Page 101 of Collide

It was pointless to try and talk Kai out of his plans though, he couldbe a stubborn bastard when he wanted to be. But I had to try, and hadn’t I persuaded him to let me help out with the situation at the warehouse with Luis? If I could at least get him to letmetalk to Toby first, and find out why he was there, maybe I could convince Kai that Toby had nothing to hide and let him go.

It was unlikely he would, but I had to try something.

“I want to come with you,” I said, mustering up as much confidenceas I could find. His eyes narrowed at me before he dropped his hand from behind my head and stomped over to where his clothes were in a pile on the floor.

“No.”

Fuck sake.

“Come on, Kai, I know Toby. There will be an innocent explanation asto why he was there, you’ll just go in all guns blazing and won’t believe a word he has to say.” I jumped out of bed, wrapping the sheet around me.

Stupid really, it wasn’t like Kai hadn’t seen me naked.

“No, Riley. It’s not fucking happening,” he hissed and the relaxed,lust-filled haze that had fogged my brain moments earlier rapidly changed to anger, all the rage I had felt last night when Kai was being a possessive asshat swirled to the surface once more.

I didn’t want to come across as a sulking little girl but honestly, KaiWolfe was possibly one of the most frustrating human beings on this fucking planet.

“Why? Because you think I’ll fall madly in love with him and decide torun off with him?” I marched across the room and stood in front of him, planting a hand on my hip. “Get over yourself, Kai. I just want to talk to him.”

He smirked. That arrogant smirk that equally drove me mad andturned me on.

Gah!

He pulled his pants up and grabbed a fresh shirt from his closet,before returning to stand back in front of me and tugging at the bed sheet wrapped around me, pulling me close against him. He gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted my head up, holding me in place.

It fucking annoyed me when he did that.

“I’m not worried about you running off with him, Star, he isn’t goinganywhere. And even if you did run, I would hunt you down and drag your ass back here and remind you once again who you belong to.”

He ran a thumb down my cheek eliciting a shiver down my spine. Hespoke so softly, enough that you could be mistaken for thinking he was being charming,romanticeven. But the menacing look in his eyes betrayed his words, and though I wanted Kai more than anyone I had ever wanted before, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit terrified of him and how far he was willing to go to make sure that I knew I belonged to him.

He tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, kissed me on theforehead and then went to leave the room.

But I wasn’t giving up easily, I just had to try a different angle.

“Wait, Kai.”

He huffed but he stopped by the door and turned back to face me, anexpectant look on his face.

“You wanted me to be your assistant, right? That was the deal wemade when I first came here.”

“So?” he replied but his eyes narrowed on me, and I could tell he wascurious as to what my point was.

“Well, if you want me to work for you, if you want me to be byyour side like you claim you do, then you need to let me be by your side for things like this. Even if it turns a little….messy.”

I was silently praying things with Toby wouldn’t get as far as beingmessy, but right then, all I could focus on was getting Kai to let me into the room as a starting point, I’d figure the next step out once I was there.He stared at me as he rubbed the fresh smatterings of stubble on hischin considering my words, and as intimidating as his glare could be, I held my nerve. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.

“You’re right, Riley, I do want you by my side. Get dressed,” heordered.

Hmm.

Okay, that was far too easy. An unsettling feeling washed over me butI ignored it, at least I would have an opportunity to speak with Toby, that was a starting point.

I went to walk out the door but before I could open it, Kai grabbed myarm and pushed me up against it, putting his hands next to my head and caging me in with his body.

“But I warn you now, Riley, my mind won’t be changed. The Stag wasin my club for a reason, and I will dowhateverit takes to get the information out of him. And if you insist on coming, then you will stay in that room with me no matter what.”

His voice dripped with malice, and I swallowed nervously, dreadknotting my stomach. I tried to keep myself composed, to not show any weakness but it turns out that is a fucking difficult thing to do when you are staring in the face of the devil himself.But no matter what Kai said, I wouldn’t leave Toby to face his wrathalone.

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