I didn’t mind doing that and chugged some more from the glass on the tray. Mona had sent up a mix of cheeses, cured meats, and fruit. I wasn’t shy about eating my fill.

After watching me for a while, Kade asked, “So you want to tell me what happened?”

I shrugged. “Not much to tell,” I said around a mouthful of grape. “They stuffed me in a trunk. I passed out. When I woke, I was chained up. The sonofabitch dumped a couple dozen rats and a few copperheads in there with me and left. You showed up in the morning.” I left out the part about how terrified I’d been in the pitch-black, with things crawling on me and a snake too close for me to chance making a move. But from the look on Kade’s face as he watched my shaking hand snag another grape, I figured he already had a good idea of that part.

I sighed, my stomach full, and leaned back against the pillows. “Now tell me what I missed.”

Kade moved the tray to the dresser and resumed his position beside me. “Jared is getting the DNA tested on what you got against what was found on Kandi. Blane’s arraignment is set for tomorrow morning. I managed to work a few strings to hopefully keep Blane out of harm’s way.” As he spoke, he coaxed me into his arms and I went willingly, lying between his legs with my head resting on his chest.

His hand stroked my hair and I closed my eyes, exhaustion consuming every muscle in my body. I knew I should probably move away, but I couldn’t seem to make myself. I needed him, needed to breathe in his scent and savor the warmth of his body through the layers of fabric between us.

“I thought for sure you’d be dead when I found you,” he said after a while. “If I found you.” His voice was quiet.

“I thought I would be, too.”

“You’re the most vulnerable part of me,” he mused, his fingers threading through my hair. “A year ago, I would have killed you myself if I’d known.”

I swallowed hard and didn’t doubt him for a moment. “And now?” I asked, tipping my head back to look at him.

Our eyes met. “And now,” he murmured, “now I can’t let you go, no matter how much it costs me.” He pressed his lips to my forehead and I closed my eyes at the contact.

Kade cradled my head against his chest and I relaxed, thankful down to my bones for his presence in my life. And it was only then, as I was drifting off to sleep, that I realized I loved him.

* * *

When I woke it was dark outside. I’d slept the day away.

I sat up, realizing Kade was gone. He’d tucked a blanket around me, which I pulled away as I stood.

Fear crept over me in the dark room. Where was Kade? Was I alone in the house? What if that guy came back for me once he saw I’d escaped?

I groped for the light, feeling slightly embarrassed at the relief that flooded through me when I flicked on the switch and a warm glow dispelled the darkness. I shed Blane’s robe and pulled open the closet door. I really didn’t want to raise my arms above my head to dress and I searched frantically through the clothes. I saw a little summer dress with buttons down the front and grabbed it, but even pushing my arms through the short sleeves made me wince. I hurriedly buttoned it before going to the door.

I paused, opening the door just a crack and peering through. I wondered where Kade was and why he’d left me alone.

I knew Blane kept his guns in a cabinet in his den. Maybe it was unlocked.

Seeing no one in the hallway, I crept silently downstairs, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure it could be heard. Glancing at the grandfather clock as I passed, I realized it was late. I’d slept over twelve hours.

The den was empty and the gun case was locked tight. I muttered a curse, trying to think of what to do now.

Knives. The kitchen.

I headed that way, relief flooding through me when I heard Kade and Mona talking quietly. I heard my name and paused, unable to resist the temptation to listen in.

“… stay with Kathleen tonight,” Mona was saying.

“I’d planned on it,” Kade replied. “Leaving her alone right now is a bad idea.”

“Did you take care of the awful men who took her?”

“Yes. They won’t be back.”

“What about Gage?”

A pause. “He won’t be a problem, either.”

“Thank goodness,” Mona said with a sigh. “He was such an evil man.”

“And I’m not?”

“Don’t be silly. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with protecting those you love when the police can’t or won’t help.” She paused. “And I know you love her, Kade.”

“She loves Blane,” Kade dismissed.

“Does she? Things have been so crazy around here the past couple of weeks, I’d be surprised if she knows how she feels anymore.”

“She’s amazing, what she endured,” Kade said. “You should have seen where he left her, that fucking piece of shit.”

“Language,” Mona said mildly, “though I don’t disagree. And I don’t want to know—it’ll only upset me. I just thank God you found her.” I heard the rustle of fabric, as though she were hugging him, and decided I needed to stop eavesdropping.

I walked into the kitchen. “There you are,” I said to Kade a little breathlessly. “I was afraid everyone had gone.”

Mona looked pleasantly surprised to see me. “You’re up!” she said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” I said. “Thirsty.”

She went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle filled with a blue sports drink. “Here,” she said, handing it to me. “Gerard went to the store and got these for you in every flavor of the rainbow. Said he wanted to make sure there was one you liked.”

My heart squeezed and I took a big gulp of the fruity liquid, trying not to cry. I was sick of crying.

“Speaking of which,” she said, untying and removing the apron she wore, “I think I’ll head home. I’ll be back in the morning.” She gave me a hug. “Good night, dear.”

“Good night,” I said, hugging her back. “And thank you.”

She smiled and left through the kitchen door. I glanced at Kade, who was leaning against the counter. He frowned as he looked me up and down.

“What?”

“Why are you wearing that at this hour?” he asked.

I looked down at my dress. “I thought I was alone, and if that guy came back, I might need to run, or fight, or…” My voice trailed away. It had seemed like a good idea to get dressed at the time, though after sleeping so long, perhaps I hadn’t been thinking too clearly.

“You thought I’d leave you?”

“You were gone when I woke up,” I said with a shrug.

Kade stared at me, his expression unreadable.

I glanced away, taking another swallow of the sports drink. Suddenly, all I could think about was the revelation I’d had before falling asleep. I loved Kade, and maybe had for longer than I wanted to contemplate. And I could never, ever tell him.

I forced those thoughts from my mind. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. I could fall apart some other time. “Will that guy be back?” I asked. “The one who took me? Or his partner?”

“No, they won’t.” Kade didn’t elaborate.

“What, um—what happened to them?” I asked, still not meeting his eyes.

“You don’t want the details,” he said dryly. “Just know that if they came back, it’d be as ghosts.” There was a drink on the counter and he took a swallow. Vodka, I guessed.

“Hungry?” he asked, pushing himself away from the counter. “Mona made dinner and saved you a plate.” He went to the refrigerator without waiting for my answer and pulled out a dish, which he stuck in the microwave.

I stood awkwardly in silence, drinking until I’d finished the bottle.

Kade took the dish from the microwave and set it on the table along with a fork and knife.

“Thanks,” I said, sitting down. Mona had made some kind of chicken with a sauce and potatoes. It was awesome, as was everything she made.

Kade sat down opposite me with his drink in hand. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke.

“Why won’t you look at me?”

I glanced up from my nearly empty plate, my face heating. I didn’t know what to say, how to act after everything that had happened between us. How did I deal with the fact that I loved two men? Two brothers? It was a disaster that left me reeling, my heart breaking inside. Two men who were far better to me than I deserved, and I loved them both. Mona had been right, there wasn’t going to be a happy ending to this.

“I’m not avoiding looking at you, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” I lied. “It’s…” I stopped because I had no clue what to say.

“… that we’re just now having that awkward morning after,” he supplied, his eyes narrowing.

Well, yes, there was that.

I got up to take my dish to the sink so I wouldn’t have to answer right away. Unfortunately, Kade was still waiting when I finished, and he wasn’t sitting at the table anymore but was standing right behind me.

I turned off the faucet, staring at the window above the sink. I watched our reflection while his eyes were solely on me. His hands settled on my shoulders, his brow creased as though he was in pain. His palms skated down my bare arms to my hands where he slotted our fingers together.

Mona had been right. I hadn’t even realized that my feelings for Kade had grown so much. Though if I was honest, I should have realized I never would have slept with him in Vegas if I hadn’t known, deep down, that I loved him. I just hadn’t wanted to face it then, any more than I wanted to face it now.

Kade pressed a kiss to my shoulder, crossing my arms in front of me so he could hold me. His lips moved toward my neck and I closed my eyes, leaning back against him and tipping my head to the side. A soft sigh escaped me at the touch of his tongue, warm and soft, to the skin that had been scraped and abraded by the metal collar.

“Let’s get you to bed,” he said softly in my ear.

My pulse jumped, though I knew he didn’t mean anything by it.

Kade kept my hand in his and walked me upstairs to my room. Even after sleeping all day, I was still tired. I worried about Blane and what he’d endured since they’d arrested him. I worried about what would happen when, and if, this was all over. If I’d thought it best for me to leave before I’d realized how I felt, now it was imperative.

“Has it been on the news?” I asked. “About Blane?”

“Yep,” Kade answered, turning the bedside lamp on. “It got leaked almost immediately.”

“Damn it,” I said with a sigh.

“Don’t worry. The public has a notoriously short memory,” Kade said. He dug in my dresser drawer, pulled out my white nightgown, and handed it to me. “Here you go.”

“Turn around,” I said.

Kade’s smirk made my heart beat faster, but he did as I said. I unbuttoned and shed the dress, not bothering to try and put on panties or a bra before donning the nightgown. It was enough of an ordeal to raise my arms to put through the straps and pull the gown over my head.

“You really should be more aware of your surroundings.”

I jerked my head up. “Wh—?” I began, then I saw that he’d been watching me in the mirror. I flushed as he turned around, not a trace of remorse on his face.

“You’re shameless,” I said with a raised brow.

“You’re gorgeous.”

I flushed even more and quickly looked away as I climbed into bed. I pulled the covers up over me.

“I guess I’ll flunk my classes,” I said. “I missed a final today and have two tomorrow that I won’t be able to take.” I knew I wasn’t going to miss Blane’s arraignment, no matter what—and besides, it wasn’t as if I’d spent a lot of time studying the past few days. All the money and time I’d spent on those classes had been wasted.

“Don’t worry about that,” Kade said, flicking off the overhead light before lying down next to me on top of the covers. He bent his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.

Easy for him to say.

Kade reached for the bedside lamp.

“Wait,” I said, grabbing his arm. He looked at me, questioning.

“Um, do you mind leaving it on?” The thought of being in the dark terrified me enough to swallow my embarrassment at asking for a nightlight like a child.

I couldn’t read the expression that crossed Kade’s face, but he gave a nod and lay back down.

“Will you stay with me?” I asked, hating that fear had prompted the question but unwilling to face the night alone. Or without Kade.

Kade looked at me. “Absolutely.”

I abandoned any pretense that I didn’t want to be close to him, scooting over until I was pressed against his side. His eyebrows climbed, but he didn’t say anything, just wrapped one arm around me as I rested my head on his shoulder, my arm lying across his chest.