Page 44 of Queen of Spades

Blocking calls to 911?

Jesus Christ.

What type of people has my brother started working with?

“All right, so I’ve got a cleanup team en route to the Wells house,” he says. “And Kane, I’m sending your route to your GPS. Get settled, and don’t leave until you hear from me or Ranger.”

My eyes ache.

I clench them closed as my stomach rolls so violently, I think I might vomit.

I’m not ready to start over again from scratch.

I’m even less prepared for a family reunion.

A window rolls down, based on the whooshing sound that fills the air. I’m guessing Grady just chucked his cell phone.

He slides over, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. My eyes stay closed as I fight the nausea.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs against my ear, like he can read my mind. “You’re not alone and, as long as I’m alive, you never will be.”

I nod, exhaling heavily.

That means a lot, but it was naive to ever believe I could stay hidden forever. Everything feels so chaotic and out of control. The emotions are so overwhelming, I feel physically sick.

I was fond of my life in Vegas, and in the blink of an eye, everything I worked so hard to build is gone.

We stop at a house that I mistakenly think is our destination. Once the garage door closes, I take off for the stairs that lead inside, but Kane grabs my hand.

“Sorry, princess. This is just a vehicle swap.” Kane runs his thumb over my inner wrist. “You’re looking a little green around the gills. Are you okay?”

“I’ll live,” I reply, forcing a smile.

“I know this is stressful, but I need you to trust me this time.” Kane stares straight into my eyes as he speaks. There’s a look on his face I’ve never seen. My nostrils flare, catching his electric scent. Sometimes when I used to smell him, it would feel like there were magnets trying to draw me to him. It’s hard not to give in to the urge to melt into his chest. “I need you to trust me this time, princess,” he says again, more firmly.

My heart races.

My brain screams that he’s only here to do the job my brother sent him to do, but my impulses are convinced he’s a compatible alpha that I should claim for my pack.

It’s such a bizarre feeling that I take a step back, nodding to appease him, since he’s still staring at me. “I’m not going to run.”

“Please don’t,” Kane says, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “I can’t protect you if I’m not around.”

“Come on.” Grady steps up, holding out an arm. The look on his face is hopeful. It feels like he needs reassurance that I won’t pick Kane over him.

He should know better.

Kane and I have history, but Grady is who I trust.

Not that I’m over the way he lied to me, but I can see his side too. I think if I had opened up to him, he would have done the same in return.

Maybe that’s naive.

I don’t know, but I aim for Grady.

Kane releases me without a word and moves to grab the bags from the back of the SUV. He immediately begins tossing them into the trunk of the black car we’ll be moving into. It has dark-tinted windows, and it’s pretty nondescript, which is exactly what we’re going for.

Once he’s done, we climb inside, and he pulls out of the garage. The drive takes close to thirty minutes just based on my estimation, but time could be passing exceptionally slowly because I feel like crap.

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