AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This was weird. What was he doing there? He couldn’t have walked this far. Not with his head aching and his limbs so numb he couldn’t feel them.
He was still trying to figure out what was happening when a shadowy form bent over him.
Ryan released a sob of fear, desperately trying to form the words for mercy. They remained stuck in his throat as the intruder bent down and he felt a hand shoved into the front pocket of his slacks. He grunted in shock, baffled by what was happening until there was a glow of light as his phone was pulled from his pocket. A futile pang of hope that he could snatch the stupid thing and call for help bloomed and withered as he watched it tossed onto the cement floor and then crushed beneath the ruthless heel of a heavy boot.
The light flickered and died. Just as Ryan’s consciousness flickered and died.
He was sucked back into the darkness as the freezer door slammed shut. His last thought was that the envelope he’d been clutching was gone.
* * *
Early the next morning, Kaden returned to his brother’s condo and quietly made his way to the living room. It was a long, elegant space with black leather furniture and a polished marble floor. It’d always felt cold and impersonal to Kaden, but the view of Lake Mendota visible through the floor-to-ceiling window that ran the length of the wall more than compensated for the lack of warmth.
Placing the pink pastry boxes he’d collected from a nearby bakery on the coffee table that stood in the center of the floor, he crossed into the kitchen and switched on the coffee maker.
Only then did he slip out of his coat and smooth back his hair, which had been ruffled by the morning breeze. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling oddly energized by his walk. Or maybe it was the fact that since they’d arrived in Madison the gnawing worry that he’d put Lia in danger was temporarily tucked into the back of his mind. He’d been careful to make sure they weren’t followed when they left Pike. Better yet, Darren’s condo was in a gated community that had a full-time guard. No one was getting in without him knowing. For the moment, they were safe.
Or maybe it was because he’d slept in a bed knowing that only a thin wall separated him from the woman who was rapidly becoming his obsession.
As if his thoughts had conjured her, Lia strolled out of the guest bedroom. She’d recently showered, and the short strands of her hair were damp, her cheeks flushed. Dressed in jeans and a soft, green sweater, she looked like a pixie stepping out of the woods.
Desire spiked through Kaden, as hot and fierce as a bolt of lightning. But that was to be expected. What was unexpected was the sweet satisfaction that settled in the center of his being at having her walk into the room. As if something had been missing until she appeared.
Dangerous . . .
He ignored the warning that whispered through the back of his mind. It was too late to take precautions. At least when it came to Lia Porter. Besides, he was more concerned with the hint of bruising that surrounded the cut on her temple. It wasn’t as bad as he feared, but it was enough to make his gut twist with anger.
“How are you feeling?”
She lifted a hand to touch her injury. “Good.”
“Are you sure? Did you sleep okay?”
“Actually, I slept like a log.” She smiled wryly. “I think I must have been more tired than I realized.”
“It’s because of the rush of adrenaline,” he assured her. “After I completed one of my stunts, I used to go home and pass out on the couch. It was like my body used up all my energy in one big rush and I had to replenish it.”
She sniffed the air. “Do I smell coffee?”
“Yep.” He poured out two mugs, handing one to Lia before pointing toward the boxes he’d placed on the coffee table. “Along with fresh bagels, muffins, doughnuts, and fruit.”
She wandered toward the bounty, checking out each box before grabbing a blueberry muffin and taking a bite. “Yum.”
“I can’t cook, but I can smell a bakery from a mile away.”
She licked a crumb from her lip. “That takes talent.”
Kaden swallowed a groan. “Indeed.”
Lia moved to enjoy the view, thankfully unaware of the hunger that vibrated through him. A hunger that had nothing to do with muffins or bagels.
“Where are we going to meet with Vanna’s foster mom?”
“She asked to come here this morning.” Lia turned to send him a surprised glance. “I think she has kids home for Christmas vacation and she didn’t want them to overhear what she has to say.”
Lia arched a brow. “Interesting.”
“Let’s hope so.” On cue, there was a clicking sound from the intercom and Kaden crossed the room, assuring the guard he was expecting a guest. Then, heading to the front door, he pulled it open. A few minutes later, a well-used van pulled into the driveway and a short, solid woman climbed out. She had dark hair peppered with gray pulled into a ponytail and a no-nonsense expression on her broad face.
