Page 124 of The Last Inch Of Ice
“You don’t ask me for enough,” Nazar interrupts. His expression is serious now, all traces of earlier amusement gone.
“I’m scared, Nazar.” The admission costs him something. “I’m scared of what he’ll do. What he’s capable of. If he finds out you had any part in this—”
Nazar moves suddenly, closing the distance between them. His hands frame Kai’s face, forcing Kai to look at him.
“Why didn’t he pull those strings to avoid prison in the first place? If he’s so powerful, why is he sitting in a cell right now?”
“Because—”
“The evidence was overwhelming. Because too many people came forward. The case was airtight before charges were even filed.” Nazar’s thumbs stroke Kai’s cheekbones. “I will never let him touch you. Period. It won’t happen. And the fact that you rarely ask me for anything is bad. Ask me whenever you want.”
Kai feels his heart beating too fast. The tone Nazar is using—that fierce, protective certainty—sends shivers down his spine.
The thought that Nazar would do something like this for him. Risk his career, his reputation, everything, just to keep Kai safe from his own father—
He can’t process it. Can’t wrap his mind around it.
“Nazar—”
“Shh.” Nazar’s expression suddenly shifts, a smile breaking across his face. “Don’t worry. I rarely take risks. I’ve only done it once in my life. With you, Kai.”
“I’m not worried about myself!” Kai’s voice rises, frustration bleeding through. “I’m worried about you, you idiot!”
Nazar laughs—a low, hoarse sound that makes Kai even angrier.
“What are you laughing at, you blockhead?!”
“You.” Nazar is still smiling, his eyes warm. “You look very cute when you get really angry. You know, when you’regenuinelyangry.”
Kai feels heat flood his face. “I’ll show you cute right now.”
He climbs on top of Nazar, straddling his hips, his hands braced on Nazar’s chest. He’s aiming for threatening. Probably failing spectacularly based on the way Nazar’s smile widens.
“Threatening me, Callahan?” Nazar’s hand comes up to his mouth—a strangely sensual gesture, like he’s collecting saliva on his fingertips. His eyes never leave Kai’s face. “Well, go ahead. I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
The challenge in his voice makes something hot and reckless surge through Kai.
“You’re insufferable.”
“Yeah,” Nazar agrees easily. “And you love it.”
Kai does. He absolutely does, which is possibly the most annoying thing about this entire situation.
So he leans down and kisses him instead—hard and demanding and full of all the things he can’t figure out how to say.
36
Epilogue Nazar
One year later
Nazar pulls up to his grandmother’s house and feels something settle in his chest when he sees the street is empty except for Kai’s Taycan.
Thank God.
After their last phone call, he’d started suspecting Kai might invite everyone—Sam, Vyachovsky, Miller, the entire former Wolverines crew. Which would be fine. Great, even. Except Nazar had been looking forward to a quiet afternoon before their flight tomorrow, just him and Kai and his grandmother’s cooking.
He grabs the duffel from the passenger seat and heads up the front walk. The door is unlocked, which means his grandmother is expecting him.
