“The knife isn’t big, but it’s sharp and it’ll do some damage,” he said, tightening the strap. I tried to focus on what he was saying and not on the feel of his hands touching me. His face was mere inches away and my eyes dropped to his mouth as he spoke. I must not have been that successful in concealing what I was really thinking, because he suddenly asked, “Are you even listening to me?”

I quickly nodded. “Of course,” I said. “Small but sharp. Got it.”

Kade’s lips twisted in a smirk as he gazed intently into my eyes. “Somehow I think your mind’s on . . . other things.” His fingers drifted farther up my thigh to lightly touch between my legs. I sucked in a breath, my nails digging into his biceps.

He leaned forward, putting his lips to my ear. “You look like you want to be fucked,” he murmured, sending my pulse into overdrive. He easily pushed aside the scrap of lace that covered me. I bit back a moan as a long finger pushed inside me.

“So wet,” he whispered against the skin of my neck. “Tell me you only get that way for me.”

But I couldn’t speak, my whole attention focused on the slow slide of his finger inside me.

“Tell me,” he repeated, withdrawing his finger. He brushed my clit, then circled the entrance to my body, teasing me. “Tell me you only want me.”

“Just you,” I managed to gasp. “I only want you.”

“Tell me no one gets you dripping wet like I do,” he said, his words a low growl in my ear. His finger slid inside me again and I clung to him, trying to stay on my feet.

I pried open my eyes to see Kade watching me. The expression on his face was fierce, his blue eyes blazing.

“No one makes me wet like you do,” I repeated, my voice breathless. “Only you can do this to me.” It felt freeing to say what he’d ordered me to say, as strange a dichotomy as that sounded. The words seemed to have an effect on Kade, too, because before I knew it, my panties were gone and he was unzipping his pants. A moment later, my dress was hiked to my waist and my back was pressed against the wall as Kade buried himself inside me.

It was hard and fast, and Kade’s tongue in my mouth kept my noises to a minimum. I came in a shuddering climax only seconds before Kade, then we were both panting for breath as he kissed his way down my neck. My legs were hooked around his waist and when I let my feet slip back to the ground, my knees trembled under my weight.

I heard the sound of Kade’s zipper as he put himself to rights and I tugged my dress back down.

“Gimme a minute,” I said against his mouth, his lingering kisses making me regret pulling away. I returned to the bathroom to clean up and put my underwear back on. My eyes were bright and my cheeks flushed, but I couldn’t make myself regret the immensely satisfying interlude with Kade. My body was humming with pleasure and I couldn’t help a satisfied smile as I reapplied my lipstick. It was good to know Kade was as susceptible to me as I was to him.

The plan seemed solid. Find this guy Lazaroff, figure out what he had on Keaston, confront Keaston, then Kade and I live happily ever after without having to look over our shoulders, and Blane is at last free from his uncle’s machinations and able to live his own life.

Of course, everyone knows what they say about the best-laid plans.

They always get shot to hell.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The four of us checked out of the motel, then drove both cars to the location, what with Blane and Kade wanting to cover all the bases, and we met up on the sidewalk in front of the place.

Blane and Kade were dressed in suits that I knew cost thousands of dollars each. Kade wore entirely black—black slacks, black silk shirt, black jacket. Blane wore deep charcoal gray with an identical black shirt. Side by side, Kade with his inky-black hair and Blane with his dark blond, they looked mouthwatering, two sides of the same dangerous coin. The expensive fabric of their suits enhanced the hard edge of their collective presence, making them appear formidable and deadly.

Branna looked gorgeous in her silver dress and I noticed with more than a little envy that her waist was narrower than mine. She carried a small clutch bag and I wondered if she had a knife strapped to her thigh like I did.

Although the three of them had spent the afternoon planning, trying to think up all contingencies, the extent of my role seemed to be “stick close and don’t get hurt.” I hoped that would be as easy as it sounded.

“Ready or not,” Kade said in a little singsong voice, his lips twisting as he looked to Blane, who gave a curt nod, his expression much more grim than Kade’s.

The entrance was guarded by two huge guys, twins by the look of them. I ignored them as I hung on to Kade, his arm wrapped around my waist. Branna was similarly draped on Blane. Money changed hands and we were allowed to pass. We followed a third guy into an elevator with red fabric covering the walls. He didn’t speak and let us out on an indeterminate floor.

The hallway was shadowed, dark wood paneling the walls. Heavy, antique brass sconces glowed on the walls, lighting the way to a set of double doors with long, twisted wood handles. The carpet was thick and red, an oriental style that seemed vaguely out of place. It felt like we were going into a place run by vampires who took Hollywood stereotypes way too seriously.

Kade clasped my hand as he opened the door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and sent up a prayer that we’d all be okay by the time tonight was said and done.

The room was full of people, the noise hitting us as we walked in. They surrounded what I could see were gaming tables. Not like in Vegas, with flashing lights and bells, but serious card tables that were for serious players. A few of the patrons looked our way when we entered, most taking a quick glimpse of Blane and Kade before returning their attention to whatever they’d been doing.

I could pick out the security guys immediately, especially since they didn’t seem to try and hide their presence. Big men, the guns attached to their hips visible, though all were dressed well, which seemed to be a theme. If I’d been worried we might be overdressed, that fear was immediately put to rest. The men were dressed in suits, and the women—a minority of probably one to ten among the men—were wearing dresses as slinky as mine or even more so.

I had a sneaking suspicion that most of those women were actually prostitutes. Nice.

Blane and Kade leisurely circled the room. I kept my eye out, counting the security guys and seeing if I could find any exits other than the doors through which we’d entered. A table with two empty seats sat in one corner and Kade headed toward it.

“Mind if we join you?” Kade asked those seated at the table in general, his smile thin, his eyes calculating. None of the men objected, so the dealer gestured for Blane and Kade to sit. Several pairs of eyes took in the cut of Blane’s and Kade’s suits, the Rolex on Blane’s wrist, the flash of metal at Kade’s side.

I took up a position mirroring Branna, who stood next to but slightly behind Blane. Kade drew my arm over his shoulder while the dealer dealt the cards.

I knew nothing about poker other than what could be gleaned from watching television and movies, and it became rapidly apparent that whatever game they were playing was far beyond my level of understanding.

A man came by to exchange the large wads of cash Blane and Kade gave him for chips. My eyes widened at the stacks in front of them, and as they began to grow with each successive hand.

I immediately realized they must have passed hours playing poker when they were younger, because each of them seemed to almost instinctively know if the other one held a winning or losing hand. Soon the only question at the table was who would win—Blane or Kade. The pile of chips grew taller and wider, and I could sense the growing disgruntlement and suspicion from the other players.

My feet grew tired as time passed and I shifted my weight, trying to ease the ache in my lower back. Branna caught my eye and frowned. I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at her. I guess being uncomfortable wasn’t sexy.

Two of the men at the table began conversing in Russian, it sounded like, and it didn’t take a genius to realize they were discussing Blane and Kade. To my shock, Kade opened his mouth and spoke as well. In Russian.

Of course I couldn’t understand a word he said, save one. Lazaroff.

The men eyed him, then one of them raised his hand and crooked a finger, signaling someone behind us. I turned just as whomever he must have called over stepped up behind us.

“If you’ll come with me,” the man said in heavily accented English.

Kade and Blane stood. “You’ll cash these in for us, right?” Kade asked the guy, gesturing to the pile of chips. I could tell by the sarcasm in his voice that we’d never see any of that money again and a little part of me sighed at the loss. Such a waste.

“The women stay,” the man said, gesturing for a security dude to block me and Branna from following. “Just you two.”

Alarm shot through me and I thought fast. “Back off,” I snapped at the security guy. “You may do your job just for fun, but I get paid to do mine and he’s my paycheck.”

“Find another john,” he said, dismissing me with a hard shove. I stumbled back and Branna caught me. I righted myself quickly.

Blane didn’t look like he was going to go, but Kade grabbed his arm, shooting Branna a look. A moment later, they were taken through a dark doorway and disappeared from view.

Branna grabbed my hand. “Let’s go,” she said, pulling me through the room.

Shocked, I stumbled after her and then managed to jerk back, stopping us. “What are you doing?” I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. “We can’t just leave them.”

“Kade was very clear on what I was to do if we got separated and that was to get you out of here,” she said. Branna didn’t look at me as she said this, her eyes scanning the room.

“What are you talking about?” I asked. “And since when do you give a shit about what happens to me?”

Her green eyes met mine. “Since Kade is in love with you and you’re carrying his child.” Her gaze flitted over me. “I suppose we can’t help who we fall in love with,” she muttered.

“I’m not just going to leave when God knows what could be happening back there,” I said. “And as much as you care about Kade, I’m surprised you’d want to, no matter what he told you to do.”

Branna huffed a frustrated breath. “Fine,” she said. “But just remember that you’re the liability here. Frankly, I’d have been happier if we’d left you behind.”

That’s the thing about Branna—it wasn’t exactly a mystery where you stood with her.

“Follow me,” she said.

We made our way through the crowded room, keeping close to the walls. I could see where she was heading, a dark door near where we had entered. We were almost there when I was brought up short by a hard grip on my arm.

“Where are you going?” One of the security guys had hold of me, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked at me.

“I-I, um . . .” I stammered, completely at a loss as to what to say.

“Viktor told us he had a special client,” Branna suddenly piped up next to me. “We’re freshening up first.”

I held my breath as the guard seemed to consider that, then he nodded. “Hurry up then,” he growled, giving me a shove as he released me.

A moment later, we were through the door and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Who’s Viktor?” I asked.

Branna shrugged. “It was a guess. They’re Russians. Gotta be a Viktor here somewhere.”

I swallowed. Quick thinking, I supposed, but I shuddered at what might have happened if there hadn’t been a Viktor.

We were in a short hallway with two doors to the left.

“Which one?” I asked.

Branna didn’t say anything, but she hesitated before reaching for a handle and I figured she probably didn’t know any more than I did.

She pulled open the door, and my heart dropped to my feet.

There was an entire table of men playing cards, all guards by the look of them, and every one of them turned toward us.

“We were just looking for Viktor,” Branna said. “Sorry to interrupt.”

One of the men, bigger than the others, pushed himself back from the table and stood. “I’m Viktor,” he said. “Who are you?”

Oh shit.

Branna slammed the door shut without a word and I opened the second door without being asked. I could hear men shouting and the scrape of chairs as we burst through the second door into a long narrow hallway.