Page 104 of Beneficial Misfortune

But I also want to make him bleed for what he did to her.

I offered him this way out, and now that he’s taking it, I can’t help but feel regret.

I should just handle him now.

I’ve made up my mind, ready to go after him, but I only make it one step before a small pressure on my back stops me in my tracks.

The asshole slips out the door, and I hear his feet as they slap the ground, no doubt running at his full speed down the hall.

It wouldn’t be fast enough if I had my way. No way the asshole could outrun me, and even if he could, there's no outrunning a bullet.

With a huff, I let it go. Turning to face the little beauty I need to focus my energy on now.

“Kat.”

Her arm is still outstretched. Her hand that once rested on my back now hangs in the air between us. She doesn’t look at me; instead, her head’s tilted down, her eyes hidden by her downward gaze as well. But I don’t need to see her eyes to know this has shaken her.

How could it not?

“Kat,” I say her name again in hopes of grabbing her attention, but still, she doesn’t so much as move.

I flick the safety back on my gun before tucking it back in its holster. She didn’t seem to have any issues with the gun. She hardly even seemed to register it when I came in, but the last thing I need is another thing that might trigger her.

“Hey, Kat. How about we get you out of here?” I ask her, moving forward until my chest bumps into her still outstretched hand. Something about having her hand on me like that feels oddly personal, not to mention it’s in the way. Reaching up, I gently push her arm aside, and she lets it fall down at her side.

“I’ll come back and get your boxes later. Or you can leave it all here. I’m sure there isn’t anything here that can’t be replaced, and lord knows Nate would be happy to do it.”

I’d hoped to coax some of her stubborn fire from her. I remember the way she reacted when I tried to give her that BlackCard. You would have thought I was trying to give her a severed finger or something terrible with the way she refused it. But even now, despite the fact that I’m sure she would hate the idea of him repurchasing her things, even if he were more than happy he would be to do it, she remains mute, her eyes still downcast.

It’s frustrating because I know it’s allhisfault, but I can’t help feeling guilty for not being here. If I’d come in with her or come to check on her sooner, she wouldn’t have had to deal with him like that.

Reaching out, I hook my finger under her chin before gently pressing up, tilting her chin up until we're eye to eye, and what I find makes me ready to chase that fucker down and put a bullet in his skull.

Tears well in her beautiful green eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. Her eyes are wide, fear shining back at me as I look into them, and damn if she isn’t innocent.

Innocent and beautiful.

“Come on, Little Beauty, let's get you home.”

I’m not gentle; it’s never been who I am. The best I can hope for is to muster up a few nice words, a hug for Addy, and some tough love for the guys, but right now, I want to be. I can tell it’s what Kat needs, and I might suck at it, but I can try.

Slinging my arm around her shoulder, I pull her into my side with the intention of guiding her back out to the car. Only that doesn’t happen because the second she’s nestled into my side, her arms wrap around me and squeeze. For someone so small, she’s got a hell of a grip. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tease her about it until I feel the warmth soak through my shirt and feel her tiny body damn near convulse.

I don’t say a word, unsure if I’ll make the situation better or worse. Instead, I just stand there, one hand rubbing circles in her back in what I hope is a soothing way as I let her get it all out. After this, I’ll take her back to the house. We’ll handle thisasshole, of that I have no doubt, but who says I can’t comfort her while I plan murder?

Chapter 32

Katherine’s existence in our lives isn’t something I can simply ignore, no matter how often I might try to convince myself it is.

In the beginning, I told myself she was like every other nanny as far as I was concerned, and for a time, it was true. Mainly when I wasn’t home or kept myself locked away in my study down in the library or in some other far reach of the house, she had not yet discovered.

But despite how much I worked, I couldn’t completely avoid her. She was at dinner, oftentimes even the one who cooked the meal. She went with us on family outings or spent time with us on weekends when we did things together, be it swimming or watching a movie down in the theater. And even when she wasn’t there in my face, her presence lingered.

The smell of her lingered through the house, whether it be her perfume or simply her shampoo. I’m not sure, but I swear I’d never smelled cherries as often as I do now. Laughter filled the house, and it wasn’t just Addy’s, though hers was often the loudest, but Katherine’s as well, and sometimes even Des andmy father’s. Hell, I’d seen more emotions from Nate than I had in years with anyone who wasn’t us four.

And that’s outside of the times I shouldn’t have been keen on her existence. Like last weekend, when my uncle had me keep Addison so that he could take her to one of our other properties. I didn’t need to know why, and I sure as hell didn’t ask, but despite the way I told myself I didn’t want her, I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering back to her when I was alone.

It’s not as if my father or Desmond are exactly subtle, and while it might be easier to hide from Addison, who’s only five, I assure you it’s not the same with other adults.

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