Page 30 of Set Up By the Cartel

As his breathing evened out, signaling his descent back into slumber, I lay awake staring up at the ceiling fan spinning lazily overhead. My mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions, torn between my love for Kael and the insistent doubts plaguing me. I wished Santiago had never told me what he knew.

Minutes later, exhaustion claimed me as well, dragging me down into fitful dreams haunted by images of betrayal and loss. When dawn broke, I awoke with a heavy heart and a newfound determination to get to the bottom of things once and for all.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I didn’t have another choice. It was either that or allowing things to get worse.

Over breakfast, I studied Kael while he ate, searching for any sign of deception in his demeanor. But he simply smiled at me over the rim of his coffee mug, seemingly content in mypresence. Nothing had changed in his behavior. He remained the same person I loved so much.

"So,"he began with half a smile on his face, setting down his cup."Any big plans for today?"

There were always big plans in my days, but this time, my response was going to be different.

My grip tightened around my own mug. Did he mean that innocently, or was there a deeper subtext behind the question? Was he fishing for information about my schedule — perhaps to relay to Mr. Novak later? I didn't know for sure.

"No,"I replied, unable to fully mask the edge of suspicion in my tone."Just business as usual."

Kael nodded, not pushing the issue despite the flicker of hurt crossing his features. I'd never answered him that way before. He hadn't expected it.

Damn it. I hated this distance growing between us, but I didn't know how else to proceed without risking further damage if my fears proved unfounded.

Finishing my coffee in seconds, I rose from the chair I was sitting on."I need to make some calls,"I muttered, grabbing my phone."Don't wait up for me."

With that, I strode from the room, ignoring Kael's bewildered expression. The shock in his eyes hurt me. In the privacy of my study, I slammed the door shut and sank into my chair with a loud sigh, head throbbing with the weight of my suspicions.

Chapter 12

Mateo

Together in bed, Kael's warm skin pressed against mine, his face nestled in the crook of my neck. For a brief, blissful moment, everything felt right in the world — our love unquestioned, our future bright with promise. I couldn't even remember all the bad shit that had happened.

But even amidst such tranquility, shadows lurked at the edges of my consciousness. I hated that. Doubts whispered insidiously, planting seeds of suspicion where once there had only been trust. When I found out that he was my fated mate, I thought that everything was going to be perfect between us, but apparently, it wasn't meant to be.

Could I truly believe in the purity of Kael's devotion when faced with mounting evidence suggesting otherwise? My heart told me one thing, but my mind told me a different one.

I tried to push those dark thoughts aside, focusing instead on the gentle rise and fall of Kael's chest beneath my palm. He stirred slightly, nuzzling closer like a content kitten seeking affection. Seeing that, I smiled. My heart swelled withtenderness despite the turmoil raging inside me. This moment was almost perfect.

"Mmm... good morning,"he murmured without fully opening his eyes, placing a tender kiss upon my jawline."Sleep well?"

If only sleep could wash away the doubts plaguing me. But alas, rest offered little respite from the weight of my suspicions. It was like a curse.

"Well enough,"I replied without making him suspicious, running my fingers through his tousled hair."You?"

He smiled up at me then, eyes sparkling with mischief and desire."Never better than waking up next to you." And I knew that he meant that.

His words were sweet, but I couldn't help wondering if they held a certain deeper meaning. Was he simply expressing his love, or did his statement carry a hidden agenda? Did he know more than he let on about my activities outside these walls? No, he couldn't. If he wanted to know more, I would tell him.

Before I could delve further into that line of thought, Kael shifted positions, straddling my hips with bold confidence. Then, he smiled a radiant smile. His naked form hovered above me, bathed in golden sunlight streaming through the window behind him. In that moment, he looked every inch the angel sent to tempt me towards salvation or damnation — perhaps both. Not knowing which was maddening.

Leaning down, he captured my lips in a flaming kiss, all tongue and teeth as he sought to stoke the flames of passion between us. I responded with absolute eagerness, hands gripping his waist as I ground my hardening length against his own.

We lost ourselves in each other then, moving together with nothing in our minds. Pleasure built at a steady pace, coiling tighter and tighter until release crashed over us at the sametime. As we clung to one another in the aftermath, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking, I marveled at the depths of emotion Kael evoked within me.

How could someone who made me feel so much also inspire such crippling doubt? Was I simply paranoid, allowing my fears to color my perception of reality? Or was there a kernel of truth buried beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered? Again, not knowing what was going on made me mad.

Those questions lingered long after Kael drifted off to sleep in my arms, sated and content. I remained awake, watching him slumber while my mind raced with possibilities.

Hours later, I awoke to find myself alone in bed. Sitting up, I scanned the room for any sign of Kael's presence but found none. He left. A flicker of panic ignited in my chest before logic prevailed — he was likely just downstairs preparing breakfast or attending to some other domestic task. It couldn't be anything suspicious.

Still, unease coiled tightly around my gut as I dressed in a hurry and descended to search for him. I discovered him in the kitchen, humming as he flipped pancakes on the griddle. The domesticity of the scene struck me then, highlighting the stark contrast between the life we shared here and the dangerous underbelly of my world. It was what it was. For the moment, I couldn't do much about it.

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