Chapter 9
Kinley sat at Gage’s small table next to his kitchen and tried not to freak about the conversation she knew was coming.
After they’d awoken from their nap on his couch, he’d brought her back into his bathroom and hovered outside while she’d showered.
When she’d managed not to fall over and kill herself, and had gotten dressed, he’d come in and helped her with her hair.
It took him a while to comb through it, but he didn’t seem irritated by the job.
Kinley had almost fallen asleep again as she sat on the chair he’d brought into the bathroom for her to sit on while he worked on her tangles.
She’d snuggled back on the couch while he’d showered and shaved. He’d made them a healthy dinner of baked chicken with green beans, which she barely made a dent in.
Then, when she’d thought he was going to ask her to explain what she was doing there, he’d surprised her by calling his mom.
He’d talked to her for a while before letting her know Kinley was visiting. Molly hadn’t seemed surprised, just overjoyed to talk to her for a while. She’d told her how sorry she was that she’d been sick, and then proceeded to share a bunch of embarrassing stories about Gage when he was little.
Then they’d watched TV until Kinley had fallen asleep on the couch.
Gage had carried her into his room, got her settled in his bed, and left her there.
She’d been both relieved and disappointed, which made no sense whatsoever, but she’d been so tired she hadn’t been able to stay awake long enough to try to figure out what her problem was.
Now it was morning, and her respite was over. It had been over two weeks since someone had tried to kill her, and she knew the guy was probably out there looking for her. She had no idea what to do next, or whether Drake Stryker or her ex-boss had actually ordered a hit on her.
Gage had made a big breakfast of waffles and eggs, and while she hadn’t been able to eat much of either, she’d done her best. He was now sitting across from her sipping a cup of coffee.
“We need to talk,” he said, and as nervous as she was, Kinley was still almost relieved it was finally time to share the burden of what she’d seen with someone else. She felt bad because she knew as soon as she told Gage, he’d be in danger too, but keeping the secret was hell on her psyche.
And realistically, she knew she’d put him in danger the moment she’d come to Texas.
She couldn’t stop thinking about that poor girl who’d probably been excited and nervous about her upcoming evening when she’d put on those sparkly shoes, and then ended up dead in an alley. No one deserved that. Especially not a kid who hadn’t even had a chance to start living her life.
A knock on the door startled Kinley, and she saw Gage sigh. “I’m guessing that’s Gillian and Trigger. He said he would try to keep her from coming over, but I guess he wasn’t successful. You want me to ignore them?”
Kinley frowned. “That would be rude,” she said.
Gage grinned, but merely shrugged.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing her,” Kinley admitted.
Without a word, Gage pushed back his chair. He walked around the table to her, leaned over and kissed her temple gently, then headed for the front door.
Kinley loved the gesture, and she’d just stood up when Gillian came bursting into the room.
“Oh my God, you look so much better!” she exclaimed. “I’m so glad you’re all right!” She dropped a bag she had in her hand on the floor and rushed right up to Kinley and gave her a huge hug.
Startled by the show of affection, Kinley could only stand there and return the other woman’s hug awkwardly.
“You’re smothering her, Gilly,” Trigger said, the love and humor easy to hear in his tone.
“Whatever,” Gillian said, but she took a step back anyway. “Seriously, you look great. Lefty’s been taking good care of you. I wanted to come over and help more, but he said that he didn’t want me getting sick and that he had it covered.”
Alarmed, because she hadn’t even thought about the fact that she could’ve gotten Gage sick, she turned to him. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine, Kins.”
Now she was worried not only about some hitman coming after Gage, but that she might’ve gotten him sick in the process.
“I’m fine,” Gage said again.
“I brought you some more books to read,” Gillian said, bringing Kinley’s attention back to her.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d finished the one you borrowed before.
And I know I hate running out of new books to read.
I’ve got plenty, so anytime you want to come over and browse yourself, feel free.
You’re always welcome at our place. Are you going to be staying here with Lefty? Because that’d be great!”
Trigger came up beside his girlfriend and put his hand over her mouth, stopping her from saying anything else. “What she means is…we’re glad you’re feeling better and if you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
But her words were already sinking in. Kinley hadn’t thought too much about what she was going to do next.
She’d been perfectly happy staying with Gage, but now she realized it might look…
awkward. They weren’t dating, even if he was the only man who’d ever seen her naked.
She had to figure out where she was going to go next.
Right after she told Gage her story and why she was there, she’d need to find a place to stay and figure out what her plans were.
“Breathe, Kinley,” Gage said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “You’re on the mend, but I’d feel a lot better if you weren’t gallivanting around the city. You could have a relapse.”
“I can’t stay, Gage,” she told him quietly.
“We’ll talk about it,” he said smoothly.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Gillian said with remorse.
“I just thought…I don’t know what I thought.
But if you need a place to stay, you can always stay with me and Walker.
I feel as if you’re a friend now, and I’d feel horrible if you went back to sleeping in your car when we have a perfectly good guest room you could stay in. ”
“She’s not sleeping in her car ever again,” Gage said firmly.
“Okay. Good.”
There was another knock at the door, and Kinley looked up at Gage questionably.
“I’ll get it,” Trigger said. “Be good,” he admonished Gillian playfully before he headed for the door.
Within seconds, the room was full of Gage’s team.
“You look a lot better than the last time I saw you,” Brain said.
“Definitely,” Oz echoed.
“Good to see you up and about,” Lucky added.
“I brought her keys,” Doc told Gage, putting her keychain down on the counter.
Grover didn’t say anything, but gave her a small chin lift in greeting.
The room was downright crowded now, but surprisingly, Kinley didn’t feel hemmed in at all.
She was the shortest person there, by a long shot, but Gage had put his arm back around her shoulders and, at his side, she felt safe and comfortable.
It was an odd feeling, one she’d never experienced when in a group of people before.
Usually she parked herself against a wall and did her best to fade into the background.
“Um…hi?” Kinley said uncertainly. She’d met the men before while in Paris and Africa, but wasn’t sure why they were all there now.
“What did we miss?” Lucky asked. “Did you start without us?”
“No,” Gage said. “Gillian wanted to come over and say hi first.”
“Start what?” Kinley asked, looking up at Gage.
His arm tightened around her shoulder, but he didn’t respond.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Gillian said with reluctance. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I hope you know that I’m ready to help too,” she told Kinley. “If you need anything, I’m here for you.”
Kinley could only nod. Gillian smiled at her, then went up on her tiptoes to kiss Trigger before she headed for the door.
No one said anything until she was gone.
The second the door shut behind her, Gage said, “If anyone wants coffee, help yourself.” Then he steered Kinley into the living room and set her down in the corner of the couch.
He took a seat right next to her, not giving her any extra room.
His thick thigh touched hers, and even though she was tucked into the corner, Kinley didn’t feel threatened.
The other guys eventually got settled around the room and everyone looked at her expectantly.
“Kins, it’s time to tell us everything,” Gage said gently.
Feeling like an idiot because she hadn’t seen this coming, she shook her head. “No, just you, Gage.”
“That’s not how this works,” he said seriously. “I know you’re scared, it’s obvious. But these men have our backs. You know we’re a team. We have no secrets from each other, and there’s no one I trust more than them to help me make sure you’re safe.”
Kinley didn’t like this. She’d planned to tell Gage what she’d seen but still hoped to minimize the number of people in danger. She should’ve known better. She’d been on her own her entire life; she hadn’t even thought that he might want to share her problems with his friends.
“It’s not that I don’t trust them, it’s just…” She trailed off, not sure how to say what she felt without offending the big alpha men around her.
“It’s just what?” Gage asked.
Knowing she was going to have to spit out what she was thinking, Kinley took a deep breath and just went for it. “It’s bad enough I’m putting your life in danger. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. And the more people who know, the more lives are at risk.”
The room was silent for a beat before Brain asked, “Is she serious? Are you serious, Kinley?”
She couldn’t read his tone, so she just nodded.
“Fuck me,” Oz said under his breath.
“Kinley, look at me,” Gage said.
She turned her head—and saw he was looking at her with amusement. “You know what we do. What we’re sent around the world to do. Are you seriously trying to protect us?”
“You don’t understand. It’s bad,” she whispered.