Page 79 of Collide

We stayed like that for a minute or two, neither of us wanting tomove. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could move, my whole body was like jelly.Kai placed little kisses on my lips, my nose, and my forehead beforehe pulled out and our release slipped out of me and onto the leather sofa. He didn’t care, he pulled me up and into his lap and I snuggled into his neck as my whole body was overcome with exhaustion.

Kai wrapped his strong arms around my back and held me tightagainst his broad chest.

“We didn’t use a condom,” I said after several minutes of silence, myvoice thick with sleep. It had only occurred to me that we hadn’t even considered protection as I was sitting on Kai’s lap, leaking our combined juices all over him.

“You’ve got an IUD and we’re both clean,” he replied as if it wasobvious.

I should have been pissed that he knew I had an IUD, he would haveonly got that information from my medical records, but I wasn’t in the least bit surprised.Instead, I smiled against his neck, secretly pleased I’d got to feel himinside of me without a barrier. I’d only agreed to have the IUD so my periods wouldn’t interfere with dancing at the club but it had its advantages now.

When I yawned against his neck, he suddenly stood but lifted me intohis arms as though I was as light as a feather. Like a balancing act, Kai kept me in his arms as he bent down to pick up my robe which he draped over me before he carried me out of his office.He obviously wasn’t bothered by the fact he was naked as he madeno attempt to put his clothes back on, but it was kind of sweet he made sure I was covered up.

I thought he was going to take me to my bedroom, but he strolledright past it to the room next to mine, which turned out to be his. A tired laugh escaped my lips and he gave me a confused look.

“I should have known your bedroom would have been next to mine,” Itold him and nuzzled further into his chest. I was so on board with spending the rest of the night in his arms,despite who he was, it felt safe there like no one could get to me so long as I was wrapped in his embrace.

Kai pulled back the bedsheets with one hand, the other still holdingme, and then he laid me down gently before getting in next to me. He pulled the covers over us, pulling me back into his arms. I went willingly, cuddling into his side.

I don’t know what made me think of the reason why I went to see Kai,but the memory popped into my head.

“Kai, did you tell anyone about our deal?” I asked sleepily, my eyeswere struggling to stay open.

“A few select people, why do you ask?” he replied before kissing metenderly on the head.

“It was something Anderson said to me, he said I would regret theday I made the deal with you.”

The way Kai’s body tensed around me told me everything I needed toknow.

I wasn’t alone in thinking someone had betrayed him.

Chapter 22

Kai

IwatchedRileysleep,her breathing steady and her beautiful longlashes fanned out on her cheekbones.

Being inside her was better than I ever imagined, and the way shescreamed my name when she came,fucking hell. I’d die a very happy man if I got to hear Riley scream like that every day.

But every time I looked at the bruise under her eye and on her neck,my tenuous grasp on my control slipped further.

I had to find Anderson, no matter the cost.

But who the fuck was he? And what business did he have with me? He seemed hellbent on destroying my family, and I refused to loseany more of them and that now included Riley. She had always been mine, but after giving herself to me, the deal was sealed. No matter what, she belonged to me, and I was never letting her go.

Finding the man determined to ruin my life was easier said than donethough, and now it looked like I had a fucking turncoat to contend with as well.

The obvious person was Hendrix based on what Riley had said.Before she fell asleep, she told me her concerns about him which was understandable given that he was the prick who lied to Riley, telling her I was fucking girls at my club, but I didn’t want to believe it would be him.Hendrix was the closest thing I had to a best friend, I was a year olderthan him, but we’d grown up together, his father was my father’s second in command, and if it hadn’t been for Theo, Hendrix would have been my 2IC. In fact, recently I’d been thinking about promoting him, I just hadn’t been able to bring myself around to do it, it would have felt like I was replacing Theo.

No, I didn’t want to believe Hendrix would betray me, but it was justas unlikely that Miles or Danny would.

Miles was family and had been Theo’s best friend, he was as devotedto finding Theo’s killer as I was. Danny was an anomaly, he wasn’t family or born into this life.He started working for my father about twenty years ago after I foundhim fighting in an illegal underground fight, and he worked his way up the ranks with his loyalty and dedication. I trusted the three of them more than anything.

I ran through the names of other people who knew about the deal,Frank, Jacqueline, and a couple of other good employees I trusted to make sure Riley and Angel were safe. There was no one I believed would deceive me. But I couldn’t ignore the obvious, and until I found out who hadbetrayed me, I’d keep a close eye on every one of my men. I’d told Riley we’d keep the information between ourselves, it would allow me to watch my men without them becoming suspicious.

She moved in her sleep, moving closer to me, and as I held her in myarms it occurred to me that she was the only one I could trust implicitly.Ironic really that I could trust someone I’d known for only a matter ofweeks over people I had known my entire life.

The sun was beginning to rise, and even though I’d only had a fewhours sleep, and as much as I didn’t want to tear myself away from her naked body, I had business to take care of and there was no time like the present.I gently rolled my sleeping Star to the other side of the bed, shebarely stirred, she was that exhausted. Quietly, I got out of bed and dressed in my closet, fastening my holster around my shoulders, placing my two handguns in their holders, and hooking my sheathed knife onto my belt, making sure all my weapons were hidden under my suit jacket. I didn’t relish the idea of breaking and entering in a suit, but it was part of my image, suits made me look and feel powerful.

Once I was dressed, I bent to kiss Riley’s forehead. Still, she slept on,and as I took one last look at her before I left, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her in my bed. She belonged there and I’d be making damn sure that from now on, that’s where she’d be sleeping.

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