Page 8 of My Ruthless Mountain Man

“Afraid not.”

“Can you help me come up with a plan?”

He takes my shoulders and turns me toward his bedroom. “Yes, but not tonight. You’re exhausted and stressed. Looks like you haven’t slept much the last couple days. Did you drive straight here?”

“I stopped at a motel but couldn’t sleep more than an hour.”

Stone steers me into his room and grabs a flannel shirt from his closet. “Here. Get a shower and try to sleep. We’ll make a plan tomorrow.”

I take the flannel, barely resisting the urge to press my nose to the collar. Maybe a few hours of rest won’t hurt. I stifle a yawn as Stone brings my bag in.

“You’re safe, Kendall. There’s nothing you can do to help Ryan tonight. Get some sleep.” Stone presses a kiss to my cheek, then closes the door behind him.

Giving in to temptation, I press my nose to his flannel and breathe in his scent. It settles something inside me that’s been coiled tight for two days. My muscles loosen and my body relaxes, liquid pooling between my thighs. I wish he’d stayed. I’m safe, I know that. Yet the thought of being snuggled up against him in bed, with his strong arms around me all night, promises a safety I haven’t felt in, well,ever.

I think I brought pajamas. Honestly, I have no idea what I threw in my bag in two minutes of manic packing, but I’d rather wear Stone’s shirt to bed.

Maybe it’s foolish to feel so protected when Ilya’s threat remains. But for the first time, I can breathe.

CHAPTER FOUR

STONE

I spent halfthe night finding any intel I could on Ilya Petrova. He’s a Brigadier in Bratva, the Russian Mob, and seems to operate mostly in gambling, drugs, and stolen goods. Kendall is gorgeous, so I have little doubt that he wants her for himself and to pressure her brother. In order to remove Ilya’s threat to her, I have to take her off the game board.If he can’t use her as leverage against Ryan, she won’t be as valuable.

My plan is simple but unhinged. Kendall would have to be crazy to go for it, which means I need a backup plan. I could call Derek at Citadel Securities in New Orleans. His father’s a financial genius and passed the knowledge onto his son. Derek is sitting on millions of his own making. He might have the cash on hand to pay Ryan’s debt. I’m just not sure that’s the best option.

Ryan got himself and his sister into this mess. It doesn’t sit well to let him escape with no consequences. Yes, I’ve been trying to mend our friendship, but I’m furious with him for dragging her down with him. I don’t believe he did it on purpose, but that doesn’t change the facts. What a clusterfuck.

It’s after 8 a.m. when I shuffle to the coffee pot and get it started. I hear Kendall moving around in my bedroom a few minutes later.

Stretched out on the couch last night, it was damn near impossible not to think of her in my bed and fantasize about being there with her. That’s when I came up with this batshit crazy plan.

She comes out of the bedroom beautifully disheveled. Her dark hair falls in soft waves down her back and my red flannel shirt hangs halfway down her thighs, showing off an ample amount of leg. Shit, seeing her in my shirt flips a switch in my brain. It should not turn me on, but my heart picks up speed and my cock fills, obnoxiously tenting my sweats.

Her sleepy blue eyes land on the coffee pot, and she heads toward it like it has a gravitational pull.

A smile tugs at my lips. I didn’t peg her for a morning zombie, but it’s fucking adorable.

“Here, baby girl.” I put a mug of coffee in her hand and steer her toward the milk and sugar I laid out.

“Good,” she murmurs after her first few sips.

“Sleep better last night?”

She nods and pushes a lock of hair from her eyes. I can tell the coffee is starting to kick in. There might be life in there after all.

“I wonder if Ryan finally called?” she says when the cup is nearly empty. “Oh, I forgot to charge my phone.” She looks around, searching for where she put it.

“It’s on the counter. I plugged it in last night after you fell asleep.”

Kendall reaches over and takes my hand. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for every little thing, Kendall. I said I’d take care of you and I am.”

Her eyes meet mine and a number of emotions flit across her face. Gratitude, surprise, uncertainty maybe, and something warmer that I’m not ready to name.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Stone.”

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