Out of Turn

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. Kade’s face as I said those things to him kept replaying inside my head. I stared at the ceiling and tried to breathe. Every time I thought of what I’d done—realized that I’d never see Kade look at me the way he had just hours earlier when we’d made love—I felt as though I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs.

I had yet to see if the play I’d made had worked.

I was up early, seeing no sense in lying in bed any longer when I wasn’t sleeping, and was trying to get a cup of coffee down when the news came on. I watched, hoping Kade had been right last night about James.

Blane’s face flashed on the screen and I grabbed the remote to turn up the volume.

“Charges have been dropped by the district attorney’s office against gubernatorial candidate Blane Kirk in the murder of Kandi Miller. Though the DA’s office denies any political motivations, Charlotte Page, attorney and spokesperson for Blane Kirk, says otherwise.”

A video clip showed Charlotte speaking to a bevy of reporters. “It’s obvious this was nothing but a smear campaign against my client as we’re heading into the heavy campaign season,” she said. “It’s reprehensible that the death of Miss Miller has been twisted and used for political backstabbing.”

A knock sounded on my door and I muted the television as I got up to answer it, wondering who could be here this early and hoping it wasn’t Mike.

When I saw who was outside my door, I thought maybe Mike would have been the lesser of two evils.

“Hey,” I greeted Blane warily after I’d opened the door. “I just saw they dropped the charges against you. Congratulations.”

“Kade was able to convince James that it was in his best interest to do so.” He paused, then seemed to force out the next words. “Thank you, for letting us use that video rather than you bringing charges.”

I shrugged. “Nothing would have happened to him if I’d charged him, I’m sure, and I would have been dragged through the mud.”

“Speaking of Kade,” Blane said, “he told me what you said last night, about us.” He paused. “But I don’t buy it, the whole First Lady of Indiana thing. Why would you say that to him? The Kathleen I know doesn’t give a shit about my money or title.”

I panicked, thinking fast. “Did you think none of this would change me?” I asked. “I’m not the same naive, stupid girl I used to be, Blane.”

“I don’t want to marry you if you don’t love me,” Blane said. “And I think you feel more for Kade than you’re letting on.”

“Maybe you’re the one who’s naive.”

“You’d never hurt Kade like that. You’d never hurt me like that. This isn’t you—”

“It is now,” I interrupted. I was desperate to get him to leave before I broke. “Why does it have to be about love? Don’t you think you owe me, Blane? Or should I go to the press and do a tell-all? Or maybe to the cops and tell them how William Gage really died.”

Blane’s lips thinned, his face like granite. “I don’t respond well to threats, to me or my brother.”

I was counting on that.

“Then go,” I said, stepping back inside my apartment. “I never want to see either of you again.” I jerked the ring off my finger and threw it at him. Blane caught it, clenching it tightly in his fist

“Kade means everything to me,” he said. “You hurt him in a place he’s never allowed anyone to touch.”

I swallowed, the knife twisting hard inside my belly, and shut the door in his face.

My chest felt tight enough to strangle me. My knees gave out. I sank to the floor, sobs I couldn’t control ripping me apart from the inside out. Destroying my own character in the eyes of the two men I loved most was the hardest thing I’d ever done, and it had taken a massive amount of will not to say anything to defend myself, not to explain.

But I’d done it. I’d managed to put Blane and Kade back together at the expense of losing both of them forever. They wouldn’t even remember me fondly, but only with loathing and disgust.

Now I just had to learn to live without them. Again.

I went by the bank later that day to deposit my paycheck and tips, which was when I got another shock. I’d completely forgotten that Kade had “paid” me for the job in Vegas, and despite my telling him not to pay me much, he’d deposited over two hundred thousand dollars in my bank account.

I sat in the drive-thru, staring in shock at the ATM receipt. Of course Kade would do that, though now he might regret it.

A car honked behind me and I hurriedly pulled forward. At least I had the money to pay Mike, which I did later, sticking the check in an envelope addressed to him.

Guilt ate at me, not only about the money but also for what I’d said. Telling Kade the truth hadn’t been an option. He and Blane had been at each other’s throats because of me, and choosing one over the other would do nothing but drive the wedge even deeper. They were both amazing men, and I kept telling myself how lucky I’d been to be a part of their lives, even if it had been temporary.

Which didn’t help a whole lot when I lay alone in my bed at night.

The day of Clarice’s wedding dawned sunny and beautiful. She was having an outdoor wedding at an old, historic mansion on the outskirts of Indy. The wedding wasn’t until close to sunset, to beat the heat, but that didn’t stop me from having a severe case of anxiety all day long.

I knew Blane would be there, he was Clarice’s boss. And I didn’t doubt that Kade might show up, too. He’d known Clarice as Blane’s secretary for a long time. She was one of the few who knew of their relation.

I studied myself in the mirror. The bridesmaid dress looked perfect. I’d decided to wear my hair half up and half down, the sides pulled up and back in a cascade of waves. The cut from James had healed, only a few marks remained on my neck from the collar, and I’d used makeup to disguise those. I wore four-inch sandals the same pale pink as the dress, and even my short legs looked long with the combination of the shoes and the short skirt.

I had a drink to calm my nerves, then headed to the wedding, both hoping I’d see them and terrified that I would.

The mansion was beautiful in the late afternoon light, dapples of sunshine breaking through the shade provided by the large oaks that grew by the house. I parked the car and took a deep breath before getting out.

The members of the wedding party were on the second floor, which is where the wedding planner sent me. When I stepped into the dressing room provided for the bride, my breath caught.

“Clarice! You look beautiful,” I said, moving forward to give her a careful hug. I didn’t want to mess her up. Her dress was a simple white gown with lace adorning the bodice. The same pale pink as the bridesmaids’ dresses accented hers. Her face was wreathed with smiles.

“It turned out great, didn’t it?” she asked.

“Absolutely!”

Clarice’s sister was there as her maid of honor and we got to know each other while Clarice finished her makeup. The florist came by to give us each a bouquet.

“Have some champagne,” Clarice said, handing me a flute filled with the bubbly golden liquid.

“Where are the kids?” I asked.

“My mom has them corralled downstairs, to keep them from messing up their clothes,” Clarice said, taking a sip from her own flute. “So who’d you bring to the wedding?”

“No one,” I said, draining my glass.

Clarice frowned and started to say something, but I gave her a tiny shake of my head. I really didn’t want to talk about it, especially in front of her sister, who I didn’t know. Clarice seemed to get the message, because she changed the subject.

The three of us laughed and chatted while we waited, finishing the champagne. I tried hard to just be happy for Clarice and not think about how, if Blane and I had not broken up, I’d have been getting married soon, too.

The wedding planner came up to get us when it was time for the processional, and I checked my makeup in the mirror before following Clarice out into the hallway and down the stairs. I was really glad of the champagne. My head was a little fuzzy and I could smile, both of which would make it much easier to walk down that aisle as a bridesmaid instead of a bride.

The sun was setting and the garden where the pristine white chairs were set up was aglow with strings of lamps. The air was thick with the scent of hydrangeas and roses. Music started playing—they’d hired a string quartet—and the soft strains of a violin meant it was time to begin.

The groomsman who was to escort me was a nice guy named Neal who taught with Jack. He said he had a girlfriend, which was a relief because I certainly didn’t want to have to deal with anyone hitting on me tonight. A head taller than me, he was a nice-looking guy who coached the high school baseball team. I took his arm and he grinned at me, oblivious to my jangling nerves.

I pasted a smile on my face and walked down the aisle, trying not to look on the left side. Unfortunately, there were only about a hundred people in all and my eyes were drawn unerringly to Blane and Kade.

Both were dressed immaculately in suits and neither of them gave even a flicker of recognition when they saw me, their expressions blank. My smile turned brittle and I glanced away, but not before I noticed Charlotte sitting between them.

The surge of anger and jealousy I felt didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

My hand resting on Neal’s arm started to tremble. He caught my eye and gently laid his hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He probably thought I was nervous. I clutched his sleeve and concentrated hard on putting one foot in front of the other. When Neal deposited me at the end of the aisle, I breathed a sigh of relief.

The rest of the processional and ceremony was a blur, as I tried not to feel the weight of their stares on me. Maybe they weren’t staring, who knows, but it felt like they were. My entire body was as stiff as a wooden statue and I prayed for it to be over. Someone got up and began to sing a song after Clarice and Jack exchanged vows, and I squeezed my eyes shut in dismay.

My skin was warm, then cold, and I couldn’t seem to feel my feet any longer. I stared at the candles directly in front of me, their flames gently flickering in the warm twilight breeze, and didn’t even notice when everything went dark.

I opened my eyes and immediately realized what had happened. I’d passed out in a wedding, for crying out loud. This was a new low. Thank God that girl was still singing the song. Hopefully, I hadn’t been out long.

“Are you all right?” Blane asked softly, crouching down next to me.

I nodded, mortified. “Help me up, please.”

He helped me to my feet and I saw Clarice watching me with worry in her eyes. I smiled to let her know I was okay.

“Sit down for a moment,” Blane said. He didn’t wait for an answer, but led me to the front row where there were several empty chairs.

I sank into one and was surprised to see Blane take the seat next to me. He had my bouquet in his hand and set it on the chair beside him.

Blane looked at me, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “You’re as white as a sheet, Kat.” He took my hand, squeezing it in his much larger grip. “You haven’t eaten today, have you.”

I avoided answering the non-question, though why he cared, I had no idea. He should hate me now. “Shhh,” I hushed him, keeping my eyes on the bride and groom. They looked so in love, gazing into each other’s eyes. My own eyes stung and I refused to blink as the figures of Jack and Clarice gradually grew more and more blurry. The man holding my hand had almost been the one to stand at my side and pledge his life and love to me.

Finally, I had to blink, two tears spilling from my eyes to trace down my cheeks. I hurriedly brushed them away as Blane handed me a snowy-white handkerchief. I dabbed my wet eyes as he leaned toward me again.

“I know everything you told me and Kade was bullshit.”

I jerked back, my panicked gaze flying to his, but there was no telling what he was thinking.

I looked away, handing his handkerchief back to him as the song ended. “Flowers, please,” I requested, avoiding his eyes.

Blane wordlessly handed me the bouquet and I resumed my place next to Clarice’s sister.

A few minutes later, I was again taking Neal’s arm to walk back down the aisle. I didn’t look at Blane, but Kade caught my eye. His face was empty of all expression as he looked at me, and I didn’t know whether to be glad that he wasn’t still angry or upset that apparently he felt nothing at all.

Everything inside me hurt and I gladly accepted the drink Neal got for me as we sat down at the head table.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Just embarrassed,” I said with a shrug.

“Who was the guy?”

I hesitated. “My ex.”

Neal’s brows lifted. “For an ex, he sure flew up there fast enough,” he said. “You’d barely hit the floor before he was there.”

I finished my drink. “Mind if I have another?” I asked.

Neal grinned. “I’d be drinking if my ex was here, too,” he said conspiratorially.

I didn’t even mention that the man I was in love with was also there, and that he happened to be my ex’s brother. Maybe if I had, Neal would have just brought me back the whole damn bottle. As it was, he kindly kept refilling my glass as we ate dinner, making me laugh with stories about the kids he taught. Afraid that Blane was watching, I managed to get a few bites down.

As the waiters cleared the dessert dishes away, Neal leaned over to me. “So who’s the guy I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley that’s staring at us?” he teased. “He looks ready to kill me.”

I glanced over to see Kade standing by the wall, drink in hand, watching me. The look on his face was one I knew well, and it sent a familiar shiver of foreboding through me. If Neal knew just how capable Kade was of killing him, he wouldn’t joke about it.

“Another ex?” Neal asked.

I grimaced. “Sort of.”

“No worries,” he said. “I kind of like the idea of playing knight in shining armor.” He grinned, a dimple appearing in his cheek.

I smiled my thanks. Neal was a nice guy and I thought his girlfriend was a lucky woman.

Clarice and Jack danced their first wedding song and I sipped champagne as I watched. She looked so happy. Halfway through, Clarice’s youngest child, a five-year-old named Mary, ran out onto the dance floor with them. Jack hoisted her into his arms with a laugh, holding her with one arm while wrapping the other around Clarice. I was so glad for them. Jack was a good man who loved Clarice and her children.

When it was time for the members of the wedding party to dance, Neal took my hand and led me onto the floor. Clarice and Jack looked sweet and I watched them over Neal’s shoulder.

The song ended, melding into another tune. I recognized the opening strains of “Someone to Watch Over Me” when I heard him.

“Mind if I cut in?”

Neal’s face lost its friendliness as he looked at Blane. “That’s up to the lady,” he said stiffly.

“It’s okay,” I said with more confidence than I felt.

Neal reluctantly released me and I turned to face Blane. He took me in his arms and spun me away from Neal.

I’d imagined Blane and me dancing at our wedding, but it hadn’t been quite like this. I felt as though I were made of glass, moments away from shattering completely.

“This is unnecessarily cruel, don’t you think?” I asked stiffly.

“What are you talking about?”

I looked up at him, into his gray eyes, and the look on my face must have clued him in, because his hold on me gentled and his face softened.

“You don’t think this is killing me, too?” he asked, pulling me closer.

“Then why?”

“Because I’ve been thinking,” he said. “Replaying everything in my head, because it just doesn’t make any sense.”

I said nothing.

“What you said doesn’t line up with what I know about you,” he continued. “You never gave a damn about being a governor’s wife. You’d never sell me out to the press, and you’d sooner take the fall for Kade than turn him in to the cops. The only thing you’ve ever really cared about… is the relationship between Kade and me.”

My gaze dropped from his and I stared at his tie. Perfectly knotted, as always.

“Look at me, Kat,” he ordered, and I had to obey. “You played us. Both of us. Because you knew how I’d react to Kade being hurt, threatened. Those things you said, they were all lies. You lied to both of us.”

My heart sank. I should have known Blane would see through it. His job made him an expert at reading people, divining their motivations, and finding the facts underneath their lies. I knew I wouldn’t be able to fool Blane any longer. I was surprised I ever had.

“That’s not true—” I said weakly, but Blane jerked me closer, squeezing the air from my chest.

“Isn’t it?” he snapped. “Tell me the truth, goddammit.”

I couldn’t take any more. “I told you once that I wasn’t going to come between you two,” I blurted. “So I did what I had to do. Now you and Kade can put the pieces back together and move on. I was only making things worse. You know that.”

“Who the hell do you think you are to just decide to walk away?” he retorted. “Do we mean nothing to you?”

“You and Kade mean everything to me!” I protested. “I made the only choice I could. Please, Blane, just let it go. Let me go.”

“You love me… but you’re in love with Kade, too.” It wasn’t a question.

A wave of pure sadness enveloped me. “Does it matter?”

“Yes, it fucking matters!”

The stubborn set of Blane’s jaw made my stomach clench in knots. He couldn’t tell Kade. It would just hurt him and leave the two of them in a worse situation than before. Kade had never cared what happened between him and Blane if it meant he and I could be together. But I did. And even if Kade didn’t realize it sometimes, he needed Blane more than he needed me.

“You can’t tell Kade,” I implored. “Promise me—”

“Can’t tell me what?”

My eyes slipped closed in dismay at the sound of Kade’s voice behind me.

Whatever communication they had must have been silent, because the next thing I knew, Blane let me go, spinning me around into Kade’s arms.

Kade’s piercing blue eyes seemed to devour me as we turned slowly on the dance floor. He was heartbreakingly lovely and I drank him in, my fingers itching to push back the lock of inky black hair that had fallen over his brow.

I wondered if Blane had shared his suspicions with Kade about the things I’d said, but that question was answered by the next words out of his mouth.

“So what is Blane not supposed to tell me? That you were just fucking him, too?” He put his lips by my ear and hissed, “So tell me, which brother’s better in bed?”

Kade always knew just where to aim his barbs and I sucked in a breath as they hit their mark with painful accuracy. I had to keep going, no matter what Kade said to me.

“So it seems your sights tonight are set on the guy who’s trying to get you drunk,” Kade continued, his lips twisting in a sneer. “You should know he’s a teacher. I hear they make shitty salaries.”

“No one wants to go home alone from a wedding,” I said, forcing a sweet smile.

A nerve pulsed in his cheek at that. “I can put in a good word for you, if you want.” He leaned forward to hiss in my ear. “Mention that you’re a damn good lay.”

The ice that had consumed me when Blane and I broke up now threatened to encase me again, only this time it was to protect myself from Kade.

I looked up at him. “Why, thank you,” I said with forced politeness. “And that wasn’t even my best work.”

Kade suddenly pulled me through the doorway into an empty hallway. He pushed me against the wall, imprisoning me there with his hold on my arms. “Tell me you didn’t mean what you said the other night,” he rasped. “Tell me we have something between us, that you feel something for me, something besides fucking gratitude.”

The fury and agony in his eyes was nearly my undoing. But I couldn’t let him have hope—there was no future for us. So I said the only thing I could think of that would guarantee his hatred.

“You’re nothing but a criminal,” I said. “A murderer and thief. Did you think I could forget that?”

Kade looked as though I’d hit him, his face etched with pain.

I pulled away, knowing I wouldn’t be able to hold on to my composure for much longer, nor could I bring myself to hurt Kade any more than I already had. He reached for me, but I evaded his grasp, hurrying down the hall and up the stairs.

The ladies’ room was on the third floor and I nearly collapsed with relief when I got there, tears already pouring down my face. The lounge area was blessedly empty. I sat in a chair and stared at the floor, not bothering to wipe my face.

I couldn’t believe what I’d said to Kade, my conscience screaming at me to go find him, apologize, tell him I didn’t mean a word of it. But then where would we be? Right back where we’d started, with me driving a wedge between Blane and Kade.

After a few minutes, I calmed down. I heard the hubbub of people and realized Clarice and Jack had left for their honeymoon. I’d missed their departure, but I doubted she’d noticed, not with all the people there.

I got up with a sigh, went to the sink, and washed the streaked makeup off my face. No sense worrying about it. I could go home now.

The door opened as I was touching up my hair and Charlotte walked in. I stiffened, immediately on my guard.

“Nice wedding,” she said.

“Yes,” I agreed. I didn’t offer anything else. I had nothing to say to her.

“Too bad yours was canceled,” she said, coming up beside me and setting her purse on the counter. “It must have been hard to see Blane here.”

Now she was just being a bitch. I smiled at her in the mirror. “Sweet of you to care.”

“Oh, I don’t,” she said. “I was just making an observation.” She smiled back and disappeared into a stall.

I spun around, determined to vent some of my frustration on her. My arm brushed her bag and sent it toppling to the floor, the contents spilling out.

“Shit,” I muttered, crouching down to pick up her things. I righted her bag and dropped a lipstick in when something caught my eye. It was a stun gun, like the one I’d used on James a few months ago in that hotel room. I couldn’t blame Charlotte for keeping something for protection handy on her. I should do the same.

Grabbing a few more things, I stuffed them into the bag, and something clicked inside my head. I froze, reaching in the bag to turn the stun gun so I could look at the prongs.

Kandi had been immobilized with a stun gun. The prongs on Charlotte’s weapon appeared to be the same length and width apart as the red marks on Kandi’s neck. We’d assumed a man had killed Kandi because of the rape, but a stun gun that stopped Kandi’s struggles would have made it easy for another woman to smother her.

“What are you doing?”

I jumped up, startled, to see Charlotte staring at me, her eyes narrowing.

“N-nothing,” I stammered, setting her purse back on the counter. “I accidentally spilled your purse—that’s all. Sorry about that.” I forced another fake-friendly smile, my heart racing inside my chest.

Charlotte said nothing, just studied me, and I held my breath. Then she smiled, too.

“Not a problem. Thanks for picking everything up.”

“Sure.” I turned away, relieved, and headed toward the door. I had to get out of there, find Blane, and tell him what I suspected. I glanced in the mirror at Charlotte. Our eyes caught. And that’s when I realized… she knew.

I flung myself out the door just as Charlotte reached me. The restroom led into a wider seating area that led onto a terrace open to the warm summer evening. No one was there and I could hear the music drifting up from below.

Charlotte tackled me and we went down with a thud. I flipped over and backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawling. I clambered to my feet as she grabbed for her purse.

“Don’t try it,” she warned, blocking my path. She held the stun gun.

I swallowed hard. I was sure that if she touched me with the weapon, I wouldn’t wake up.

“What are you doing, Charlotte?” I asked, backing away as she slowly advanced.

“You know what I did,” she said. “I can’t let you tell Blane.”

“Why would you kill Kandi?”

“I didn’t mean to kill her,” Charlotte protested. “It just… happened.”

“How do you just happen to kill somebody?” I retorted.

“I went over there that night because I knew she was sleeping with James,” she said. “I also knew she’d been talking with Blane. The last thing he needed was to hook up with a woman who was already cheating on him. How do you think that would look in the press?”

“So, what, you decided to try and get her to stop? But ran into James there instead.” I can imagine how that had gone over.

“James was never there,” she scoffed. “I thought he was, that it was his semen I smeared on her. Turns out it was Blane’s. I didn’t know he’d already been screwing her.

“You know, this is all your fault,” Charlotte continued, her eyes flashing with anger as she advanced. I continued my retreat, slowly backing away from her while eyeing the stun gun.

“How is that?” I asked.

“All I had to do was get you to go to Xtreme,” Charlotte said. “Summers was supposed to take care of the rest.”

My gaze flew to hers in shock. “Oh my God,” I breathed. “You were the one who had me go there from the very beginning.” When Charlotte had started at the firm, the first assignment she’d given me had been to check into the case of Julie Vale, a young woman who’d been attacked while working at Xtreme.

“If it hadn’t been for Blane’s obsession with you, you’d no doubt be dead by now and with no one the wiser.”

“Who told you to do that?” I asked. “Who wanted me gone?”

“Unfortunately for Kandi,” Charlotte continued, ignoring my question, “she knew a lot of people in Washington, and she never forgot a face. She recognized me, realized I interned with her father, and figured out I’d been sent to… help Blane.”

“And did helping Blane include getting me out of the picture?”

Charlotte smiled. “Bingo.”

My back pressed up against the terrace railing. I could go no farther.

“She threatened to out you to Blane,” I guessed. “So you killed her, thinking James would take the fall—only Blane nearly did.”

“Luckily, James is an idiot who can’t see past besting Blane,” she said. “And you turned out to be useful after all. Though I would have thought Blane would kick you to the curb himself after you slept with his brother. You are such a white-trash slut. I have no idea what he sees in you.” She motioned behind me. “Get up on the railing.”

“I don’t think so,” I said.

“You can either take a swan dive off here yourself, or I’ll stun you and throw you over. Either way, you’re so distraught over Blane dumping you—again—that you’re going to end it all right here, right now, at Clarice’s wedding.”

“No one’s dying tonight.”

Charlotte whirled around to see Blane and Kade standing just inside the doorway. Kade had his gun in his hand. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Put down the stun gun, Charlotte,” Blane continued, taking a couple of steps toward her.

“How long have you been there?” Charlotte asked.

“Long enough,” he said.

I’d spotted them but had kept Charlotte talking, needing her to confess everything so Blane could hear it.

Charlotte smiled. “You may have me, but you’re not having her.”

Before I could react, she spun around and shoved me backward over the railing. I heard Kade shout as my hands scrabbled for a hold on anything as I toppled over, catching hold of the bottom edge of the terrace.

A gunshot rang out and the stun gun Charlotte held fell to the ground with a clatter. A moment later, her body hit the floor.

I grunted from the effort of holding on, terror pounding through my veins. The muscles in my arms screamed in protest and I knew I couldn’t hold on much longer.

Blane and Kade appeared over the railing. My eyes locked with Kade’s.

“Help me. Please.” My voice felt strangled inside my throat.

“As if you have to ask,” he muttered, already climbing over the railing to stand on the ledge. Blane held tight to his belt as Kade reached down to me. His hands closed over my arms and he pulled me up, handing me to Blane before swinging his own leg back over the railing.

I was a heartbeat from hysteria, my close call one too many in the past few days. Blane enveloped my trembling body in his arms.

“It’s okay now,” he soothed me. “You’re okay.”

I sniffed. “Is she dead?” I asked, my voice muffled against his chest.

“No,” Blane replied. “We just used her stun gun on her.” He gave me another squeeze, then gently turned me around.

Kade stood a few feet away, his gaze hungrily taking me in. His lips were pressed tightly closed, his hands clenched in fists.

“I’ll go call the police,” Blane said. I didn’t turn but heard him leave, his footsteps echoing as he crossed the hardwood floor.

Kade and I stood there in uncomfortable silence. Tears stung my eyes, but I determinedly held them back. Finally, I spoke.

“Thank you,” I managed to get past my clogged throat. “For saving—”

“Shut up,” he interrupted, but the words had no heat. Kade took two steps and I was suddenly in his arms, his mouth on mine.

We kissed as though it might be our last, the world disappearing around us. I could taste the salt of my tears on his tongue, feel the warm brush of his thumbs on my cheeks as he cradled my face in his hands. The strong beat of his heart reverberated inside my chest as I pressed against him, my arms slipping underneath his jacket and around his back. The warmth of his body soaked through the crisp linen of his shirt to my palms.

When we finally parted, he rested his forehead against mine, our breaths intermingling.

“I’m so, so sorry,” I whispered through my tears. “Those things I said—I didn’t mean them, didn’t mean any of it.”

Kade’s thumbs caught my tears and wiped them away. “Shhh… I know. Don’t cry, princess.”

The sound of sirens in the distance made me step back and Kade shrugged out of his jacket, swinging it over my shoulders. His scent rose from the fabric and I clutched it to me.

Blane was with the cops when they entered the room, just as Charlotte started coming around. He glanced at us, his expression unfathomable, before turning to answer a question from a cop.

Kade curved an arm over my shoulders, holding me close as we gave our statements to the police. I watched as Charlotte was led away in handcuffs, her malevolent gaze piercing me as she passed.

We followed Blane outside. “We’ll meet you at the house,” Kade said to him, guiding me to his Mercedes.

“What about my car?” I asked.

“I don’t give a shit about your car,” Kade said, opening the passenger door. “You’re coming with me. Get in.”

I shut up and did as I was told, recognizing Kade’s instinctual need to keep me close after what had happened. I felt the same.

The inside of the car was warm and I folded Kade’s jacket, laying it on the backseat as he slid behind the wheel. He pulled off his tie and tossed it in the back along with his gun, undoing a few buttons on his shirt before starting the car.

The glow from the dash softly illuminated the carved features of his face as he drove. I kicked off my shoes before turning toward him and drawing my knees to my chest.

Kade’s hand reached for mine, bringing it to his lips to brush a kiss across my knuckles before settling our hands on his thigh.

We had a lot to talk about, but it could wait. It was enough to just be together.

We pulled into Blane’s driveway right behind his car. I got out with Kade, my eye catching something as Blane joined us.

“Who’s here?” I asked, pointing to a man standing in the shadows of Blane’s front door.

Blane frowned. “I have no idea.”

We followed Blane up the walk until he paused, about ten feet from the man. I could see him more clearly now and recognized him.

“Geoff,” Blane said. “What are you doing here at this hour?”

Kandi’s father took a step closer into the light cast from the lamppost.

“Did you think you could just get away with it?” he asked, and only now did I see the gun in his hand. “You killed my daughter, Kirk.”

Kade stiffened next to me and I remembered with a sinking sensation that his gun was still in the car.

“I didn’t kill Kandi,” Blane said, his voice calm and clear. “We found the person who killed her. She confessed just hours ago.”

“I don’t believe you,” Geoff said. “I know the evidence. I know what they found, the DNA match.” The bitter anger in his voice made me wince. “You strung Kandi along for years, treated her like she wasn’t good enough for you. Then you killed her, defiled her, and are blackmailing James so he won’t prosecute.”

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“Don’t lie to me!” Geoff shouted. I was terrified he was going to shoot right then and there, but he seemed to get a hold of himself. “James told me what you did. How there’d be no justice for my little girl unless I took matters into my own hands.”

Kade slowly dropped his arm from my waist, his palm settling on my stomach and giving me a push backward until I was forced to take a step away from him.

“James put you up to this?” Blane asked.

“He didn’t put me up to anything,” Geoff said. “Sometimes it’s just what a man has to do. What a father has to do. I won’t let you kill my daughter and get away with it.”

“You don’t want to do this,” Blane said, sounding a lot calmer than I was feeling. “Put down the gun. Let’s go inside and talk. I’ll explain—”

“Always the smooth talker, aren’t you, Kirk?” Geoff cut in. “That won’t save you this time.”

I knew what Geoff was going to do a split second before he did.

Kade did, too.

He shoved me hard to the side, then stepped in front of Blane just as Geoff pulled the trigger.