Page 36 of Obsessed

"When did you know?" Iask.

Kane takes a long drink and lowers the glass. "When you looked at me through the mirror at the warehouse. Something only a person in law enforcement could quickly figureout."

I'm stunned into silence until a laugh spills out. "Guess my undercover skills aren't quite what Ithought."

"Yeah, add me to the list of flunkies," Maddoxquips.

"Drink?" Kane askshim.

"Sure."

Kane walks over to the bar and gets Maddox a drink. It's all too surreal. Maddox awkwardly cups the glass between his cuffed hands anddrinks.

"I'd have them take the cuffs off," Kane says, "but it's obvious you're just a big enough asshole to try somethingstupid."

Maddox lifts his drink in a toast. "Here's to being an easy to spot asshole." He shoots back thedrink.

Kane sits back down. I'm still trying to absorb the idea that he knew all along I was undercover. It seems his mental skills are not over exaggerated. "How much have you known?" Iask.

"It was easy enough to track down information because I knew the location Rowan found you at. Detective Angie Tennyson. It fits you better thanTawny."

"Then you knew he was a detective too? You knew he was mypartner?"

Kane sits back and buckles up while the plane takes off. "No, I confess I let my guard down with him. A few months ago I gave some of the more veteran club members the job of vetting applicants. It was a mistake. They missed a lot of red flags. I'd been so preoccupied—" he paused, "you had me so preoccupied, I didn't even think about the newest club member until Jason pointed out that he told the other women he had a thing for redheads."

I look pointedly atMaddox.

"What?" Maddox shrugs. "There was a whole sweet sentimental story about a teacher crush to go with it. In my defense, I didn't know they were all going to start dying their hair red." Maddox stops and shakes his head. "Shit. Shit." He looks across at Kane. "What the fuck, Freestone? Is drugging people the only thing you know how to do?" Maddox's head drops forward but he snaps it back up and props open his eyes, trying to stayconscious.

"Some people like to use guns and brute force to keep control," Kane drawls. "I find drugs are much easier and moreeffective."

Maddox is still awake enough for one last remark. He always has to get in the last word, even when he's about to be knocked out by a sedative. "Yeah, then what are these two big goonsfor?"

"They are for the occasional asshole who deserves to be knocked around." With Kane's last word Maddox's head drops back against the seat and tilts to the side. He's outcold.

"Loosen that bungee," Kane tellsJason.

"Is he all right?" I ask worried it might be more than asedative.

"Yes, he'll sleep through the flight. Which was mygoal."

The plane has leveled off. Kane gets up from his chair and sits next to me on the couch. He turns to face me as he rests his arm on the back of the couch. His fingers are close enough to my shoulder to touch it. Under normal circumstances he would have, he would have caressed my skin. I'm glad he stays clear of touchingme.

"None of this makes sense." I turn to him. "Why did you bring me to the Lace Underground if you knew I was a cop? Why not just send me back to the park? I would have gone back to the precinct with very little information. You could have just let mego."

"Told myself that many times since that night. I knew it was a mistake and yet, here you sit. I saw you staring back at me through the mirror, seeing me but not really seeing me. It was the first time I looked into your eyes and you drew me in and never let go. This wasn't a cruel game I was playing. This was nothing more than me wanting you with every fiber of my being. I knew you'd be my downfall but having you became my addiction. Even knowing that the only thing that kept you tied to me was the nectar, I allowed myself to think that there was a connection betweenus."

"There was," I say quietly. "Is." I shake my head. "I don't know anymore. I don't know anything. The nectar has erased so much ofme."

"Not true. You're still there, just muted abit."

I look across to Maddox. His dark lashes flutter with deep sleep. "Why did you bring him along?" Icy fear suddenly grips me. "What are you planning to do withus?"

Kane sits back. "I'm going to pull back the lovesick, obsessed man for awhile and let the mad genius take over." He gets up and heads back to hisseat.

"What does that mean?" I ask. "Damnit, why can't you just talk in normal fucking sentences." I slouch back against the seat, cross my arms and close my eyes. But I know I'm not going to get a wink ofsleep.

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