King of Pain (Lords of Las Vegas #5)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Kate

I wake to the sunrise, the first rays just lighting the room, as I stretch against Luke, his arms wrapped tight around me.

He tightens his arms, snuggling his nose into the crown of my hair. “Good morning,” he murmurs.

I smile burrowing deeper. “Good morning.”

“Read for our road trip?”

I sigh. Maybe.

I appreciate what he’s doing. I really do. He’s trying to give me what I need and that is amazing.

But I heard him talking to Charlotte yesterday. This is his family. The kind I always wanted.

Even Mason… he was trying to protect his. I heard that and unlike every other conversation, I could hear the sincerity in his voice when he talked about keeping the family safe.

Luke doesn’t remember that now, but how will he feel when all his memories come back and I’m the person who caused the rift, pulled him away from the people he loves?

Besides, between losing that internship and meeting Luke, I’m suddenly questioning my choices. If I could take away the assumption that I had to be great, what would I be? What would I do?

I shake my head. “I don’t think?—”

“You’re not giving up your future for a tunnel.”

I turn in his arms, wanting to see his face. “You’re not giving up your family for my PhD.”

He grimaces but he still cups my ass, pulling my pelvis into the cradle of his. “I’m not giving up Roman. Or Arabella.”

“Call Roman first, at least,” I whisper sliding my arms around his neck. “Get his take on all of this since you trust him.”

Luke gives a tentative nod, pushing up from the bed.

“How many days will the trip take?” I ask as he pulls a pair of workout pants over his muscular legs and over his narrow hips.

“Three,” he answers, rummaging for the phone.

“I’m going to call my advisor. See what opportunities she might have and when they start. See if we can stay?—”

“I don’t want to stay,” he shakes his head. “It doesn’t feel right here.”

My brows lift. “The shower felt pretty good. So did the bath.”

He looks back at me with that one-sided grin that always steals my breath. Then he picks up the phone. He pushes a few buttons and starts for the door.

I push up too, grabbing his discarded shirt. Once again, I have no clothes.

Charlotte let me borrow some stuff, but I can’t wait until we’re settled in one place.

What a crazy ride this has been.

Distantly, I hear Luke’s voice. Did Roman pick up or is he leaving a voicemail? Stretching, I start for the bathroom.

I can at least brush my teeth and my hair before Luke comes back up.

A noise just outside the bedroom door makes me turn. “Done already?” I ask, concern knitting my brow.

No one answers.

Shaking my head, I continue into the bathroom, running the toothbrush under the water and then placing some toothpaste on the brush before I start brushing.

Spitting, I bend down to wash my face in cool water. It’s loud enough that I almost miss the low whistle.

I shut off the water, scrubbing my face. “Hand me a towel, would you?”

“Towel?”

The voice makes me stop cold. That is not Luke.

Spinning, I gasp in a breath. Guerriero stands in the bathroom door looking at me like I’m some kind of snack and he’s starving.

I take a step back, bumping into the countertop. I try to scream but no sound comes out.

His eyes run up and down me, the only thing covering my body… Luke’s T-shirt.

“Luke,” it comes out a hoarse whisper. But then I get it out a second time, louder. “Luke!”

Guerriero gives me a wick smile. “No use.”

I tear my gaze from his, long enough to see the glass jar full of cotton balls on the counter.

Not giving myself a chance to change my mind, I pick it up and throw it at Guerriero. He easily deflects it, but it crashes to the tile floor, smashing into a thousand tiny pieces.

Was it loud enough?

I hope so. Because I’m in bare feet and the floor is now covered in glass…

Guerriero keeps walking. When he’s close enough, I try to dart around him but it’s no use.

He reaches out a hand, grabbing my arm, the other wrapping around my throat.

My eyes go wide as he squeezes. “You big problem.”

“Me?” I gasp out. “You.”

He gives me another cold smile. “I big. Yes.”

Is he talking about what I think he is? I don’t have a chance to be upset, I’m too busy trying to breathe as he squeezes harder.

My eyes bulge as I try to breathe but I’m losing, and my knees weaken as I sink to the floor.

“Sleep,” he whispers leaning close. “When you wake we’ve got?—”

But he doesn’t finish.

I catch a flash before Luke is on him, snapping the man’s head back.

I hear a crack before the hand at my throat goes limp. I don’t have a chance to be relieved as I collapse into a heap, gasping for breath. Luke scoops me into his arms, carrying me across the glass. I can’t even imagine what I look like.

“Is he dead?” I croak out.

“No,” Luke whispers against my temple, even as security personnel flood into the room.

“I’m so sorry,” one of them skids to a stop as the rest flood into the bathroom. “He knocked out one of the men on the perimeter. Scaled the balcony.” He points to the open French door.

Luke gently sets me on the bed and tosses a blanket over me, then turns back and whispers to the men.

I have no idea what he’s saying, and I don’t care.

Gently, I feel my own throat, testing for swelling, swallowing to assess the damage. Bruising only, I think.

The phone rings but Luke doesn’t answer. Instead, his weight settles on the bed next to me. “Just keep the covers over your face for a few more seconds, love, and then we can check you over.”

“I’m fine,” I rasp out, my voice hoarse.

His hand settles on my hip. I hear the room clear and then he pulls the covers off of me.

I turn even as his eyes scan down me. “Fuck,” he rumbles as he looks at my neck.

I shake my head. “He wasn’t going for the kill. He was just trying to make me black out. The damage is minimal.”

“It doesn’t fucking look minimal,” he grits out.

“What happened to him? Gorilla?”

“Let me worry about him.”

The phone rings again. Luke looks down at it, his eyes flickering before he dismisses the call.

But it just rings again. I close my eyes. “Pick up.”

A moment of indecision fills his eyes before he answers. “Roman.”

“You’re fucking alive.”

I smile. Roman sounds just like Luke.

“I’m alive. Though Guerriero just tried pretty fucking hard to end Kate.”

“Fuck,” Roman rumbles. “She all right?”

“Still checking.”

“Vincent and Vigo got bailed out yesterday. Came after us last night. We’re all right, but they’re both dead.”

Luke’s shoulders sage. “Thank fuck.”

Our gazes lock. If all three of the Vendettis are out of the picture…

“Roman. I think I might be out. I’ll explain it all later, but I’m not sure I want to work for Kincaid anymore.”

Roman pauses for a moment. “That’s funny. I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

He touches my cheek, giving me a soft smile as he finishes his call.

Then his fingertips skim down my jaw to my throat, assessing my neck. “I’m fine, Luke. Promise.”

He leans down and places a soft kiss on the column of my throat. “As soon as you’re up for it, let’s call your advisor. Where do you want to go?”

That is an excellent question.