Page 29 of Loving Lex

He just laughed and kissed my nose. “Not exactly.”

“So, what brought him to Cameo?”

This made him frown, and I couldn’t tell if it was the memories or if he wasn’t sure how much to disclose to me. “Stone was always looking for adventure, you know? We both joined the military because my dad was a career guy and he pushed us to follow in his footsteps and serve our country.” His fingers on my back began to move faster as the memories came back. “But the service wasn’t really for Stone, so he got out when his enlistment was up. Wandered a bit, looking for his niche. Ended up in Vegas. I’m not sure how he got hooked up with the Kanes and Cameo, but he did seem to enjoy it from what he said. It was good money, exciting.”

I laid my head back on his chest and ran my hand across his abs. “What happened?”

He was quiet for several long moments, his breathing the only sound filling the room. Finally, his fingers moved up into my hair. “We received a call from the LVPD saying Stone had been found dead in his apartment.”

“Oh, my God.”

“In what they presumed was a botched robbery attempt,” he added.

I frowned up at him, confused. “A robbery? But you said it was suspicious?”

“Exactly,” he said, his body going tight. His icy blue eyes turned glacial. “My brother had me by a good three inches and probably fifty pounds, was covered in tattoos, and was ex-military police. I find it hard to believe that a random burglar got the drop on him. Especially when nothing was taken, including nearly five hundred dollars in his wallet.” He paused a beat, his brow lifted for effect. “And then they sliced his throat.”

I gasped.

“One clean line across the jugular,” he said. “Guy knew how to do it for maximum bleed-out.”

Goosebumps peppered my skin, and he rubbed them smooth.

“I’m trusting you with this, Shay,” he added. “I haven’t told many people why I’m here.”

In that moment it clicked what he was saying—or not saying.

The Kanes.

It was silently understood that they were dangerous and that they protected Cameo. That Lex was worried his brother had gotten mixed up in something shady at the club, and he was looking into it in his own way. Which meant he was putting himself at risk, too.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“Lex.”

He leaned in and quieted me with a resounding kiss. “Shay—it’s all good. Just please promise me you’ll keep this to yourself and tell me if you happen to hear anything about my brother.”

I drew back and stared into his eyes, unable to say what I wanted to. I finally relented with a small nod. “I promise.”

He flipped until he had me pinned beneath him. “Thank you.” He kissed me again, showing me that he meant it, then pulled back, his eyes taking in my face. “You hungry?”

“Hungry?” I asked, surprised by the change of subject.

“Yeah. I’m starved.”

Thinking back on hisotherravenous appetites from the night before, I guess I could see why. “I could eat.”

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Wanna come over to my place? I’ll cook you one of my world-famous omelets.”

“World-famous, huh?”

“Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but they’re pretty damn good.”

I sighed. “I’m sold on your honesty, Johnny. I’ll try one of your omelets.”

He smiled down at me with one of the sweetest smiles I’d ever seen. “Okay, pretty girl. Let’s go.”

My heart melted in my chest at the endearment, and I smiled back as he rolled off me and I watched him yank on his jeans and t-shirt.

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