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“See you soon, Chanel Murelo,” he calls after me but I don’t look back. At least I did one last good deed before I die. I knew calling Chaos for help would alert Royal. I also know that facing my cousin is going to be harder than I ever thought.
* * *
Dad hasn’t spoken a single word to me since we left the pier last night. I know he isn’t angry at me, he’s just pissed he can’t control the outcome of this situation. As a father, I know he can’t allow me to walk to my death but as The Bloodhound he also knows I can’t run from this, which is why we are leaving tonight to head back to Royal’s so I can confess everything. Chaos agreed not to say a word to him when I explained the situation last night, provided I told Royal within a week.
I enter the same pub I met Kacey at on Friday. It’s not as packed here during the week, but I do have to push my way through a crowd of rowdy college students to get to the booth I know he will be sitting at. Sure enough, there he sits in the same booth as Friday night. Unlike the last time we were, here he doesn’t wear a smug look as he sees me approach. This time he has a sad look in his eyes as he watches me approach. I slide in opposite him and rest my arms atop the wooden table. Kacey takes a shuddering breath.
“I had to call my parents today and tell them about Marcus.” I keep the surprise from my face, I didn’t expect that to come out of his mouth. I remain silent, sensing he isn’t finished. “To say they were pissed that a group of people came into their hotel, dragged them out and moved them to a lavish cabin in the middle of nowhere is an understatement.” He chuckles but there is no humor to it. “My dad refuses to speak to me and my mom thinks it’s best that I keep my distance from Marcus’s funeral. They also think it’s best for Ash and his career as a pro baller that I stay away completely from the family.” The pain and self-loathing in his tone has me feeling compelled to comfort him but I manage to keep myself seated, which is no easy feat. He turns away and looks toward the group of college guys who are cheering at something on the TV. “Do you ever wish you could go back to the first day we met and do things differently?” I suck in a sharp intake of air.
“Kacey–”
“I love hearing you say my name,” he murmurs as he slowly turns back to face me. The look of pain that was present in his blue eyes a moment ago, is quickly replaced by a lustful one.
“I’m not here for a trip down memory lane, I need the files.” He eyes me with a hungry look and sucks his bottom lip into his mouth. I’m captivated by the sight and unable to tear my gaze away.
“Follow me,” he whispers huskily and stands. Irritated and wanting to get this little meeting over with, I follow him out the back of the pub to a dark parking lot. I spot his car parked in the back. There are only three other cars out here. My senses heighten as I look around and make sure we aren’t being followed. When I turn back around to face Kacey, he has his gun drawn and pointed directly at me. I reach for my own but freeze when I feel the barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head.
A quick look over my shoulder confirms my suspicion, his friend Romeo shoots me an apologetic look and shrugs his shoulder. “Loki seems like a fitting name now, doesn’t it?” I grit out.
“I can’t let you go back there. Help me bring down the Albanians and I swear to you I will hand over all the intel we gather on them to your cousin in exchange for your life.” Shaking my head I stare at him like he is simple.
“That’s not how shit works. Royal already has a meet with the Albanians in three week’s time–”
“I’ll explain everything but I need you to get in the car.” His gaze bores into mine pleading with me to listen and not argue.
“When my dad doesn’t hear from me, he will come looking, Kacey.”
“I know,” he answers without hesitation.
“Then you also know who my father really is. He will find me Kacey and when he does, I can’t save you and your friends from his wrath. He won’t bring the national guard, he’ll bring the Murdoch mafia and make no mistake, Royal will bringMemento Mori.”
“They won’t need to do all of that.” I frown in confusion.
“Why?”
“Because we meet with your cousin in the morning.” My blood turns to ice.
“You stupid fucking fool, you just signed all your death warrants,” I mutter as I head for his car without argument.
Romeo and the other two dropped Kacey and me off at some abandoned warehouse near the docks. According to Kacey, this is where Xavier lives. I haven’t spoken a word to him since we arrived. He gave me some towels and a shirt, then pointed me in the direction of the bathroom. I know it will only be a matter of time before my dad finds me, so I decide to waste time by showering. I am pleasantly surprised by the sheer opulence of the bedroom and bathroom. The outside of the building looks like it is condemned but inside, it looks like a brand new remodeled apartment.
I strip off and step under the spray of the shower. A small moan escapes me at the feeling. I push all thoughts of what tomorrow will bring from my mind and the clusterfuck I have made of my life. I feel a draft on my back and tense. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Kacey that just stepped into the shower with me.
His arms band around me as he buries his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent like a starving wolf. He reaches up and cups my breast with one hand as he lowers the other to reach my pussy but I grip his wrist halting his movements.
“Kacey—”
“If tonight is the last night I get to be with you, then let me be with you, Chanel, without any secrets between us… Please.” I shake my head.
“I can’t,” I whisper, the broken tone of my voice has me mentally scolding myself. He spins me around and forces me backward until my back is flush against the tiled wall, bending at the knee so we are level.
“I need you, baby,” he whispers as he slowly leans in, giving me every chance to push him away or stop this, but I’m powerless to do anything. I have never been able to deny this man anything and a part of me hates that, but another part also relishes the control he demands and forces me to obey without thought. His lips mesh against mine, forcing his tongue past my lips and demanding entry without permission. His taste assaults my senses and I moan. His hands grip my waist in a punishing hold. I wrap my arms around his neck as he grips the backs of my thighs and lifts me.
He breaks the kiss and stares up at me with longing in his blue eyes. “I can never be yours, Kacey. Come tomorrow, we will part ways and never see each other again. You know that, right?” His eyes flick between mine trying to detect a hint of deceit—he won’t find it.
“I let you walk away from me before but I don’t think I can do it a second time.” The raw honesty of his words has my breath hitching.
“You won’t have a choice. We can never be more than this moment, right here. Right now.” His eyes darken as I push the wayward strands of his hair back off his forehead.
