by Lori Foster
Cade didn’t know how many beatings she’d taken, but Adela participated in hurting women and she’d wanted to hurt Star, too. She’d done her best to lure them into a trap.
If she died, he wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
“Have you heard from Reyes yet?”
His brother had gone after the captive women, using the details Cade had gotten from one of the men hired to kill him. “He checked in.”
“And?” Twisting around, Star faced him. “Were they there? Those men hadn’t lied?”
Their loyalty to Mattox ended as soon as Cade had started wiping them out. “Once Reyes found the women, he allowed the task force to take over.” Not everyone realized that his father founded the task force, and that they were, ultimately, answerable to him—which meant they could keep tabs on the women to know, without a doubt, that they were helped.
That, more than anything, was important to his father. To him, Reyes and Madison, too.
And now, obviously, to Star, as well.
She searched his gaze, and as understanding dawned, she again relaxed against him. “We need to know where Mattox got them.”
“Working on it.” In fact, that was the next step, and his sister was already chasing down leads. The thugs hadn’t known much about the operation, but Mattox’s driver, and the bastards who’d brought the truck, proved to be better informed—once they’d been persuaded to talk.
Luckily his father had great contacts in both law enforcement and politics. Within a few hours, Parrish had learned that the police had rounded up all the fucks involved. There were a few unavoidable fatalities beyond Mattox—and maybe Adela—but with any luck, there’d be nothing to trace the incident back to them. Not that they couldn’t handle it, but it offered unnecessary complications.
If anyone did sniff in that direction, Parrish would handle it.
Star’s small hand opened over his chest. “I want to be a part of that, okay?”
She could be a part of everything, as far as he was concerned. “That’s a given, babe.” But he added, “You can be involved as much, or as little, as you like.”
“Good. They all need to be destroyed.”
“Agreed.” Cade knew she was working things out in her mind. Yes, she’d done some awesome work on her own, but the violence today was at a new level.
For him, it was routine. For her...not so much.
“Everything that happened today...”
Her voice trailed off, so Cade didn’t push it. He just held her, his hand coasting up and down her arm, over her hip and back.
“When I was taken all those years ago, I was nothing but a victim.”
A victim who had used her wits and bravery to escape. Sadly, not every person in her position had a chance to do the same. “No, babe, you were a survivor.”
She turned her face to kiss his throat. “I got away, but I was still...still a casualty. Helping other women helped me, too, because I felt useful, like I was making a difference.”
“I understand.”
“Today, leading up to things, I got so nervous I couldn’t think straight. It was terrible.”
Again Cade said nothing. He’d picked up on her growing anxiety and had tried to spare her. In that, he’d failed.
She drew in an audible breath, rubbed at her eyes and shivered again. “I learned that I can handle it, you know? I did okay today.”
“You did amazing. I keep telling you, you have incredible instincts and you’re a fighter. But it’s more than that. You’re a natural defender.”
She kissed his throat again. “Why do you say that?”
A fresh wave of fury ran through his veins. Knowing Mattox had been that close to her, knowing that Adela had hoped to witness her murder, kept him teetering on the edge of rage. He wanted to secure her safety, he wanted her to let him care for her the way he wanted to—the way she deserved.
He wanted to spend his life with her. To share everything. Especially commitment.
He wanted marriage.
Tilting up her chin, Cade looked into her eyes, hoping she’d see everything he felt. “You protected me today.”
A wry smile twisted her mouth. “Well, I tried, but I’m not sure it was necessary.”
“If Adela’s aim had been better?”
Wincing, she said, “Well, she did get off a shot.”
“Just one, because you acted fast, ensuring she didn’t get another. You were there, and I trust you, so I was able to focus solely on Mattox.” But he’d lost his control, and that never happened. “Because of what he did to you in the past, because he dared to come after you again, I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. If Adela hadn’t shot him, I would have beat him to death.”
She swallowed heavily. “You almost did. I was... impressed. You moved like a very agile wrecking ball.”
Cade wanted to give her time, but it wasn’t easy, not when she looked at him with her heart in her eyes.
He wanted it all. Did she?
Just then, Parrish opened the door and stuck his head out. “You two might want to come see this.”
They each looked up, but Parrish was smiling, so Cade wasn’t concerned. “In a bit.”
“You’ll be sorry if you miss it.”
“Well, now I’m intrigued.” Scooting that sweet rump over his lap, Star got to her feet. Looking a little desperate for a change of topic, she took his hand and tugged. “Come on. I need a distraction.”
Cade didn’t, but he let her pull him to his feet, then held her back until his father went inside ahead of them. She might not have a concussion, thank God, but Cade could see that her head hurt. It was there in her pinched expression, the shadows under her eyes.
“Before we go in, I want you to know that I’m incredibly proud of you.”
Her bottom lip trembled before she caught it in her teeth.
Not exactly the romantic declaration he wanted to make, but definitely something she needed to know.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever said that to me before.”
No, probably not. Her life hadn’t been an easy one. She’d conquered more hardships than any person should have to, and was still beautiful inside and out, strong and independent, caring and sexy. “What you did, how you handled yourself, was nothing short of remarkable.”
Leaning into him, her forehead against his chest, she shivered. “I was afraid if I showed my fear, they’d just feed off it. That’s what happened when Mattox first had me. They all loved fear, like it was a big joke.” Her hands fisted in his shirt and she confessed, “But I was afraid, Cade. So afraid.”
“God, me, too.”
That got her gaze up to his real fast. “You?”
“Don’t you dare be surprised by that.” Tears filled her eyes, shredding his heart. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not,” she denied, sniffling.
He brushed her cheeks, catching the tears on his fingertips before cupping her face. “I’ve never in my life been that afraid. If I’d lost you...” He couldn’t finish that thought. Putting his arms around her, he gathered her close. “I can’t lose you.”
Swiping her eyes on his shirt, she swallowed, nodded. “I don’t want to lose you, either.”
Cade started to remark on that, but they heard the laughter from the great room and it drew Star’s attention. She gave a tremulous smile. “Are they having a party?” Curiosity took her to the door, and since he wasn’t about to leave her side, Cade followed along.
In the great room, they found the usually stuffy Bernard on the floor, long legs crossed, with a very grungy cat rubbing against his chest.
Star stalled. Cade stared.
“Yes, precious,” Bernard crooned in a ridiculous voice while stroking the cat’s back. “You’re a beauty, aren’t you, darling? Such a sweet little mama.”
“Litt
le?” Cade eyed the long, gangly cat currently getting white fur all over Bernard’s dark slacks.
“Mama?” Star asked at the same time.
“Kittens.” Sitting opposite Bernard, Madison gazed down into a cardboard box. “Three of them.”
Star made a beeline for the box, dropped to her knees, and seconds later a beautiful smile bloomed on her face. Emotion bubbling over, she lifted a tiny ball of fur to her cheek.
God, he loved her. So goddamn much it was killing him. He thought of how she’d stood strong, how despite her fear she hadn’t buckled. And now seeing this, that soft, tender side of her...
She smiled toward him. “Cade, isn’t it adorable?”
Still holding her gaze, he whispered, “Very.”
Arms folded, Parrish stood by the fireplace, watching it all with a slightly dazed expression. Reyes was there beside him, his stance aggressive.
Amused by that, Cade joined them. “Where did—”
“It’s my cat,” Reyes stated, his muscles bunching and his chin jutting.
Holding up his hands, Cade fought a grin. “Okay. No problem. So you got a cat. Makes perfect sense. Can’t imagine a better time for it.”
The blatant nonsense stole Reyes’s angry edge, and with a roll of his eyes, he said, “It’s not like I planned it. She was in the alley next to the gym. Starving, trying to care for those three little fur balls. What could I do?”
“You had to take her in,” Cade agreed, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “I’d have done the same.”
“That’s all understandable,” Parrish said. “You wouldn’t be my sons if you could turn a blind eye to any suffering. The shocker is Bernard.” Smiling in disbelief at his old friend, he said, “Just look at him. Have you ever seen anything like it?”
Now on his back, unconcerned with his usually impeccable clothes or his gawking audience, Bernard laughed as the cat walked over his chest to butt into his chin.
Cade shook his head. No, most definitely he hadn’t. “I didn’t know he liked animals.”
“Neither did I,” Parrish admitted. “I knew he was a loyal friend, that he loves you all like his own, that cooking is his passion and that he’s a ladies’ man—”
“He what?” Reyes asked.
Yeah, that was news to Cade, too. From what he’d observed, Bernard cared about many things—his appearance, his job...all of them. But sex? “Where the hell does he find the time?”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” was all Parrish said. “But in all the time he’s worked for us, he’s never mentioned having a soft spot for animals.”
Reyes stared in disgust as the older man sat up again, hugging the cat to his cheek, much as Star had hugged the kitten. The difference was that the cat hung from his arms, her crooked, mismatched eyes half-closed in bliss, her broken tail twined around Bernard’s forearm.
“I didn’t bring her home as a gift to him. I just...” Reyes ran a hand over his head. “I couldn’t leave her alone at the gym, right? I mean, that was my intention at first. But I got the call to get moving, so I didn’t have time to set her up as nicely as I meant to. After I wrapped up things today, I kept thinking about her, and it bothered me.”
“Understandable,” Cade said, while fighting a grin at his brother’s discomfort.
“I stopped by the gym on my return. She was in the box with the kittens, but it was a tight fit. She needs a real bed, cat food, too, and—”
“A litter box,” Star added as she joined them. She’d put the kitten back in the box, but that sweet little smile remained on her face. “You’re keeping the cat?”
Reyes stared at Bernard. “Hell, I don’t know if he’ll give her back.” Slanting his gaze at Star, he said, “And that’s going to be a problem, because Kennedy will want to know where the cat went.”
“Kennedy?” Parrish asked.
“Sterling pointed her out to me at the gym.” Then to Cade, Reyes added, “The hedgehog teaching herself defense techniques?”
“You talked with her?” Star asked.
“I offered her help, but she wasn’t receptive. In fact, she was downright insulting about it.” Gaining steam, Reyes glared at Star again. “She’d already figured out that I’m more than a gym owner. Said if I didn’t want her snooping in my life, I shouldn’t butt into hers.”
“Huh.” Star fought a grin. “So she’s not only cute, and maybe in danger, she’s also shrewd. I like her already.”
Aggrieved, Reyes rolled his eyes.
Madison stepped up. “Want me to look into her background? What’s her last name?”
Succinct, Reyes said, “No.”
“Why not?” Star asked. “You guys didn’t hesitate to check up on me.”
“Cade was interested in you.” Denying it a little too strongly, Reyes said, “Totally different story with Kennedy.”
“Uh-huh.” Madison nudged Star, making it clear she wasn’t buying Reyes’s declarations. “I want her last name—just in case.”
“Anyway,” Reyes said with irritation, “she’s the one who found the cat. I just followed her when she started down the alley.”
Brows up, Star said, “You followed her?”
On the spot, Reyes flung a hand toward Bernard, then rounded on their father. “What am I supposed to do now? She expects to see the cat at the gym.”
Parrish always had an answer. “Tell her you took it home to better care for it. It doesn’t sound like she wants to get close to you, so that’ll keep her from demanding a visit. But if she does want to see the cat again, invite her to join you on a trip to the vet.”
Approving that plan, Cade stepped in with his own advice. “The cat and kittens will all need to be checked. You should get that scheduled right away.”
When the kittens started mewling, the cat looked up, abandoned Bernard and hurried back to the box.
Covered in white fur, grinning ear to ear, Bernard strode over. “She’ll need several things, but for now I can put together some food and better bedding. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the store.”
Madison gave him a hug. “I never knew you were such a big softy, Bernard.”
That put his nose in the air. “I’m not.”
Reaching out, Parrish plucked a clump of fur from his shirt. “You do an incredible impression.”
Bernard shrugged. “I adore cats.”
“Since when?” Cade asked.
“I was raised on a farm. My parents grew corn and soy, and we always had cats around.” One thin hand smoothed his silver hair back into place, and in his usual lofty tone, he announced, “I’ve missed them.”
Everyone stared at him.
Clearing his throat, Reyes took a step forward. “Look, the cat is my responsibility—”
Eyes narrowed and mean, Bernard took a step, too. “She’s staying here.” The challenge was clear—a first for Bernard.
Taken off guard, Reyes retreated, hands up in surrender. “Fine. No problem. I appreciate the help.”
“Oh my,” Star breathed.
Cade glanced at her, then followed her gaze to where the mother cat sat by Bernard’s feet, a kitten in her mouth.
Bernard went comically mushy all over again. “You’re bringing me your babies?” he asked in a high, silly voice. “Oh, you precious, precious thing.” He sank down and accepted the little bundle. “I’m overwhelmed.”
They all shared another look. Star couldn’t hold back her grin, and it got to Cade. After the melancholy following the sting, she was happy again.
Relieved, aware of several strong urges, he pulled her to his side.
Madison leaned against Reyes, patting him in sympathy. After all, he’d gotten, and lost, a pet in record time. “I have some leads we can follow based on where the women were grabbed.”
Jumping on that, Reyes asked, “All from the same are
a?”
“Very close. I’ve configured a map and I have a few ideas.”
“It’s getting late.” Stressing that it was time to take a break and regroup, Parrish gave a pointed look at Star, which luckily she missed.
Knowing the toll it took to do their specific jobs, Parrish was keen on physical and emotional health.
Star, being new to it all, would especially be affected, so Cade gave his father a nod of appreciation for understanding and not pushing her.
“We can plan our next move tomorrow—” Looking down at Bernard, Parrish shook his head. “I was going to say over breakfast, but now I’m not sure.”
“There will be breakfast.” Bernard cuddled all three kittens in his arms, and he looked deliriously happy. “Just don’t expect anything fancy.”
Cade wasn’t about to miss that perfect segue. “Star and I are heading downstairs. We’ll see you all in the morning.”
She was still trying to say her goodbyes when Cade led her from the room and to the stairs.
“Why are we rushing?”
“Because the way I need to kiss you, I figured you’d prefer we were alone.”
Warmth entered her dark eyes and humor lifted the corners of her mouth. “Too impatient to wait?”
“Something like that.”
She took the lead, passing him by, making him laugh out loud, until they reached his rooms. After securing the door, she started undressing—on her way to the bedroom.
“Wait up.”
“Found your patience, huh?” Her T-shirt hit him in the chest and she kept going, her hands busy on her jeans. “Well, I don’t want to wait.”
With his longer stride, Cade caught her before she got her jeans down any farther than her knees.
Lord help him, how she looked bent over, her perfect ass on display, was enough to test his strongest convictions. But she’d been hurt, and whether or not she’d admit to the ache in her head, he wouldn’t forget it.
Pulling her upright, he slid an arm under her hips, scooped her into his arms and went to the barrel chair adjacent to the dresser. Sitting with her again in his lap, he took her mouth.
He meant to be gentle, but she already had her slender fingers clasping his jaw, keeping him close while she consumed him. Her warm tongue stroked, her sharp little teeth nibbled and, yeah, he lost it.