally noticing the light shining through my lids. What the hell? I was deadweight.
I yawned, rolling over and stretching my arms into the air as I registered a door closing and the rustling of bags.
“Did I wake you?”
“Duh,” I grumbled, recognizing Alex’s voice.
Seriously, what was it with this chick? Every time I turned around she was breaching my safe space. I wish she didn’t like me so much.
I blinked my eyes open, yawning again. “What time is it?”
Not waiting for an answer, I turned left and right, searching the bedside tables in Kai’s room for a clock. I must’ve fallen asleep before he even got upstairs last night. He and Will had to talk, so I laid down, in his shirt, to wait.
“There’s no clocks in here,” I thought out loud, sitting up.
“Yeah.” She sauntered over and plopped down on the bed next to me, on the mussed side where Kai must’ve slept.
I frowned, kind of disappointed we slept in the same bed for the first time, and I was passed out.
“This house is another dimension where time doesn’t exist, apparently.” She did spirit fingers at me, oohing like a ghost.
Holding her phone up, she checked the screen. “It’s two-thirty.”
“In the afternoon?”
She nodded, fitting an arm under her head. “You must’ve been tired.”
“And Kai just left me here?” I threw off the covers.
“Of course not. He worked from home today” she explained, “so he’s been here the whole time, but now he’s busy with the caterers, and I just got here, so he asked me to wake you.”
I looked at her. “Caterers?”
“For the party?” she pointed out, jogging my memory. “The pajama party Will wanted to have for Devil’s Night?”
Oh, yeah. I vaguely heard about that. I didn’t realize Kai was hosting, though.
I stood up, smelling coffee and bread. I noticed a tray sitting near the door. “But Devil’s Night isn’t for a couple more days,” I told her.
“Yes, but they’re men now. No parties on work nights.”
She smiled sweetly, and I looked around for my clothes. Oh, right. I left them in the bathroom.
“I have so much to do.” I dived into the en suite, but my clothes weren’t on the counter where I folded and left them. They weren’t anywhere. Shit!
If Kai signed the contract, then maybe Damon got word and would be home anytime. I needed to talk to him. Had he told Kai the truth about Natalya?
“You have nothing to do,” she called, her voice getting closer, “nothing to worry about, and nothing to think about. Kai’s handling your boss, there’s no word about Damon’s return yet, and Kai has absolutely nothing for you to do today. So, eat.”
I walked back into the bedroom as she set the tray of food on the bed.
“I can’t eat,” I told her. “I can’t stay here. I…”
I trailed off, heading over to the chest of drawers. Yanking open a couple of them, I checked for some kind of clothes, finally locating a pair of lounge pants in the third drawer down.
“You can do anything you want,” she told me, her tone stern. “And I’d say we’re all due for some fun, don’t you?”
I half-smiled, unable to help myself. What is this thing you speak of? Fun? Never heard of it.
“If you leave,” Alex said, “Kai’s just going to follow you. And then all of us will follow him. And I think trouble knows where we are and has always known, and one night will make no difference.”
I paused. Yeah, Kai would follow me. I had no doubt that was true. If, by some miracle, I found Damon, I needed him alone.
“Now…” She smiled while walking over to the boutique bags sitting on the chair, a light in her eyes as if she’d won the argument. “Knowing your shyness, I took the liberty of picking out special PJs for you for the party tonight.”
Hours later—and a couple drinks coerced into me by Alex—I guessed I was ready to head down to the party, which was already in full swing. Kai had left the house after I ate the late lunch Alex had brought me, so I hadn’t seen him at all since last night.
I wondered if he was worried. Or in a bad mood over the fight with Michael last night. Or if he was angry with me. He might see it as my fault, feeling forced to sign that contract, and even though I knew it wasn’t, I also knew we kept digging ourselves in deeper. And that was definitely, in part, my fault.
If he knew Damon was
my brother, he might understand why my feelings were so strong for him and not expect me to make choices he knew I couldn’t make.
I should tell him. One less secret, right? But there was no guarantee he’d give up the vendetta, and what’s more, he hadn’t used me as leverage yet, but he could. I didn’t want him knowing exactly what he had in his grasp.
But I definitely needed to talk to Kai. What was he going to do about the contract? What if Vanessa showed up here?
And why had he kept this house off the radar? Why the secret entrance?
Ugh. Maybe I should wear those “pajamas” Alex got for me, after all. Perhaps his one-track mind would kick in and he might be more forthcoming?
Yeah, no. There was no way I was wearing a black halter top with panties clearly visible underneath a long sheer skirt. She even tried to get me into heels, for crying out loud.
I ripped everything off and dug in Kai’s drawers until I found a pair of boxers. I slipped them on and donned a fresh, white-collared shirt of his from the closet. I let her put a little make-up on me—some eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick—but my hair stayed messy. I told her I was going for the cute bedhead look, but really, I just wasn’t ready to go full force. Not that I might not like dressing up and having my hair done, but one thing at a time. I needed to feel some semblance of familiarity. Too much was happening too fast.
But at least I was more covered than she was in her tiny, red silk boxers with lace trim and pinstriped corset. I might try on something like that but definitely in private.
“Come on.” She pulled my hand.
Stepping into the hallway, I was taken back by how dark it was. I looked both ways, noticing how the lights from earlier were now turned down and, instead, lit candles glowed atop holders on small tables lining the hallway. Music drifted up from below, and I could hear the doorbell ringing.
Laughter and faint chatter mixed with the clacks of heels and tinkling of glasses.
We headed down toward the staircase, but as soon as we reached the top step and I saw all the people, some I recognized as old classmates of Damon’s from Thunder Bay and others as Storm players from Michael’s team, I locked up.