Page 43 of These Deadly Dreams

The tires squeal and spin before they gain purchase on the asphalt, and then we’re launched forward. I can hear the growls and yips of the wolves behind us. We just need to make it to a straightaway where Kai can really let loose, and we’ll leave the wolves behind. In the rearview mirror, Kai’s eyes are alight with excitement as he tears down the streets, flying around curves and pushing his car to the limits. His fangs glint in the moonlight, on display from the grin that splits his face in boyish enthusiasm.

Ellis, on the other hand, is clinging to the grab handle with both hands, knuckles white and arms trembling. The squeaking sounds coming from her whenever Kai throttles around a corner is fucking adorable, and I find myself smiling despite the situation.

“Just a bit further, Kai, and you can probably slow down,” Cade says, turning around in his seat to peer out the back window.

“Psh, fuck that,” Kai mumbles. “I don’t get to do this very often. I’m taking full advantage of it.”

Ellis whimpers. “Please don’t kill us,” her words almost drowned out by the screeching of tires as we fly around a corner.

“Relax, baby girl,” Kai chuckles. “I’m a pro.” He reaches across the space and pats Ellis’s knee, which causes her eyes to about pop out of their sockets. She grabs his hand and pushes it back to the steering wheel.

Cade snorts. “I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say you’re a pro, but you’re the only one I’d trust to drive this crazy and not crash.”

“Well, thank you. I think.” Kai’s eyes flash to the rearview mirror and a look passes between them that makes my heart squeeze.

I just want to be a part of their little … thing. Not necessarily the sharing of the dicks, but I want to be in it deeper. I want the connection. The closeness. The … family. Kai, Cade, and I have that. Or, we did. As things developed between Cade and Kai, and when Ellis joined us, I removed myself. I didn’t want to watch as their relationships grew, while mine suffered. I also didn’t want to make them feel awkward that I was around, when I wasn’t really part of what was happening.

Kai finally slows when we approach the mountain where he’ll have to drive his precious baby up the rocky slope. Indeed, as the underbelly of the car scrapes along the ground, his smile drops, replaced by a scowl.

“Son of a bitch,” he growls. “I swear, any work I have to get done when this is over, you’re paying for Sterling.”

“Yeah, yeah. I hear ya,” I placate.

When we reach the cabin, Ellis jumps out and sinks to the ground, mumbling her thanks for making it back alive under her breath. A chuckle slips past my lips as I climb out of the car, and she glances at me, her amber eyes searing straight to my soul. I look away before she can say anything, and her sigh reaches my ears, making my shoulders curve inward in defeat.

“I’m going to double check my wards, and lay down a few more,” Cade says, closing the car door. “When I’m done, we have a lot to talk about.” He glances at me, his intent clear.

What I found needs to be discussed. We need to know what’s happening. Shoulders rising on an inhale, I head for the cabin, preparing myself for something horrible.

15. Ellis

Thunder rumbles in the distance as I sit on the couch. My stomach twists uncomfortably as I wait for Cade to return. I’m positive he and Sterling found something while they were looking through the filing cabinet. While my attention was pretty focused on what I was doing, I heard enough of what they said to raise my suspicions. Knowing it could be absolutely anything—most likely nothing positive—has my insides tangled and writhing in nervousness.

Kai hands me a bottle of water from the kitchen and sits next to me. His weight on the cushions displaces me, and I tumble into his side. Rather than try to sit back up, I curl in closer, reveling in the weight of his arm as it settles around my middle. I watch Sterling as he sits in the chair across from us, texting someone on his phone. Silently, I beg him to look at me. And like I somehow managed to push that thought into the ether, his icy blue eyes raise from his phone and meet mine.

Just like that time at River’s Edge with Allie, I’m sucked into his presence. Everything around me disappears until it’s just me and him. All I know is his piercing blue stare, the weight of his gaze on me, the all-encompassing realization that I am the center of his attention. My heart kicks up, hammering in my chest. It’s hard to draw a breath, because he has stolen all the air from my lungs. I try my hardest to make him see how much I want him. I hope it’s reflected in my eyes as I trace his features. My lips part, I don’t know if it’s to try to breathe or to say something, but it doesn’t matter, because he blinks and looks away.

Just like that I’m released from the spell. Dropped back into reality like being thrown into an ice cold pond. Every muscle in my body sags and my heart falls into my already roiling stomach. I just don’t understand why he keeps fighting it. Sensing my emotions, Kai squeezes me tighter and kisses the top of my head.

The front door opens and Cade enters, just as the first drops of rain fall from the sky. More thunder rumbles, closer this time, and through the windows I see the pine trees blowing in the wind.

“We’re good,” he says, kicking off his shoes by the door. “If any wolves come within five miles we’ll know.” He plops onto the couch on the other side of me with a sigh. Violet eyes meet mine, and he says, “You got what you need?”

Kai reaches into his jacket pocket, jostling me in the process so I shift to lean against Cade. He pulls out two folded pieces of paper and hands them to me. My fingers tremble as I grasp them, even though I already know what they say. Spreading the papers open on my lap, Cade ducks his head to look at them and Sterling sets his phone down.

“DNA test results,” Cade breathes.

“Yep.” I pop the ‘p’, trying to affect nonchalance. None of them fall for it though. “For both me and my sister. Noah Martin is our father.”

Silence settles in the room like a heavy cloak, broken by the claps of thunder that have steadily grown louder. It doesn’t come as a surprise for anyone, but it’s still a lot to process. Especially for me.

Kai’s hand rubs up and down my back. “Are you okay?” His eyes are narrowed like he’s trying to understand the emotions I’m putting off.

Taking a deep breath, I give myself a second to think about my answer. “Yeah, I’m okay,” I say slowly. “In a way, it’s a relief. To know it wasn’t my real dad who let me suffer through all that abuse under his roof. Although, I don’t know if it’s much better that he raised me as his own and still treated me the way he did. I mean, before my mom died, he was never very affectionate toward me and Gracie, but he was never coldhearted.” I shrug, trying to play off the confusing mix of emotions. “I guess it was easy to not care since I wasn’t flesh and blood.”

Of course, this brings out even more confusing emotions knowing my real dad murdered my mom and sister, and wanted me dead as well. What did my mom see in him? Why have an affair, not once, but twice? At least that we’re aware of.

Cade clears his throat. “So we have the proof we need. How do we go about letting Kennedy know this contest is over?”

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