“Me too, but I’ll always have your back, Kade. Always. Because that’s what brothers do.”
I’m pacing the length of my living room floor later that night, ready to throw caution to the wind and storm over to the Garcia house when my cell finally pings with a text from Eva. It’s ridiculous how fast I’m on it.
“I’m sorry for not replying sooner. Been out of the house since last night. I’m okay. I’ll talk to you Monday.”
“Can you talk now?” I text back, needing to hear her voice. To know for sure everything is okay.
“No. He’s here.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t. Just rearrange the meeting for next week, the earlier the better.”
“Consider it done.”
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Don’t forget how much I love you.”
“I know, and I love you too.”
But as I lie in bed that night, tossing and turning, helpless and frustrated on my own, I can’t help feeling like something bad is waiting right around the corner. Something that will change everything. And those worrisome thoughts keep me awake most of the night.
Chapter Twenty-One
Present Day
Evelina
I’m still rattled as I make my way into the building Monday morning. The stress of that meeting on Friday stayed with me all weekend, compounded by Jeremy’s probing questions in the car on our way out that night and that screwed-up gathering at the Carlisles’. It’s not like Jeremy to pry into my working life, so his loaded questions about what detains me so late at the office these days has me petrified. Does he know something or he’s suspicious?
Renee is waiting outside my office with two coffee cups in hand. “Hey, girlfriend,” she says, kissing me on the cheek. “I come bearing gifts.”
I unlock my door and let her inside. “Thanks.” I take a cup from her. “I so need this. I barely slept a wink last night.” The stress of everything that happened on Friday kept me awake most of the weekend. An intense shudder whittles down my spine as I recall my horrific weekend. I was right about one thing—Jeremy is definitely becoming unhinged. Either that or the pressure of running his criminal organization is finally starting to get to him.
Renee kicks the door closed with her foot, walking to my couch and dropping down into it. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” I sit down beside her.
“At that meeting on Friday, you thought it was you, didn’t you? You thought the boss man was looking at you, not Jesse.”
I can’t lie to my best friend anymore. Not when our time together is coming to an end. I pin her with a serious look. “Was it that obvious?”
She shakes her head. “Not at all. I only noticed because I was focused on you, and I know you. Know your little mannerisms and tells.” She timidly sips her coffee. “How long did you have an affair with Kaden Kennedy for?”
My eyes almost bug out of my head. “What? You knew? You know?”
“I had a strong suspicion. I worked late a couple of Friday nights, and I knew he was still in your office with you. I never heard or saw anything, but I wondered. A couple of times, I interrupted a few of your study sessions, and I could tell the guy was smitten with you.”
I can only look at her in shock. “Well, damn. I guess we aren’t as careful as we need to be.”
Her brow puckers a little. “Back up there a sec.” Realization creeps over her face. “Are you telling me it’s still going on?”
I slowly nod.
She curses. “Tell me everything.”
“Are you sure you want to know? Guilt by association and all that.”
She puts her coffee down, taking my hands in hers. “I know a lot more than you realize.” I eyeball her sharply. “I know who your husband is, Eva. It’s no big secret to anyone. And I also know you’re miserable and unhappy in that marriage, and, if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say you didn’t marry him by choice.”
I gawk at my friend, amazed at how astute and observant she is despite how hard I’ve tried to mask the truth from her. “I didn’t,” I finally admit. “And you’re right, about all of it.”
“Tell me.” She glances at the clock on the wall. “Neither of us has class for two hours, so tell me. Tell me everything.”
And I do. Unburdening it all. How I ended up married to that monster and what he tried to make me do on the weekend. Her eyes pop wide, and she stares at me in blatant shock. “He did what?”
I gulp over the stream of nausea building at the back of my throat. “The Carlisles like to party excessively. The other times I’ve been to their place it was dinner and drinks and a few lewd remarks, but this weekend was some kind of planned orgy, except Jeremy neglected to mention that in advance.” I shudder at the memories.
“And he made you watch when you wouldn’t participate?” She looks like she’s going to be sick.
I nod. “Yeah. He was furious that I wouldn’t agree to any of it. I thought he was going to make me, but he didn’t want to look like a total prick in front of his colleagues, so, instead, he made me stay in the room while they all fucked one another.”
“That is seriously sick shit.”
I shrug. “It was consensual, and they all seemed to enjoy it.”
“That’s not what I meant. Your husband forcing you to watch him fuck other women, when he knew you weren’t into it, is horrific.”
I lean forward, propping my elbows on my knees. “To be honest, Renee, I was just glad it wasn’t me. I can’t bear his hands on me. My skin literally crawls anytime he touches me.” A forceful shudder travels up my spine. “Those other women, wives of his colleagues and his employees, had no such qualms. They’ve always hated me anyway, and I didn’t miss the smug looks sent my way as they let my husband do all manner of kinky shit to them.” I crank out a hoarse laugh. “They didn’t realize I really couldn’t care less. The only part of it that truly scares me is how much Jeremy seems to be losing control. For years, he’s sheltered me from all this stuff, but he seems hellbent on bringing me further into his world, and I’m petrified of that. Of what it means going forward.”
“What are you going to do? And how does Kaden fit into everything?”
I pick up my story, telling her how I fell for Kaden and how I tried to do the right thing by ending things and pushing him away. I even tell her how we’ve reconnected and what we’re planning to do. Her reply knows the socks off me.
“Do it!” She grips my hands tighter. “Run away with him! By God, if that man loved me, I would’ve never been able to refuse him.” Tears glisten in her eyes. “This is what you’ve always wanted, Eva. The type of love that only comes around once in a lifetime. He’s willing to give it all up for you.” She swoons. “It’s so romantic.”
“It’s also hugely dangerous,” I add, lest she’s forgotten that part of the sordid tale I’ve just spun.
“He’s got the money and contacts to keep you safe.” She slants me a wicked grin. “Not to mention his brute strength. Don’t think I didn’t notice how ripped he is now. I almost jumped him myself that day he showed up here. If anyone can protect you, he can.”
“Wow. You really think it’s a good idea?”
“Yes.” Tears well in her eyes. “I will miss the hell out of you, and I wish you could be at my wedding, but I want you to be happy and safe, and that’s more important.”
“Kade says he’s going to do everything in his power to fix it so we can return.”
“Well, then, I’ll hold fast to that and believe that this won’t be goodbye.”
A noise from out in the corridor causes my heart rate to rocket to unhealthy levels. I stare, wide-eyed, at Renee, and she shoots me a puzzled look. Apprehensive, I get up, heart racing when I spot the tiny open crack in the door. “Shit!” I spin around, pinning pani
c-stricken eyes on Renee. “The door wasn’t properly closed! Do you think someone heard us?”
She gets up, walking briskly out into the corridor and quickly checking the adjacent doors. “No one else is here. You know most of them show up later on a Monday or they are already at class.”
“But I heard a noise.”
“It might’ve just been the door easing open, because I’m pretty sure I closed it properly.” She squeezes my shoulders. “I know you’re on edge, and I understand why, but calm down. No one heard anything, and I’m not going to breathe a word to another living soul.”
“Okay, you’re right.” I shift my neck from side to side, attempting to release some stress. “I feel like I’m constantly watching over my shoulder.”
“At least you don’t have that douche canoe Jesse to worry about anymore.” She saunters back over to the couch. “I know he’s a slimy, sleazy, sexist pig, but even I didn’t think he’d go there.”
“I’m hardly in any position to throw stones.” I perch on the edge of the couch. “But it was a big shock. I swear when the boss man said his name and not mine I almost wept with relief. I thought he’d been eyeballing me the entire time, but it was Jesse.”
“I’ll bet. Kristin says he was sleeping with at least three or four of his students, and they suspect he’s been pulling that shit for years, so there’s no fear he’ll be back here any time.”
“Is it hypocritical of me to say the asshat had it coming?”
“Nope. Your situation is completely different. You fell in love with one of your students and you tried to do the right thing. Even when you were lusting after him, you still didn’t renege on your professional responsibility to Kaden and you never let your feelings influence how you treated him as a student. Jesse was sleeping with students in exchange for good grades, and his fuck buddies were as interchangeable as the weather.”
“I’m not sure the administration would see it like that. Especially the boss man.”
“Probably not, but they’re never going to find out, and if they do, you’ll be long gone.”
Tears sting the back of my eyes as I turn and face my friend. “I’m really going to miss you, Renee. So, so much.”
She jumps up, hugging me. “Me too, but let’s make a promise that it’s not going to be forever.”
And we make that promise, even though I’ve no way of knowing whether I can keep it or not.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Present Day
Kaden
A few weeks pass, and the closer we get to D-day, the more excited and nervous I feel. Eva is, understandably, walking on eggshells at home, and I’m pushing my contacts to get the last few pieces in place so we can make our move. At least we get to spend a few hours every weeknight together, even if we’ve had to cut her visits short. For a while, Eva was really scared her husband was on to us, but his probing questions died off, and she says he hasn’t been around much, which pleases me. However, she’s still highly strung, and we need to put our plan in motion before stress tips her over the edge. Most nights, I’m able to help her unwind and leave some of her stress at the door.
Saying goodbye to her is torture every night, and I can’t wait for the day when we don’t have to separate. While she’s better equipped to defend herself, and she says Jeremy hasn’t come near her in weeks, I still worry.
Which is why I find myself at the gun range again tonight. Kev first suggested it a couple of weeks back, and it was a smart idea. My fists and upper body strength will only get me so far with the kind of gangsters Garcia employs, so I’m learning to shoot. I tried to persuade Eva to come along, but she drew the line at a gun. Not that I can blame her. She’s explained a few scary incidents that have happened over the years, and I know, in her mind, she’ll always associate guns with her husband and the murdering criminals he hangs around with.
“Your aim is getting better,” Kev says, surveying the target sheet in front of me with expert eyes.
“I’d like to think so. I’ve been coming here every evening for two weeks straight.”
He looks over his shoulder, lowering his voice. “How much longer?”
“I should have everything in place by the end of the week,” I whisper. “I’m hoping to leave Sunday.”
He looks off into space, and awkward silence fills the gap between us.
“I knew this was coming, but, damn, that’s not easy to hear,” he murmurs after a bit.
“I know. How do you think I feel?”
I accept what I need to do, and I have zero regrets or doubts, but it’s still hard preparing to walk away from everything and everyone I know. I’ve been writing letters for each member of my family, and that has proven tremendously difficult. This is going to come as a massive shock to all of them. Excepting Kev, no one even knows about Eva.
This will crush Mom. And thoughts of missing out on Kyler and Faye’s engagement, Kal and Lana’s wedding, and not being around to see my cute nephew, Hewson, grow up, is killing me. Guilt is starting to eat away at me, but I have my own life to lead, and I need to do what feels right for me and my future. Plus, I refuse to believe this is goodbye forever. I have plenty of cash, and I’ve been working on setting up my online golf business—something which I can do anonymously from behind a computer in any part of the world—so I’m confident I’ll have the resources to enable us to return home at some point.
Perhaps I’m kidding myself, but I need to cling to that hope or I might falter. Eva is relying on me, and I need to be strong for her. I won’t let her down.
“I’m scared for you, brother,” Kev admits in a rare burst of vulnerability. “If anything happens to you …”
“It won’t. I’ve taken months to plan this methodically, leaving nothing to chance.”
“How do you know the prick isn’t on to you?”
“I wouldn’t be standing here if he knew about me or our plans.”
“Maybe you should’ve put someone on him.”
“I tried, but my guy wouldn’t assign any of his operatives to watch either Eva or Garcia. He said it was too risky. He’s too well-guarded and if any of Garcia’s men made his guys, it would be a virtual bloodbath. When he explained it like that, as much as I hated it, I realized Eva is safer without a bodyguard shadowing her.”
Kev rubs a hand behind his neck. “Lack of protection makes me nervous. I could always contact Dad’s guy?”
I shake my head. “No, Kev. No ties to the family. I made that very clear weeks ago. And I’m not unprotected. I have guys watching my place ’round the clock, and they haven’t noticed anything untoward. I’m sure Garcia doesn’t know. Besides, he’s been away a lot. Eva says he’s very preoccupied lately and very stressed. She senses something big is going down.”
Kev nods his head. “Yeah, I’ve heard some rumors.”
My jaw tautens. “What kind of rumors and why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Don’t take that fucking tone with me, Kade.” Kev glares at me. “If it was something you needed to know, I would’ve told you. I’ve been keeping an eye on the situation, and if it impacted you, Eva, or your plans, I would’ve informed you straightaway.”
I curse under my breath. “What the hell, Kev? I told you not to do anything! What part of that didn’t you understand?!”
“Cool your fucking jets, Kade,” Kev says, looking anxiously around, but the only other two guys in the place aren’t paying us one bit of attention. “You know I was mixed up in some dodgy stuff a couple of years back, and while I extricated myself from that mess, I still keep tabs on all parties in case anything goes down that could trace back to me. I’ve been scanning some of the covert boards, and there’s a turf war brewing between Garcia and his main rival. Apparently, Garcia took out his second in command a couple weeks ago, and they’re preparing to retaliate.”
“Fuck!” I put my gun away
in its case and take off my safety glasses. Kev does the same, and we are both quiet as we make our way outside. “You won’t know this, but Garcia’s rivals attacked Eva a few weeks ago. I happened across them and stopped it before they could seriously hurt her. She kept it quiet from Garcia because she didn’t want to implicate me, but he went crazy when he found out.”
“That’s what those bruises were about?”
My brother has always been sharp. “Yeah. And he’s been acting weird since then, Eva says. It’s obviously all tied up with that.”
“Word on the street is it’s an all-out war. A few of Garcia’s trucks ran into difficulty crossing the border, and then they were ambushed. He lost millions, and he’s preparing to bring out the big guns in response. It’s good you’re getting Eva out of this before it becomes World War fucking Three, because shit is about to hit the fan, big time.”
Kev’s intelligence does zilch to ease the tight knot in my chest. But I say nothing to Eva later that night, not wanting to worry her any more than she already is. We’ll be out of the country before she can get caught in the crossfire.
It’s Saturday night, and I’m getting ready for my date with Eva when the buzzer pings. Duke makes a goofy face into the small video screen, and I roll my eyes, chuckling as I press the button and let him up.
“Yo, man.” He raises his fist for a knuckle touch. “Where da fuck you going dressed like that?” He gestures at my custom black suit, his brows nudging up.
“Dinner with the fam,” I lie. “What’s up? I’m under pressure for time.” I pull up the collar of my shirt, slinging the tie around my neck.
“I know when I’m not wanted,” he jokes, smirking. “I was actually just passing and spotted something weird, so I pulled over and parked.”
My fingers stall on my tie. Now I’m intrigued. “Okay. You have my attention.”
“I noticed Tiffani pacing the sidewalk outside. She kept looking up here and then knotting her hands in her hair, walking up and down like a bone fide stalker. Seriously that chick needs psychiatric evaluation.”
Seducing Kaden (The Kennedy Boys Book 6) Page 19