Page 29 of Chasing Kit

“Why not?”

“You know why.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I shouldn’t have told you anything. Your dad won’t be happy.”

“He was the one who lied to me,” I snapped. “And I think Sky knows. Doesn’t he?”

War pursed his lips into a thin line. “He might suspect. I’m not sure. Your dad never told me, but he and Sky argued a lot.”

“Yeah.” I’d always thought their fights were just two stubborn assholes refusing to lose. But what if it was more? “I need to see him.”

War’s gaze shot to me. “Who?”

“Sky.” The answer felt like the only solid thing in a world of lies. St. Loren, Louisiana. He was there. Dad’s extraction team was coming, and they’d drag me back to New Gothenburg, back into the cage I’d just escaped. No. I wasn’t returning until I had answers from my brother. My hands fisted in the sheets. “I’m going to St. Loren.”

“No, Kit.” War’s jaw tensed, a tick starting beside his eye. “You can’t⁠—”

“Watch me.” I threw back the blankets and got out of bed, grabbing my underwear. My heart hammered, but my voice was steady. “I have my credit card. I’m getting a plane ticket. You can wait here for Dad’s man, or you can come with me. Your choice.”

I hoped he’d come along. Not only would it be nice to have someone to protect me, but we’d connected tonight. We’d had sex, and now I was even more captivated by him. I didn’t want our time together to end.

War’s nostrils flared, and finally, he moved out of bed. He started getting dressed, and while he didn’t say anything, I knew his answer. War was coming to St. Loren with me.

We dressed and packed quickly, the silence charged with unspoken urgency. Downstairs, the party was still loud, but a bulky Lord stood guard at the front door, arms crossed. He watched our approach, his expression unreadable. When we reached him, he didn’t move to stop us. He just jerked his chin toward the door.

War paused, his body tense. “What’s this?”

The biker smirked. “Payment cleared an hour ago. Where you go now ain’t Odin’s problem. But your dad’s ride is coming. Better be gone when it gets here.”

War grunted, a low sound of resignation. As we stepped out into the night, I heard him mutter, “Derek’s gonna kill me.”

9

WAR

St. Loren was beautiful to the eye, but it festered like an infected tooth beneath the surface. It was an unknown entity, and I didn't like unknowns. Every city had its predators. Here, it was the Greek Lords MC—a local chapter of the bikers we’d just left—the Blood Club—a gentleman’s club steeped in old money and dirty hands—and the Sabbatini Famiglia. Riccardo Sabbatini ran the Italian enterprise with his cousin, and while Derek considered them tentative allies, I saw only wolves. They would see Kit as an opportunity, and I wasn’t about to let them take it. Not on my watch.

“Where is Sky?” I surveyed our surroundings. We were at a café near the middle of the city. Kit had already called his brother and asked him to meet us here. While Sky was surprised to hear from Kit and that he was in the city, he agreed to show up.

“He’ll be here soon.” Kit tapped on his phone, a thoughtful pout on his lips as he typed a message. “I asked him not to tell Dad I was here.”

I stifled a snort. Derek would know. Kit was using a credit card that, though in his name, Derek controlled and tracked. Derek had extensive connections, and everything linked to Kit’s legal name was traceable by his father. It would take some time for those connections to yield answers, but they would. Still, there was no point in telling Kit that.

I studied Kit’s face, noting the excitement in his eyes and the eager curve of his smile. Every so often, his gaze would dart around, searching before snapping back to his phone.

Finally, he glanced up and dropped his phone onto the table. He sprang to his feet, and I turned my head toward the door.

Sky Uhlig sashayed into the café. I’d met him twice before, and he hadn’t changed—still the kind of man who expected a room to notice him—and they did. He had curls, dark like the rest of his male relatives. Then there was the cheekbones, the narrow chin, and the easy way he moved—all of it calculated, whether he knew it or not. Strangers glanced up as he passed and he clocked each of them. Interesting.

I frowned.

“Sky!” Kit opened his arms, and Sky flew into them, burying his face in Kit’s shoulder despite being a head taller. I suspected Sky had always been treated as the baby of the family, and his demeanor reflected it. “I missed you.”

Sky laughed, ruffling Kit’s hair. “I missed you, too. Why the hell are you here?”

He stepped away from Kit, and his gaze landed on me. His stare was curious but with a hard edge I didn’t like, and I held his eyes, cataloging the subtle shift in his posture and the confidence in his stance. Brother or not, allegiances could turn on a dime, and I wasn’t taking any risks with Kit.

“You’re War.” Sky smirked. “Dad’s man.” His attention swept over me, a quick, dismissive inventory. I let the silence answer for me.

He looked away first.