Page 27
“Thank you,” she croaks, holding her wrist up to examine where the cuff had been. The skin is rubbed raw, and looks red and swollen.
“I can get you some ice for that.”
She shakes her head. “No, I like the pain. It was you who saved me, wasn’t it?”
I nod once. “I’m just sorry it took me so long to get there, but I was held up with the fucking scarecrow. Cave is a weird human.”
“Don’t apologize—it’s what I signed up for. But if Clay thinks a little breath play scares me, he’s wrong.”
I laugh even though I don’t find her words amusing. We both know that was not breath play; it was attempted murder. And if I hadn’t intervened, I don’t know if he would have stopped. Clay tried to tell me she fucked with his sister. Honestly, I doubt it. Kayla doesn’t strike me as a woman who would bother chasing her ex, but I could be wrong.
“Come on,” I say, standing from my chair. “Vero is making breakfast, though I use that term loosely. Just follow the smoke.”
Kayla snorts and trails me out of the room, then down to the kitchen. Vero has managed to use every pan we own for what looks like scrambled eggs. He has the wrong element turned on, and there is flour everywhere, including the ceiling. And he managed this all in a very short amount of time.
Brawley is sitting at the kitchen island, watching Vero destroy the area with an amused grin on his face.
“You’re alive,” Vero says when he turns around. Kayla chuckles at him, and I swear his face has just as much flour on it as the rest of the kitchen.
“I made breakfast—well, I’m still making it. Sit down next to Brawley, and Ares will get you a coffee.”
Kayla takes a seat beside Brawley, and he glances at her once, then goes back to drinking his coffee. In Brawley language, that means he doesn’t hate her or mind that she is sitting close to him.
I somehow manage to find a clean mug for Kayla’s coffee, while dodging the chaotic mess.
“I’m sorry about the whole locked-door thing,” Kayla says.
“That’s not on you,” Brawley gruffs. “Vero knew what he was doing and dragged you along for the ride.”
“Still, I should have respected your boundaries.”
I turn back around to see Brawley nod.
Vero plates up the food as I finish pouring the coffee, and we place them both down in front of her. “Thanks,” she says. “This looks interesting.”
Vero smiles so fucking wide it might actually split his face open. “You know, next time I promise not to handcuff myself to you.”
Kayla coughs as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Next time . . .”
Vero nods enthusiastically as Brawley laughs, then drawls, “You didn’t think being friends with him could be a one and done, did you?”
Kayla turns her head to look at Brawley. “The friends part I was hoping would continue. But since you two are together, I figured fucking a woman was one of those things you did occasionally to spice things up.”
Vero laughs at Kayla, and she brings her attention back to him as he drawls, “Maybe you are more sweet and innocent than I thought. You need to ride my man’s dick at least once. It’s fabulous.”
“I’m sure it’s great, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Clay clearly has an issue with me. And while fucking him once was fun, I am not stupid enough to actually want to die.”
“These are all things we can sort out later. Why don’t you try your food?”
I lean against the counter and watch as Vero tells her about everything he’s made. Kayla keeps up with him, and that isn’t something many people can do or even want to.
The front door opens and slams shut.
No one else comes here except Jess and Vesper. Though Vesper would not make that much noise—she likes the sneak attack of her presence. Jess appears in the kitchen and freezes when she sees Kayla sitting at the island.
“What the fuck is she doing here?”
Kayla looks up from whatever Vero was showing her, and recognition sparks in her eyes—somehow she knows Jess. “Small world,” is all Kayla says before looking back to Vero, dismissing Clay’s sister.
