Kelly found me after his conversation with Wes and told me we had to go.

Surprised that he’d come back so soon, I worried that his meeting didn’t go as well as he had planned. Sharing a concerned glance with Kami, we both had knowing looks lining our brows—her eyes telling me to remember the advice she had given me. I nodded and stood, turning to brush the tips of my fingers down Kelly’s arm.

Despite not wanting anything to do with Angel and her gala in two days, Kami had reassured me that being seen with Kelly could calm the media attention around us. Or at least change the story—it would be clear that I didn’t believe a word of the article suggesting he might be responsible for Tonya’s murder.

Kelly’s lips brushed over my cheek before skirting past me and kissing Kami goodbye.

Swiveling my head, I looked for Wes but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. That, too, made me nervous. I assumed that what Kelly had to talk to Wes about involved both Sylvia and Madam’s threat to take me away if we didn’t find her.

I felt the soft, tender hand of a woman take my wrist. Twisting back around, Kami’s eyes glimmered with compassion. “Bye, sweetie.”

“You take care of yourself,” my eyes fell to her womb, “and that little one you’re growing.”

Kami squeezed my hand, smiling.

Then her hands fell to her bump, getting bigger by the day.

Reaching behind me, I threaded my fingers through Kelly’s and I took one last glance to the show still happening down on stage.

Leaving Mint so soon was harder than I expected. I hadn’t been excited to come here, but once I’d settled in, it was the escape I needed. My mind was all over the place, just as my emotions were. The much-needed distraction cleared my head, settled my nerves, and reset my outlook on what we needed to accomplish in an impossibly difficult short time.

Kelly squeezed my hand, giving my arm a gentle tug.

But I didn’t want to go. Wasn’t interested in leaving Kami to watch alone. It was because of her calm, loving presence that my racing heart slowed. And though our friendship was new, it was already strong enough to know she was a good one—one I should keep.

Growing impatient, Kelly snaked his arm around my waist. Tipping his head down, he lowered his lips to mine. “You look amazing.”

Already aroused by the show, I welcomed Kelly’s lips. When they brushed feather-light strokes over mine, all thoughts about Sylvia—and where or how we were going to find her—vanished into thin air. Kelly’s fingers deepened their hold, inspiring the kind of trust I needed during a time like this.

“Is that your opening argument, Counselor?” I asked, hope that Giselle would soon send us good news ballooning inside my chest.

He swept his tongue into my mouth, dipping me backwards. Clinging to him, I darted my tongue against his. Closing my eyes, I fisted his jacket and tugged him harder against my tender breasts. “Kelly, take me home.”

A glimmer of seduction flashed over his eyes, kissing me one last time before lifting his head and turning around.

A quick wave to Kami, and Kelly was parting the crowd as we marched our way across the expansive floor. His stride screamed confidence, and though he never mentioned the specifics of what he and Wes had discussed, I could see it in the way he carried himself that they’d come up with a plan.

Breathing easier, we traveled down the staircase, weaved our way away from the stage, and edged the dancefloor before coming within sight of the exit.

Without slowing our pursuit, I recognized her immediately.

Glued to his side, her curvy short stature and jet-black hair complemented his dirty blonde. And since Kelly made no indication that he knew who was heading straight for us, a feeling of unease rolled my stomach. A part of me was afraid of how this encounter would go, but it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths.

Kelly’s steps faltered and I knew he finally recognized what I saw.

Sharing a glance, I said, “We have to say hello.”

He gave a brisk nod and stepped forward.

I knew Kelly hadn’t apologized for blaming Nash for Maria’s murder. It wasn’t Kelly’s style. And though I knew he never would, I also knew how bad Kelly felt about being wrong. But the evidence was convincing, at least at the time.

“Alex, baby.” I smiled into her Caribbean green eyes. Releasing Kelly’s hand, I embraced my friend as if it had been forever since I had seen her last. “It was only a matter of time before I found you here again.”

“I saw the article,” Alex whispered in my ear.

A thickness formed in my throat as I leaned back and gave my head a small shake.

“You look gorgeous.” She smiled, knowing not to press further.

My gaze fell to her neck, elegantly claimed by the collar Nash had given her marking Alex as his own. Slowly, my fingers fluttered to my own neck, suddenly feeling left out—unmarked, open and available for market. Paranoia grew that Kelly purposely didn’t tell me to wear it, but hoping that he had forgotten in the drama that unexpectedly brought us here tonight.

I greeted Nash and watched Kelly drape his large body over Alex, swallowing her whole. “It’s good to see you.” I heard him say.

She nodded, ducking her head and tucking her hair behind her ear at the same time. I couldn’t decide her reasoning for the look she was giving him—if it was because of the article, or if it was what Nash had planted in her ear that she hadn’t bothered sharing with me. But when she turned to ask how my visit with my parents went I said, “Not as good as I would have liked.”

I wanted to tell her about Madam and how we needed to find Sylvia fast. But the conversation Kelly was having with Nash made for an uncomfortable gathering between parties. There was no chance I was going to risk mentioning the name of the woman Nash slept with in his past, knowing it would certainly cause for an end to their night as well.

“Are you two leaving?” Alex inquired.

I looked to Kelly, his expression uninterested in small talk. “I asked Kelly to take me back to my place.”

Kelly smoothed his hand down my arm, planting a kiss on the crown of my head.

“See me tomorrow?” I asked Alex.

She nodded. “Of course.”

After saying goodbye to Nash, we made for the exit, the dry heat swirling at our ankles as soon as we stepped outside.

My skin prickled as I looked around, wondering where Maria’s body was found exactly. I couldn’t help it, the thoughts coming to my head like the suddenness of a storm. I could easily imagine the crime scene everywhere my eyes landed.

Kelly was right in forcing me to share my reasons for wanting to find Sylvia, because revenge was exactly the hard boiled emotion I was feeling inside. Whether or not I wanted to admit it, I wanted to get her back for what she did to put my life in peril.

Latching onto Kelly’s arm, I needed to feel him close.

Sometimes I thought he knew me better than I knew myself. And maybe he did. We were great together—Madam knew it, too—and that was what made it so damn hard when having to think about not having him in my life.

Kelly must have felt me shiver because he angled his head and looked at me with concern flashing over his dark eyes.

Through a clenched jaw I asked, “Why did she kill Maria here?”

Kelly broke eye contact and kept walking. Maxwell was ready with the door open when we arrived. We both piled in and Kelly wrapped me in his big strong arms saying, “I don’t know why Sylvia did what she did to Maria.”

His fingers combed through my hair, letting it fall over my shoulder. “But we’ll find her, right?”

“No question.” The engine cranked over.

Believing every ounce of what he said, I turned to him and clawed my way up his impressive body. Taking his angular face between my hands, he let his head fall back against the headrest. And as I stared into the depths of his eyes, all I could hear was how Kami encouraged me to be there for him—be the one to get him through the challenging times—because these were the moments that would solidify our love and make it everlasting.

Lowering my head, I swept my tongue into his mouth.

He closed his hand over my thigh, pushing the hem of my dress up over my waist.

My tongue brushed over his as I lifted one leg over his waist. Straddling him, my fingers worked to unzip his pants. Reaching inside, I pulled his thick girth out, pumping him solid.

With Kelly’s fingers digging into the globes of my ass, he moved my underwear to the side and fondled my hot mound with the tips of his fingers.

I mewed into his mouth, feeling my body heat explode. “Promise me, I’m your priority.”

“You’re my number one.” His kiss deepened. “Even when it might not seem that way.” His cock twitched, nudging at my entrance.

Frightened of losing him, I was desperate for his attention. “I can’t lose you, Counselor. Not now. Not with my parents coming after my money, and with Sylvia saying that I’ll be next to die.”

He fisted my hair and forced me to look into his sincere gaze. And when I knew he would do anything to protect me from the harm that seemed to be coming our way, I slid down on his shaft, gently rocking my hips against his pelvis.

Grinding against him I closed my eyes, digging my fingers through his hair. I immediately felt safer knowing we’d left Mint behind. Then I breathed into his ear, “I’ll ride you until we get home, but then I need you to fuck me hard.”