Page 19 of Smoke and Mirrors

He slumps his body and looks into my eyes, calming me further. “It’s a long story, one I can’t explain right now. But I will if you take out the bullet. I promise, Lily. I keep my word.”

Trust has to be earned. You both have to give a little to get there. Max’s words echo again in my head as I stare into Kace’s pleading eyes. Is this him giving? Offering something of himself for me to trust him. Is he the good or the bad guy in this scenario?

“Am I going to get into trouble for helping you?”

He shakes his head. “Not if you don’t tell anyone.”

“Shit.” I race forward, grabbing the bottle of vodka and bring the seal to my lips, swallowing a giant mouthful. The liquid burns, and it feels like it’s tearing at my throat, but I need some courage right now, and vodka always gives me courage.

Kace half-smiles and nods as he pulls off his shirt. My eyes open fully as I take in his incredibly muscular body, with well-defined abs, all leading to that perfect V just before his pants. I swallow hard as I clench my thighs together and try to catch my breath. He’s pure perfection, even with blood smeared and sliding down one arm. He’s a masterpiece, and I could look at him for days.

“Lily?” he asks, breaking me away from my trance.

“Shit! Sorry,” I say and take another swig from the bottle, then take a deep breath and pour some on his arm. He flinches but doesn’t swear or show any signs of pain.

He’s tough. Of that I’m sure.

“Okay, so this is really going to hurt,” I tell him, and he nods and smiles.

“It’s okay, Lily. I’ve been through worse.”

I furrow my brows. I should be surprised, but now I’m kind of getting used to his brand of crazy. “Okay, do you need something to bite down on?”

He smiles and shakes his head.

“Of course, you don’t. Right, here we go, we can do this. It’s just a bullet. Just a tiny bullet—”

He grabs my shaking hand and looks me in the eyes. “You can do this, Lily.”

Nodding, I grab the pliers and take a steadying breath. Moving the pliers in line with the wound, my stomach churns ever so slightly.

I’m fine, probably too much vodka.

I inch the pliers toward the hole, and as the tip of the pliers ease into his flesh, I scrunch up my face waiting for him to moan, scream, writhe around in pain, but nothing. He sits there with his eyes closed like he’s meditating or something while I internally freak out. Shaking my head, I push the pliers in further, the sound of his flesh moving with the metal turns my stomach as the pliers open slightly in my hand, and I feel around for the bullet.

“Jesus Christ,” I murmur.

“You’re doing great, Lily,” he says like he isn’t in immense pain right now. I swear this guy is strange. I cringe when a small tinkling sounds, and my chest tightens at the thought that I’ve hit the bullet. I squirm a little as I open the pliers and grasp the bullet, slowly starting to ease the pliers back out of his bulging arm.

How isn’t he screaming? I have no idea. This man is quite possibly an alien. He seems so calm and relaxed about the whole thing, and I’m teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I pull the bullet out of his arm as he slumps his body while I place the bullet on the table. It seems so small, so minuscule.

Sighing out a big breath of air, he grabs my hands and looks me in the eyes. My lip trembles with the emotion of it all quickly coming over me. “Thank you, Lily. I really do appreciate it.”

Nodding as I can’t actually say anything, I pick up the vodka bottle and down another mouthful as it burns my throat. He hands me a bandage, and I slowly wrap it around the wound.

“You’re probably going to need antibiotics and stitches. You really need to see a doctor.”

A beep sounds, and he picks up his phone. Looking at the screen, he stands suddenly and grabs his shirt pulling it on over his head like he’s in a mad rush, completely confusing me. He gathers his jacket and grabs my arm pulling me toward the door. “I have to go.”

Furrowing my brows, I shake my head. “Umm… what? You need to rest.”

“I’ll be fine.” He opens the door and smiles.

“Wait… you said you’d tell me.”

“I told you, I keep my promises.” Kace looks me in the eyes, and I furrow my brows wondering what the hell is going on right now. He smiles and leans in kissing my cheek. Warmth radiates from my cheek down my side and straight between my legs. Goosebumps tingle all over my skin, and my breath hitches at the simple gesture. “Thank you, Lily,” he simply says. He turns and takes off quickly down the hall away from me with Daisy dancing excitedly around his feet, leaving me stunned and shocked at the events of the last half hour.

Kace Colt is one crazy ride, and I have no idea how I’m going to hang on.

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