Page 76 of Red Dreams

Cassie rolls her eyes but gets to her feet, grabbing the sleek sniper rifle propped against the wall. She heads for the door, then pauses and looks back at me. “Hey Layla, try not to get killed, okay? I'm just starting to enjoy our special time together.”

Her voice drips with insincerity, but I sense an undercurrent of ... something else. Before I can respond, she disappears outside.

Kaden turns to me, his eyes roaming over my body as if committing every inch to memory. Electricity rushes through my veins, and I wish we had the time for him toreallycommit to my body.

“No matter what happens,” he says, “I won’t let anything happen to you. Understand?”

I nod, my mouth suddenly dry.

“When they come, it will get bad fast,” he warns, his expression grim. “The things I'll have to do ... I need you to trustme. Don't interfere, no matter what it looks like. Let me handle it my way.”

His eyes search mine, seeking obedience.

“I trust you,” I say rather than answering directly.

Seemingly satisfied, Kaden nods curtly and steps back, all business once more as he checks his weapons again with methodical focus. I pace the room, already missing his touch, and glance around the cozy den, my mind struggling to reconcile the homey furnishings with the arsenal of guns and knives laid out with ruthless precision.

I never asked for any of this—but then again, I never asked to fall for a gorgeous, deadly hitman either. Yet here we are, our fates intertwined as we stare down the barrel of a gun together. Multiple ones.

Kaden spins a knife in his hands, and it’s so sharp, it whistles with his movements. “Do you think Ethan is up for surveillance in the computer room upstairs?”

I take my time answering. Ethan would want to help in whatever way he could, but he’s having a more difficult time coming to terms with Cassie’s presence than I am. Maybe because he’s not in love with her sire and willing to overlook extreme red flags in order to be with him. I cringe at the thought, but I also can’t deny it. I’m not fully evil, but I’m not fully good anymore, either. Not if I can love a man like this and accept his murderous spawn.

Sighing, I rub my eyes. Ethan’s skills would give us a tactical advantage I’m not willing to pass up. “I’ll go get him set up.”

I hurry upstairs to my bedroom, knocking softly before entering.

Ethan’s sitting cross-legged in bed, one of Reaper’s kittens spinning in circles on his lap as Ethan dangles a piece of dental floss.

“Hey,” I say as I come in and shut the door.

Ethan replies without looking up. “Let me guess, Tall, Dark, and Deadly wants me to hack into some satellite feeds and get eyes on the surrounding area.”

Though his tone is wry, the undercurrent of defeat breaks my heart.

I perch on the edge of the bed, drawing the attention of another kitten, this one a puffball gray color who’s secretly become my favorite. I pick her up, nuzzling her nose with mine.

Ethan glances up, watching. “Has Kaden named them?”

“The kittens? Not that I know of.” I set the puffball down in order for her to join her siblings, attacking shreds of toilet paper in the corner. “Why, do you have suggestions?”

“Well, lying in here high on pain meds had me thinking all sorts of things. So let’s see. Satan.” He gestures to the one in his lap, currently chewing on the hem of his sweater, then points at the others. “Beelzebub, Lucifer, Dark Lord, and … Hades.”

“You named my puffball Dark Lord?”

Ethan squints at me. “You wanted Kaden to own a cat named Puffball?”

That gets a smile out of me.

But just as quickly, Ethan’s amusement fades. “Is helping them the only way for me to get out of here?”

“Oh, Ethan.” I reach for his hand. “I’m so sorry I got you into this.”

“I don’t know how many times I have to say it, but I’ll keep saying it. It was my choice to help you. It’s still my choice. I don’t blame you.”

“Well, I’m still sorry. I’m sure you thought assisting me would involve significantly fewer near-death experiences.”

His expression softens. “I just … I worry about you, Layla. This guy, hisdaughter… are you sure you can trust them?”

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