Page 7 of Devilish

Curiosity was always a good way to coax out a skittish kitty, and giving Kai something to focus on other than me was the perfect distraction for this scaredy cat.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” I asked as I shrugged out of my coat and tossed it over the end of one of the wide velvet couches.

Kai glanced over his shoulder, his eyes drifting past me to the ornate fireplace with its detailed mantel of black marble. The intricate design carved into the overmantel drew the eye all the way up to the twenty-five-foot ceiling and was as over the top as the rest of the place.

“Kai?”

He dragged his attention away from the hearth and back to me.

“Food? Something to drink? Can I fix you anything?” I had no clue if he was hungry, but judging by his slight frame, he could do with a good meal or three.

“No, I’m, uh, I’m fine.”

“Please, let me fix you something.”

He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Okay.”

“Good.” I smiled at the small victory and gestured to the seating area. “Have a seat wherever you like. I’ll be right back.”

I hurried off to the kitchen, not sure whether Kai would actually stay, but willing to bet he wouldn’t mind something to at least drink after the night he’d had.

Not wanting to leave him alone for too long, I didn’t linger as I threw together a couple of roast beef sandwiches, grabbed two bags of chips, and then stared a little too long at my choice of beverages.

If it had been anyone but Kai sitting out in my living area I would’ve offered up a stiff drink, thinking that was exactly what he needed. But considering the way the evening had gone, I wasn’t sure alcohol was the right direction to go in.

Instead, I reached for a bottle of water and headed back to where I’d left him, food in hand. Just as I’d suspected, he hadn’t cut and run. He’d taken a spot at the far end of the velvet couch, and with as wide as the seat cushion was, and tiny as Kai was, the piece all but swallowed him.

“Would you like the ottoman?” I asked, gesturing to the tufted foot stall at the end of the couch. “Or you can tuck your feet up. I didn’t even think about it, but it can’t be comfortable for your legs to dangle like that.”

Kai looked down at his feet and then back to me. “I’m used to it.”

I shoved the ottoman toward him with my foot, and then put the tray of food down on top of it. “Well, just in case.”

I took my plate and water and moved to the enormous leather chair that sat opposite the couch. It could fit two people comfortably but was also perfect for me to sit by the fireplace and read a good book or three.

Kai glanced down at his plate and picked up one half of his sandwich.

“It’s roast beef.” I frowned. “You’re not a vegetarian, are you?”

Kai said nothing, just took a bite of the sandwich.

“Nota vegetarian—good to know.”

He must’ve been hungrier than he’d let on, though, because after that he demolished everything on his plate without another glance my way. My instincts had been proven right, that though he might’ve had a place to sleep and eat with Rupert, he sure as hell hadn’t been eating a whole lot.

My anger at the situation I’d found Kai in clawed its way back to the surface as I quietly watched him from across the room.

How had he come to be with someone like Rupert? Why did he stay?

He’d mentioned that Rupert was his “keeper.”Like a fucking zoo animal?The idea made everything inside me rage.

I didn’t know this young man. But from the second I saw Rupert manhandle him like a piece of property, every protective instinct I had had fired.

I had no time for bullies. No patience for thugs. And it appeared that Rupert McGuire was both, if not a whole lot worse. That was something I planned to look into as soon as I got the chance. I wanted to know who had vouched for him. How he’d gained access to my club. Something I’d be extremely pissed about if it hadn’t led to my being able to help Kai out of the situation he’d found himself in.

As it was, I couldn’t be too annoyed, since I’d at least be able to provide him with somewhere safe for the night.

I finished off my drink and then looked over at the empty plate Kai had put back on the tray. “Would you like another?”

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