Chapter Five
It had only taken Katie an hour to get home, showered, and ready to head out for dinner with Kyle and Erin. Time had flown by. Just six months ago her friends had gone to Paris and gotten married. Kyle had even arranged to fly his family and Erin's brothers there without Erin’s knowing until she walked down the aisle. For some reason, all Katie could attract was the crazy guys. She swore her forehead had a sign on it that said, 'Please bother me if you’re crazy'.
Katie shifted her car into park as the ringtone for her brother Alex played. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her cell phone.
“Hi.”
“What’s this about getting a threat today at work?”
“I told you everything I know on the voicemail.” Katie loved her brothers, but they could be intense when it came to her safety. If they had their way five bodyguards with her when going out, and two placed outside her house when she was home. Thankfully, after reasoning with them and making a promise to keep a low profile they calmed down some. Now, after getting a threat at work, she wasn’t sure how long she could hold them back.
“How the hell did he know you ordered pizza?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you been lying low? Are you dating anyone that I need to know about or check out just to be sure?”
“No, I’m not dating anyone. Chad has been the only person besides Erin and Kyle at my new place.” She smacked her hand against her forehead, knowing that no way would her brother not pick up on a man’s name he’d never heard before. Shit. He was FBI, for God’s sake. He didn’t miss a thing. Ever. She glanced at the clock, worried, and realized this was in no way going to be a fast conversation, and that she’d be late for supper.
“Who the fuck is Chad?” Alex yelled on the other end of the phone.
“A guy I work with. He lives next door to me and came over to help me unpack. I asked him to stay for dinner that night. Seriously, Alex. He’s not working with, or for, Kaden. We have nothing to worry about there.” Just a man that had backed her against the wall and kissed her thoroughly, before he’d taken her, leaving her aching for more.
“How do you know that? Damn it, Renee, I’m trying to keep your ass safe, and you’ve been having a guy around that none of your brothers or I have heard about, let alone done a background check on for you. What’s going on? You never date someone without having us check him out first.”
He was right. Katie hadn’t had him checked out, a stupid move on her part. Though the hospital surely had done a background check on him. And she worked with him––she knew him. Katie didn’t doubt she could trust him. She didn’t know how she knew, she just did.
“Alex, calm down. He's not working for Kaden. Nothing is going on between Chad and me. He helped me unpack. That’s it.” And gave me mind-blowing sex for three wonderful hours. Katie hated lying to her brother, but if he knew what had happened last night he’d freak out even more.
“How can you be sure?” Alex’s voice growled on the other end of the phone.
“I can’t explain. I just have a feeling. Please trust me on this. I have to go. I’m late for dinner with Kyle and Erin.”
“Fine. This isn’t over with. Call me when you get home.”
“I will. Bye.”
She closed her phone before grabbing her purse and keys, and headed into the restaurant, her heels clicking against the tile flooring. Erin and Kyle sat in a corner snuggled close together, holding hands. They looked so in love. She ached to have their kind of love, but it seemed that just wasn’t in the cards for her. Kyle stood up as she came closer and hugged her before Erin rose to her feet.
“We were starting to think you weren’t coming,” Erin said as they hugged.
“No, I got held up. Alex called and wouldn’t let me off the phone. I got a threat at work and he’s gone all ‘protective mode’ on me,” she said as they sat. If not for her brothers, she’d have been dead by now, and for that Katie loved them. But at times it got to be too much.
“Why didn’t you come tell one of us?” Kyle growled.
Oh, great. Not only was her brother going all alpha-male on her, but her best friend’s husband was as well. That’s just what she needed in her life, more men who thought they knew what was best for her. Only thing to make this any better would be Chad throwing his testosterone into the mix. “It happened at the end of the day. I didn’t want to bother anyone.”
“You can call or come to either of us at any time. No matter what, Katie, we’re here for you,” Erin said, her eyebrows drawn together.
“Thanks, guys, it means a lot. It really does. I just don’t want to draw anyone else into this mix. You two have only been married a short time. You don’t need to worry about me and my problems.”
“What mix are we talking about?” Chad asked behind her. She jumped at his voice. Her gut tightened and moisture pooled in her sex. His voice shouldn’t turn her on like that, but it did.
Katie looked over her shoulder. “None of your business. Won’t your date be wondering where you ran off to?” What is he doing here?
“No, I’m here to have dinner with all of you as well. No date tonight. If you’re volunteering for the position, then I’m all for that.”
“So sure of yourself, aren’t you? I have standards, and they don’t include a commanding, arrogant jackass.” Well there went her enjoyable meal with him next to her. God, from only a few feet away the heat radiated off his body, the woodsy scent that seemed to find her whenever he was around permeating the air. He smelled like a fall night by a bonfire, and it conjured happy memories in her. Every fall, Katie and her brothers would go out to the woods for parties, and she missed that so much. Now, here came Chad and he smelled just like that, reminding her of all she’d given up.
“That’s not what you were saying the other night when you were clawing me and screaming my name,” Chad whispered close to her ear. As he took a seat, his knees brushed against hers. A thousand sensations burst across her body. No, this couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t be attracted to a man like him.
Katie grabbed her glass of wine, took a long drink, and prayed this would be over soon. She wouldn’t even respond to what he’d said: she wasn’t going to let him know that it had turned her on in the least. She would never give a man that kind of power again.
They made it through supper, and for that Katie was glad. Almost time to get out of here and away from Chad. More than once during dinner his hand brushed against hers, forcing her to blush. He made it hard for her to stop thinking about him.
She felt Chad place a possessive hand on her thigh, giving a squeeze. Tiny sensations like fire and needles simmered up her leg, taking over the rest of her body. Katie took a deep breath before turning to Chad and meeting the intense stare of his dark brown eyes, when all of a sudden she noticed Kaden sitting three tables back.
He was really there. She couldn’t get away.
“I don’t know who the hell you think you are. Get your hand off my leg.” The words she said had Kyle and Erin looking at them, confusion on their faces. No doubt Katie could imagine what her best friend was thinking after lecturing her about giving Chad a chance. She’d be grinning on the inside and thinking how they’d be perfect together.
Leaning close to her, Chad’s deep voice vibrated between them and sent shivers through her. “No. Now listen to me. There’s a guy sitting a few tables back. He’s been staring at you since I walked in, and had a look like he’d kill anyone who touched you.
The breath left her lungs. No, Kaden couldn’t be here, not this close to her again. Nausea rolled deep inside of her, and for a moment she thought she’d lose her dinner. Moisture dampened her hands. This was it. He’d get her if she couldn’t outrun him again. She couldn’t let the fear show on her face and give the asshole the satisfaction of knowing he’d found her for sure.
“Are you sure it’s him?”
“Yes, I’m positive.”
“Okay, I’ll play the part. I really don’t want to go into what this is about.”
“Fine, but later I want to know. Relax. You look so scared. Follow my lead.”
What other choice did she have than to do it and maybe get out of here without her ex not finding out that it was really her. Katie had worked too hard the last four years to blow it now. When she had left for the last time she’d been twenty-four and scared. In that short time she’d grown up and refused to let Kaden have control any more.
“Erin, give me your engagement ring,” Chad said as he put a protective arm around her.
“Excuse me? Have you lost your mind?”
“There’s a guy over there who was asking around about Katie in the emergency department the other night. I told him she was my fiancée as she went to her car safely. He couldn’t see her fingers that day. It’s just to be safe, if he comes over here and tries to talk to her.”
There was no mistaking the concern on Erin’s face. Only she and Kyle knew who the man was and what he’d done. Slowly, her friend slipped off her ring and handed it to Chad. Kyle’s eyes narrowed; he looked as if he’d kill anyone who came near their table. For now she was safe, though the thought lingered in the back of her mind as to how long that would last. Chad took her left hand and placed the ring with minimal movement. There’d be no one even at the next table to know what he’d done. They’d just think he was caressing her hand.
“So that son of a bitch is Kaden?” Kyle asked without taking his eyes off of her ex.
“Yes.”
“I swear, if he ever bothers you again you call me no matter what time, and I’ll kick his ass for you.” Erin placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder, and he turned to her. His features softened as she spoke to him without words. “Sorry. Guys like that piss me off.”
“It’s okay. Can we not talk about this, at least not here at the restaurant, right now?”
“Sure.”
Katie glanced down at the ring. It had felt good, almost right, when Chad placed it on her finger, but that couldn’t happen. Marriage and a family weren't in the cards for her.
“Relax, kitten, you're shaking. Are you sure you're fine?” Chad asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t even notice I was shaking.”
“If you want to leave because of that guy, I’ll walk you out of here and make sure everything is okay.”
Katie’s heart turned over in her chest at his gesture. This coming from the man who had made her beg for her orgasm. Had dominated her in the bedroom the other night for hours on end. Made her skin feel like it had been on fire. Who had made her come, and more than once. He was still in control tonight, but he was gentler, and somehow that made her want to be with him even more.
“No, I want to stay and hear the news that they called us here about.”
Chad nodded and watched from his peripheral vision. Kaden still sat there watching them while he spoke on the phone, but his attention never left Katie’s back. Chad's blood boiled and it made him want to pound the motherfucker into the ground for everything he’d ever done to Katie. Through the hospital’s secure server, Alex had emailed him pictures of the bruising that she’d suffered at this man’s hands.He had a job to do, and that was to protect Katie. Soon they’d bust Kaden and then Chad would get the revenge for which he’d been waiting four years.
With a gentle tug on Katie's chin, Chad brought her lips to his. At first she pressed her hands to his chest, giving a push, but he drew her into his arms and the fight left her. Katie opened to him, her body melting into his. This shouldn’t feel so right, and no way should he have tingles spread across his body. Need tightened in his balls, and he had to resist the urge to pull her into his lap and take her right there across the table with everyone around. She moaned into his mouth with the next swipe of his tongue, her body trembling against his.
Since last night all he could think about was being inside of her, and if he had a say in that, it would happen again soon. Chad placed his hands against her face and forced himself to pull away. Those green eyes of hers had golden flecks in them, and he couldn’t miss the arousal in her expression. Just how he liked her: with swollen, well-kissed lips, looking up at him like she’d do anything for him. He ran his thumb over her lips, and her tongue darted out to lick him. Every dirty reason why he should throw her over his shoulder and take her out of here and away from Kaden ran through his mind.
“Good, just keep going along with whatever I do, and I’ll get you to safety.” Damn if his voice didn’t sound like he’d swallowed some rocks.
“I can do that.”
“Do you two need a room?” Kyle asked as he tried to hold back a laugh.
“No, it’s all for show.” Bullshit. It wasn’t a show on his end, and from her reaction it wasn't for her either. Not that she’d admit that to him after all she’d been through. If he was going to play his cards right, he’d have to tone it down and show her he was different. That she could trust him outside the bedroom and inside.
“You could have fooled us.”
“Good, hopefully it’s working on Kaden, and now he’ll leave her alone.”
“What’s the news you wanted to share with us?” Katie asked.
“Well, I’m pregnant, and Kyle and I want you to be the godparents.” Erin beamed from across the table, and Katie smiled back. Against the dim lights and candle light, it made her face glow. His chest contracted, and he wanted to do everything in his power to get her to glance at him with that same smile.
“Congrats. I’m so happy for you two,” Katie squealed.
“Yeah, congrats.”
“We are so going to have to go shopping on our day off. You have Wednesday off, right, Erin?”
That was all it took for the girls to take over the conversation. Talk swirled at the table about baby stuff, and Chad had no clue. He made a mental note to call Alex and let him know about Kaden being there tonight, and the shopping trip she planned, so precautions could be put into place. Katie relaxed more, and as she talked and leaned back against the chair, her hand rested on his leg. His erection pressed tight against his pants. He should move her hand, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
An hour later they left together after Kyle got called into work. The girls hugged. Katie handed back Erin’s ring and they promised to call one another before they went to their cars. Chad could see Katie from his car, ever watching to make sure that asshole wasn’t around. Opening her door, she bent to pick up an envelope on the floor of the car and opened it. Her hand flew to her mouth as she tried to suppress a scream.
Chad rushed to her side and placed his arms around her before she fell to the ground. “What’s the matter?”
“He−I…”
In such a state of shock she couldn’t form any words. Instead, she handed him the package. Bile churned in his stomach: there was a picture of her naked in the shower, and some of her undressing for bed. No doubt this motherfucker needed to be wiped off the face of the earth. He’d done a sweep of her home before she moved in, but from the angle of the photos, the pictures were taken from a high-rise building, and Kaden had used a high-resolution camera.
“Come on, you're riding home with me.” With an arm still around her waist, he led her to his car. Her steps were unsteady, and she leaned into him for support. Opening the door, he waited as she slid inside before closing it.
“Chad, you don’t have to take me home. I’ll be fine.”
“Katie, someone broke into your car and left these. What if he’s still in the car, just waiting for you to get inside? If you even think about getting out of this car I’ll haul your ass back.”
The fight drained from her face. Her shoulders drooped, and she laid her head against the headrest. He loved that she was trying to be brave and face this head on, but needed to be or she’d step right into whatever Kaden had planned. No wonder her brothers wanted someone watching out for her from a distance, or closer if he could get her to trust him.
“You're right, Chad, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. It’s just been a long day at work and two threats in one day is getting to me.”
“What do you mean, two threats?” He backed out of the spot before shifting into drive and heading down the road. He hadn’t seen the package.
“I don’t talk about this except with my brothers, and now since you were there tonight I guess you should know. The guy that came in the other night? He works with my brother, and was following my ex-boyfriend. My ex has been threatening me. I received a package at work right before I got off, and then these pictures.
“What kind of threats? Let me see the one from the package.”
“The first one came with a black rose and a card that said, 'How was the pizza?'” Katie flipped through the pictures until a white piece of paper fell on her lap. “Here.”
She handed him the note as they came to a red light. The words stared back at him.
The first cut was only the beginning.
Chad tightened his grip on the steering wheel and stepped on the gas. He knew the cut on her stomach was from this prick. When he got his hands on him, Chad was going to make him pay for ever hurting Katie. Make him beg for mercy, never showing him any. The man’s death would be long, slow and very painful. Reaching over, he took her hand into his. She turned to look at him, drawing her lip between her teeth. She was strong, and he loved that about her. Even with the threats, she hadn't cried like a lot of women would. Sure, she was scared, but she also had an air about her that said she wanted to kick some ass.
Katie didn’t talk the rest of the ride home and quickly got out of the car when he parked. He hurried to her as she unlocked her door, and he caught her arm before she stepped inside.
“Listen, if he bothers you again or if something scares you, you know that you can always come to me. Maybe you shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. This is something I have to deal with on my own.”
“Katie, this guy isn’t playing around. You’re not going to stay alone.”
Pulling away, he wanted to force her back to him, but knew if he went all ‘caveman’ on her she’d never come home. “You’re just like him. You come charging in thinking you can tell me what I can or can’t do. It’s bad enough I get that from my brothers. I sure as hell don’t need a prick like you telling me what to do.”
He didn’t care, Chad pulled her back before she stepped inside. “You’re not going inside until I check and make sure the apartment is safe.” He slipped a gun from his back.
“Stay here. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Less than five minutes later he came out giving her the all-clear.
Katie stepped into her place, leaving him waiting outside. At least he’d given her the option to come to him if she needed anything, and he hoped she’d take him up on that. He’d held back at the words she’d said to him. She was out of her mind if she thought he was anything like her ex, but she was pissed about the events of today, so he’d let it slide.
****
Katie shut the door and pressed her back against it, closing her eyes. She had to get away from Chad. Being in the same car as him had been more than she could take. His broad shoulders took up the space. His woodsy musk was everywhere. Part of her was glad he was there to get her safely out of the restaurant and was there when she’d gotten the threat. If he’d not snaked his arm out to catch her, she’d have hit the ground on her ass.
“Hello.”
“Sweetie, why didn’t you call me about the threat from earlier? Alex just let us know.”
Katie smiled and grabbed a glass, pouring herself a glass of wine. After tonight she needed a glass to calm her nerves. “Kevin, I didn’t want to worry you.”
“You worry me more when you don’t tell us things that are going on. Do you need me to come there? I can be there within the hour.”
Taking a sip, she placed the glass on the table. If she needed anything Chad was right next door, and he’d told her to get him if anything scared her. “No. I’ll be fine. Tell Alex I got another threat tonight.”
“What do you mean another threat?”
“It was sitting in the driver seat of my car when I left the restaurant. A guy I work with named Chad was with me and Kaden was at the place, too. Chad walked me to my car to make sure I got home safe. Once he saw the pictures, he gave me a ride home. Kevin, he said Kaden was in the ER last night asking around about me.” She closed her eyes before going on. “I’m scared.” Years had passed since she’d let these feelings surface. The threats today brought them up again. Being scared wasn’t something on which she allowed herself to dwell; however, tonight fear gnawed through and consumed her. Kevin was the brother to whom she was closest. The one to whom she could tell her deepest thoughts or feelings and know he’d be there for her.
“I know you’re scared, but you’re safe at the new place. Make sure to keep both threats, and I’ll have Alex send one of his men to get them and to dust your car for prints. They’ll bring the car back to you once they’ve finished. It’s late, sweetie. Try and get some sleep. If you’re still scared in the morning I’m coming to stay with you for a few days.”
“No, you don’t need to come here. Just being here to talk to is enough. I know everyone is doing their best to keep me safe. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Katie hung up and placed the phone back on its base. She turned the deadbolt and placed the chain on the latch. It would have to do until Alex came to put in the security system. She made her way down the hallway. Right now, a good night’s sleep was needed, and then she’d call Alex to let him know more about the newest threat. No need to do that now. She was safe; Kyle and Chad had made sure of that.
Two threats in the same day rattled her. How am I to get out of this mess? She didn’t know, but was certain her brothers would know what to do. Taking her clothes off, she slipped into an old pair of gray sweat pants and an almost threadbare t-shirt. Getting into bed, she nestled deep into the pillow and closed her eyes.
Three hours later, the sound of breaking glass awakened her. Sitting up, she listened again. Only silence. I must be losing my mind. Satisfied it was nothing, she lay back down and closed her eyes.
Heavy footsteps sounded in her room.
Her heart beat against her chest, and her eyes flew open. Someone had broken into her house, and damn it, she’d left her cell phone in the living room. . A hand reached out and flipped her over, holding her wrist and pinning her body to the bed.
“No!”
A gloved hand pressed over her mouth as the man’s weight pressed her deep into the mattress. Pain shot from her wrist as he held tighter, lowered his body down onto her and whispered into her ear. “I’m going to show you what happens to girls who don’t listen.”
The blood in her veins turned to ice at his words. Kaden had found her. All that running these last four years was for nothing. He’d still gotten to her.
Hell if she was going to go out like this. Bucking her hips, Katie thrust forward to push him off. His hand landed across her face as her fist slammed into his chest. The lamp fell from the table.