Page 77 of Red Dreams

I think of the way Kaden’s eyes follow my every move, even before he officially introduced himself. The firm possessiveness in his touch, the obsessive intensity of his protection.

“I trust Kaden with my life,” I answer honestly.

Ethan studies me for a long moment, then nods. “Okay, then. I'll do it.”

I flash him a grateful smile. “Thank you. Really. You’ll be safe up here, too. Kaden’s set up a bank of computers across the hall.”

“Thank me when we're not about to have our asses shot at.”

He sets Satan on the floor and stands, brushing cat hair off his pants. Fast, before I can second-guess it, I pull him into a tight hug.

“You’re my best friend. The only friend I have. Thank you. For everything,” I say into his shoulder.

Ethan responds with a wheeze.

“Shit! Your ribs!” I jump back, curling my fingers against my mouth. “I’m s?—”

“Say that again, and I’ll tell Kaden you named one of his cats Puffball.” Ethan shakes his head with a tiny smile. “Be gone, Layla. Go be with Batman down there.”

I leave him to it and dash back downstairs. Kaden is exactly where I left him, cataloging his weapons. He looks up as I approach.

“Ethan's on board,” I report. “He'll keep a bird’s-eye view on the property.”

“Good.” Kaden sheaths a knife and steps closer, his presence enveloping me. I tilt my head back, never wanting to stop staring at his face. “Put this on. Stay behind me and keep your head down at all times.”

I take the tactical vest from his hands. “Okay.”

My voice comes out breathier than intended. Damn him and his overwhelming masculinity.

His eyelids lower, and for a charged moment, I think he's going to give me my last erotic wish before we face the inevitable, but Cassie’s staticky voice coming through his radio interrupts us, her usual snark replaced by terse urgency.

“We have company.”

Kaden whips his attention toward the window, his whole body tensing.

“Before sunset,” he muses. “Already, they’re making a mistake.”

As I fumble with the vest’s straps, my fingers clumsy with adrenaline, Kaden's hands close over mine, efficiently securing the Velcro and cinching it tight. His touch lingers for a charged moment, his fingers trailing electricity across my collarbone. In his eyes I see the war between the man he once was and the ruthless killer. I pray to any dark gods listening that both sides of him survive this night.

A teeth-rattling boom shatters the thick silence, and the cottage windows rattle in their panes. Kaden spins to his weapons and grabs his mask. It settles onto his face with an electronic hiss, and then I’m standing in front of the Scythe.

“You have a spare mask?” is all I can think to ask as my brain shuts down and reboots in simple survival mode. Kaden’s original one was removed at the Siren’s Call. As I eye the armory my couch has become, he lost his mask along with a litany of weapons he also seemingly had multiple spares of.

Another explosion rocks the cottage, this time from the opposite side of the property.

Kaden presses his earpiece. “Cassie, report.”

As he listens to Cassie’s response, he settles another earpiece in my ear. “…hostiles approaching from the north shore. Armed to the teeth. These are just mercenaries. I don’t recognize them as any of Papa’s men.”

“They’ll wait until the mercs have me cornered. Take out as many as you can.”

Kaden's voice is a menacing growl, all traces of his morals slipping away as he becomes the Scythe.

Staccato gunfire erupts outside, the walls shuddering as if in fear. I flinch, my heart threatening to flee, but I force my breaths to even out.

Kaden stalks to the door. He pauses and looks back at me, those eerie neon slits sending a delicious frisson down my spine. “Last time, I had you barricade yourself in a room, and they still found you. Come here.”

I do as he says, allowing him to wrap my arms around his waist until one side of my face is pressed against his back.

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