Chapter 11

Jace

Getting out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and grabbed another to dry off. After leaving Kin at the studio that morning, I went straight to the gym and worked out until I was nearly puking. My body was now physically exhausted, but I still knew sleep would be almost impossible.

She wasn’t on my bed, rubbing lotion into her legs, making my room smell like vanilla and roses. There weren’t long, red strands of her hair sticking to every surface in the bathroom and littering the floor. Her bra wasn’t hanging from the hand towel rail beside the sink, and there wasn’t a damn box of girl products beside the toilet.

Even though all of that shit would annoy me, make me gripe at her, it was only after she was gone that I realized I needed all of those things in place before I could relax. I didn’t care that her box of tampons was just sitting there or that her hair was everywhere or that my room smelled all girly. It was all proof that she was present.

But she wasn’t.

And I fucking needed her.

Hearing the doorbell, I waited for someone to answer it, but less than a minute later, it went off again.

“Kas!” I called out as I opened my bedroom door. “Get the door.”

“She’s not here,” Gray said as he came out of their room, his hair still damp from his own shower but dressed in jeans and a black button-up, and headed for the door.

My brows lifted. My sister wasn’t home, yet Gray was? I didn’t know where the hell she was, but it wasn’t usual for Gray to let my sister out of the apartment without him. He was so overprotective, it bordered on unhealthy, but I was glad she was with someone who loved her that much. It had taken me a while to accept it, but I knew no one would ever take care of my sister as well as Gray did.

Seconds later, I heard him opening the front door. “You ready?” Sin’s voice growled impatiently. “They’ve been at the club for an hour. That’s long enough.”

“Chill out,” Kale told him with a chuckle. “Angie is with them and so are the rest of the Blondes. They’re fine.”

“Give me five, and I’ll be ready,” Gray told them. “And yeah, man, you need to relax. Lucy has Marcus with them. He will watch out for the girls until we get there.”

“How is he so calm?” Sin’s voice rumbled as Gray came down the hall again. “Isn’t he the one who usually has to be restrained when Kassa leaves his side for five seconds?”

“Pretty sure your caveman ass has shown him he needs to calm down and let her have a little space every now and then,” Kale responded.

“Where is Kassa?” I asked Gray as he opened the door to the bedroom he shared with my sister.

He shrugged. “Out with the girls.”

My muscles tightened. “Kin with them?”

“I’m assuming since it’s a welcome home girls’ night out,” he informed me from inside his room. “We’re heading out to meet up with them. Sin can’t seem to go ten minutes without being up Roanna’s ass.”

“Says the man who can’t seem to breathe without Kassa by his side,” I reminded him.

His shoulders lifted in another careless shrug. “Better to keep my girl close and safe than let her think I don’t love her enough, and her running off on me.”

My stomach knotted at his direct hit, my hands fisting at my sides. But no matter how badly I wanted to deny it, the truth was, he was right. “Where?” I gritted out.

“You don’t need to know,” he called over his shoulder as he came out of the bedroom with his keys and wallet. “I tell you, you show up, Kassa gets pissed at me, and then my life turns to shit until I can find a way to make her forgive me. Not happening. Later, fucker.”

I slammed my door and collapsed down onto my bed so I didn’t punch the damn thing in frustration. Dropping my head into my hands, I curled my fingers in my hair, pulling on the damp locks. When Kin left me, it was like Kassa turned against me. We didn’t talk much anymore, and I didn’t know if it was because I’d kept Eden a secret from her or because of what happened with Kin. Kassa wouldn’t even stay in a room long enough for me to even fucking ask.

Exhaling long and hard, I grabbed my phone as I fell back on my bed. Seconds later, Harris picked up. “I’ll text you the address,” he said in greeting.

“What?”

“That’s why you called, right? Lucy is out with Kin and the girls. She said I could tell you, but only if you asked. Check on my wife while you’re at it, too, would ya? She should be home resting.”

I was already on my feet, moving toward the closet. “Yeah, anything, man. Thanks.”

“You screwed up, but that doesn’t mean you don’t love her. I’ll help you all I can, bro. You had my back when everything went to hell with Lucy and me. I’ve got yours now.” A text came in even as he was talking, and I glanced down to see the name of a club. “Also, Lu wanted me to remind you to be at the house at noon on Sunday for the baby shower.”

I paused in the process of pulling out a shirt from my closet. “I still don’t know why you want me at a freaking baby shower. I thought that was a chick thing.”

“It’s a couples thing too,” Harris informed me. “And Kin will be there. Also, you’re going to be Hayat’s godfather, so you need to be at all the events. That includes the baby shower.”

“Right. I’ll be there.” I pulled my shirt over my head before putting the phone back to my ear. “Don’t know what kind of gift I’ll bring because no one is willing to help me figure that shit out, but I’ll be there.”

“Call Nat. She’s got all the links to the baby registry Lucy signed up for. Pick something off there. Problem solved. Now get your ass over to the club and check on my pregnant wife so I can get some work done instead of having to sit in this damn office worrying about her.”

Thirty minutes later, I walked into the club after having to tip the bouncer at the door a hundred dollars. There was a line long enough to equal the normal crowd at First Bass outside the building, and the guy didn’t instantly recognize me as the front man of Tainted Knights, but the five girls waiting to get in next did, screaming my name and jumping up and down in excitement. Before Kin left me, that kind of thing would bring a smile to my face. Now, it just annoyed the hell out of me.

Inside, I moved through the crowd, determined to find Kin and talk this out.

Upstairs, I spotted the Blondes out on the dance floor. Sin was right in the middle, letting the four of them move around him, but his eyes were solely on Roanna. A little bit away from them were Kale and Santana, along with my sister and Gray, all of them dancing and laughing.

I bypassed them, not wanting to hear my sister bitching. I wasn’t there for any reason other than to check on Lucy and talk to Kin.

Spotting a roped-off area, I noticed Marcus standing with three guys who looked like the club’s security. Figuring that was where I would find Lucy at least, I headed in that direction. The closer I got, the more I could see of their group. Jenna and Angie were off to one side of the overstuffed round sectional. Amara and Lucy were sitting beside them, drinking bottles of water.

My gaze barely scanned over them, searching for Kin. When my eyes landed on the redhead sitting at one end all by herself, her eyes glued to something happening at the bar to my left, I felt myself begin to relax for the first time since leaving her at the studio earlier that day.

She looked good with her hair down over her shoulders, dressed in a black skirt that thankfully fell to midthigh even though she was sitting and a silky dark green top that ended halfway down her torso, showcasing her flat stomach. She wore ballet flats on her feet that were crossed over each other as she leaned back, sipping a beer.

I moved up to the group, giving Marcus a chin lift in greeting before leaning between him and one of the club’s security to speak to Lucy. She smiled up at me when I touched her shoulder. “You good?” I asked, my gaze going to her stomach under her maternity dress.

Her hand rubbed over her belly. “We’re good.”

“Text your husband and reassure him of that,” I told her with a smile. “Daddy is having separation anxiety, it seems.”

I glanced down at Amara, unable to remember the last time I’d seen her, and was surprised when I saw that she had her own baby bump. “Cash know you’re knocked up?”

She snorted water out her nose. Coughing, she laughed up at me. “Pretty sure,” she choked out.

“That why you haven’t been around lately?” I asked, nodding down at her stomach.

“No, I was gone for work. I’m Kin’s manager.”

I leaned in closer, glancing at Kin for a second and noticing she was still too enthralled with whatever she was watching happen at the bar to realize I was even there, before looking back down at the two pregnant chicks. “You’ve been with Kin the last few months?”

“Yup.”

“Where?” I wanted—fucking needed to know—in case Kin ran off again. If she disappeared, I would know where to find her.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s none of your business.”

“Hey, douchebag.” Angie’s sharp voice hit me like a blast from the left. Reluctantly, I looked over at her where she was cuddled up against Jenna. My eyes widened seeing them together like that. It wasn’t that I didn’t know Angie was a lesbian, but she’d never really openly shown the world she was either. Obviously, I’d missed something. “What are you doing here? I don’t remember you being invited.”

“Ang.” Jenna tried to shush her. “This isn’t our business.”

“The hell, it isn’t. I told him what would happen if he broke her heart again.” Angie started to get to her feet, but Jenna pulled her back down and lowered her head. When the little blonde started to yell at her, the beautiful brunette swallowed it with a kiss.

Angie immediately melted into her girlfriend, but my eyes were drawn back to Kin. She hadn’t even glanced away from the bar during the whole exchange, making me wonder what the hell held her attention so thoroughly.

Following her line of vision, I straightened when my eyes landed on her father. He stood at the bar, some chick with dark hair who looked vaguely familiar cuddled up against him, while she spoke animatedly to a guy in front of them. I couldn’t tell who the guy was and instantly dismissed him, but even from this distance, I could tell the chick wasn’t Kin’s stepmother. Had Kin had a run-in with her father and the woman who was so obviously Jillian’s replacement?

Concerned, I walked around the sectional and sat down beside her.

“I’m not thirsty,” she grumbled, not even looking at me.

“Me either,” I told her and felt her stiffen. “I could eat, though. Let’s go grab a burger.”

Blue eyes jerked away from the people at the bar, filling with ice as she glared at me. “Go away, Jace.”

I leaned back, draping my arm along the curve of the sectional. “I just got here, babe.”

“I don’t want you here,” she bit out.

“Did you run into your dad?” I asked, ignoring the way she was shooting daggers at me with her eyes. I touched her cheek, but she flinched and pulled her head back. “Did he do something to upset you?”

“Why? Are you going to go rearrange his face if he did?” She rolled her eyes skeptically and scooted over a few inches, putting space between us.

I would have broken his neck if that was really what she wanted, but I knew she didn’t. She hated Scott Montez, but I knew deep down all she really wanted was for the man to care enough to put her first. We both knew that would never happen, though. Her actor/director father was too narcissistic for that. He barely remembered Kin existed.

“Who is the bimbo with him?”

She pressed her lips together for a moment before blowing out a rough sigh. “Jillian’s replacement. She wants a spring wedding,” she mocked with a shake of her head.

“Why does she look familiar?”

“Probably because she’s Shannon Stewart.”

“The bitch he was cheating with a while back?” Kin nodded, her lips pressing into a hard line. “I’m assuming since you knew about the spring wedding thing, you spoke to them earlier. What did you think of her?”

She lifted her shoulders in a careless shrug, but she couldn’t hide the flash of pain that crossed her face. I touched her back, stroking my fingers over her shoulder through the silky material of her top. She shivered, leaning into my touch, unconsciously seeking the comfort I offered.

“She seemed nice,” Kin said after a small pause, as if she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to be mad at me, but she knew she could tell me what she was feeling and what had happened without judgment. “But if she’s as blindly in love with Scott as she appears, then I fear for her mental health. Or maybe she’s just a really good actress and wants people to think she’s in love with him. I don’t know.”

Jenna and Angie moved past us, holding hands and whispering to each other.

“You’re leaving?” Kin whined, making the couple pause.

Angie leaned down to hug her stepsister. “Call me when you get home. If I don’t see you tomorrow, we’ll see you at the baby shower Sunday.” Her eyes landed on me as she straightened. The glare should have frozen me solid on the spot, but it had no power over me. I was beside the only person who mattered, and I would endure even Angie’s shit for Kin.

“If you need us, call,” Jenna told Kin, pulling Angie away. “And that’s the last beer you’re getting. I already told Lucy you are cut off.”

“I was done anyway,” Kin called after her. “I need a clear head.”

As they disappeared into the crowd, her attention went back to the bar. I glanced back over at the couple still talking to that guy. Of the three of them mixed in with the others at the bar, Scott looked out of place.

The guy needed to grow up and start acting his age. I hated the fucker for hurting Kin for so long, and if I knew she really wanted me to knock his ass out, I would have done it years ago. But she’d always stopped me, and I’d realized she didn’t want to cause her father actual physical pain.

The guy with her father looked over his shoulder, and Kin’s breath hitched. I knew in my gut he was looking right at her. Guys checked her out all the time, and I saw that same hungry look in their eyes every single damn time.

But there was something different in the air when his eyes landed on her.

Because she was looking right back.

Was this guy what had held her attention the entire time?

It was like a switch was flipped inside me. Jealousy spiked white-hot and stronger than anything I’d ever felt in my life. “What the fuck?” I growled, grasping her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze. Guilt flashed in her beautiful eyes before she blinked, and the guilt turned into anger. “Who the hell is he, Kin?”

She jerked away from me, slapping my hand away. “Fuck off.”

I jumped to my feet and grabbed her arm without thinking. That part of my brain was turned off. I needed to get her out of there, away from that motherfucker, and back in my arms. I needed to sink so deep inside her, she didn’t have a choice but to remember I was the only one to ever make her come on my cock. The only man to ever claim her sweetness. It was mine and mine alone. “Let’s go. We need to talk. Now.”

She didn’t move, so I pulled her up forcefully, instantly attracting everyone’s attention around us. Kin slapped at my hand that was locked around her wrist like a steel band. “Let me go, Jace. I’m not going anywhere with you when you’re like this. Let. Me. Go.”

“Kin.” Desperation made my voice harsh. I’d seen the look on her face when she met that guy’s gaze. I knew it well, but I had only ever seen it directed at me. It was killing me, my body already breaking out in a sweat, and I realized I might actually lose her for good. “We’re leaving. Walk, or I’ll carry you.”

“Jace.” Lucy’s voice drilled into me, trying to reason with me. “This isn’t going to solve anything. Let her go.”

I ignored her. “Why the fuck were you looking at that douchebag? Who is he?”

“None of your business.” She finally pried my pinkie free and pulled it back. It hurt like hell, but I didn’t release her. I couldn’t. My fucking life was on the line, and I was a desperate man. “Jace, you asshole, leave me alone.”

“Jace!” Kassa was behind me now, slapping at my other arm, trying to shake me off. “What the hell are you doing? Stop manhandling her!”

“Stay out of it,” I snapped at my sister without taking my eyes off Kin. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“Dude, not cool,” Gray said from right behind me. His heavy hands fell on my shoulders, squeezing hard, and I couldn’t shrug him off. “Release the redhead and step away before I have to make you.”

“Kin.” I pulled her against me, begging her with my eyes to look at me again like she’d just looked at another guy. “Do you want him? Do you want to fuck him?”

“You’re disgusting,” she seethed. “He’s her brother! He’s going to be my uncle.”

“Then why the fuck were you looking at him like you want to ride his cock?” I roared in her face.

I realized I was overreacting a millisecond before her hand slapped my face. I dropped my hold on her as twin tears spilled down her cheeks. “I hate you,” she whispered, and her words sliced my heart open. I gasped for my next breath, but I couldn’t fill my lungs. “If even a small part of me thought we still had a chance, you just proved me wrong. Don’t ever touch me again, Jace. Because if you do, I’ll bring you to your knees.”

Shoving me back, she walked around me and stormed away. But not before I saw the guy with her dad rushing after her.

“No!” I yelled after her, and I would have gone after her then and there, but Sin had shown up now, helping Gray hold me back. “No,” I choked out, feeling the panic try to swallow me whole as my eyes followed after Kin until I couldn’t see her any longer. “I’m losing her.”

“You already lost her,” Kassa informed me, devoid of sympathy. “And you have no one else to blame but yourself.”