Page 18 of The Devil's Spawn

“Why would she do that?”

“Because she wants Gage, and…”

“And?” Ian prompted.

Oh, God. Panic fisted my heart, and all I could see was my husband’s cock just mere inches from her lips. And Gage’s threat that if I touched another man again…I covered my mouth, suddenly feeling sick. Upchucking would accomplish nothing, besides more embarrassment. I pushed down the burn of vomit in my throat and dropped my hand.

“I can’t talk about it, so please don’t ask.” How could I be so fucking stupid? But damn, I still couldn’t bring myself to regret that hug. Not one bit. Because the last time I’d laid eyes on Ian Kaplan, I’d been certain his death was imminent. But here he was, alive and healthy and…ironically all because the brother who hated his guts had found a morsel of mercy in his sadistic blood.

“Last thing I want is to cause you trouble,” Ian said. “After the way I behaved earlier this year….”

“This isn’t your fault. This is Katherine’s doing, and I’ll explain that to Gage.” Never mind that he would be furious. I eyed Ian. Now that he was here, I could finally get some answers. “He told me what he did for you.”

“Did he tell you his terms as well?”

Averting my gaze, I nodded. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

His mouth flattened into a stubborn line. “I know that’s what he wants, but I can’t live my life with our history hanging over my head forever. Don’t you think it’s time we put this behind us?”

“Of course I do! But Gage would rather burn in hell first. He’s not going to budge.”

“Well, getting a second chance at life has made me see things in a new light, Kayla. I have no control over what he does, or how he treats you.” His hazel eyes, overflowing with the familiar kind of warmth I ached to wrap myself in, held me captive. “You’re a strong, capable woman, so when you say you love him, I’m going to take you at your word.” A beat passed. “I’m going to believe that you know what you’re doing and can protect yourself.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m not leaving Portland, and I’m sorry if that’s going to cause you problems.” He shuttered his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry if my decision to come back gets you hurt. But I’ve gotta live my life. I’ve accepted a job here, and…”

I raised my brows. “And?”

“And I’m seeing someone.”

“Simone?”

He cocked his head in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Just a hunch.”

And it was at that precise moment, as we were finally on the cusp of putting all of our cards on the table, of burying past hurts and broken dreams, that another beep rang through the hotel room. A hint of footsteps kept me in suspense, breath stalling in my lungs. Terror tore through me, and my back stiffened, as my first thought was that Katherine had sent Gage.

But those footsteps weren’t confident like my husband’s. He had a unique way of walking, in which every step touched the ground with complete ownership of the path he chose to walk. These footfalls were dainty, completely feminine. When Katherine came into view, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course she’d want to witness the coup she’d pulled off single-handedly.

However, I was even less prepared for the camera flash that went off in our faces.

9. Sick Day

For the next two days, I stewed over one question: when would Katherine drop her bomb? Confessing to Gage was inevitable, but anytime I came close to opening up to him about what I’d unwittingly stepped into, my throat closed up on me.

I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Hell, I was so twisted up over Katherine’s trickery—and her ultimatum that I leave Gage or she’d show him the photo—that I’d puked twice in 24 hours. At first, I thought it was due to stress, but then Eve came down with a stomach bug, so I blamed my sickness on a virus. Katherine and her nasty ultimatum faded into the background, as taking care of Eve trumped everything.

The scent of vomit seemed to cling to my skin. My poor baby hadn’t been able to keep anything down for the past two hours since I’d picked her up from school. At least the worst had passed. I smoothed a palm over her hair while she snuggled into her princess themed sheets, lashes lowering from exhaustion. Gage would be home soon, so that didn’t give me much time to shower.

Ten minutes later, as I towel-dried my hair, I heard his car pull into the driveway. I dropped the towel in the laundry hamper, ignoring how it hung over the side, and moved down the hall in time to greet him in the foyer.

“How’s Eve doing?” Gage had barely stepped through the front entrance, smelling of autumn and pure sexy man, before he set his laptop case by the door, which was so unlike him. “I came as soon as I could. Where is she?”

“In bed.” I hastened to keep up with his urgent stride as he headed down the hall toward Eve’s bedroom. Finding her fast asleep, he stalled in the open doorway and let out a breath. I placed a hand on his back, touched by his concern.

“She’s feeling much better. You didn’t have to rush home from work.”

---