Chapter 4
“Are you ready to go?”
Kaitlin glanced at the man beside her—Detective Steve Bennett. He was handsome in a tough sort of way, tall, with dark messy hair and gray eyes. Dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, he still managed to look like a police officer.
She liked him. And she didn’t like many people. But he knew what she was, and he didn’t care that she could see into his mind. Most people clamped up like a vice, as though they could hide their thoughts from her.
She’d been staring into the one-way window to the man on the other side. He was one of the guys who had tried to take her last night. They’d been picked up by the police after her call and apparently were wanted for a multitude of crimes from burglary to assault.
She’d wanted to have another look into their heads, to be sure she couldn’t find out more about who had paid them to take her. But all they had were anonymous calls and an arrangement that they would be contacted with a drop-off time and place once they had her.
Kaitlin had first met Detective Bennett a year ago, soon after she’d moved back to London. She’d seen a report on the news—a girl had been kidnapped. They had a man in custody, but he wasn’t talking, and they were worried for the girl’s life.
Kaitlin was supposed to be keeping a low profile—Kane was all about secrecy, but really, it was none of that goddamned bastard’s business. And if she could save a life, then she would take the risk that someone might learn about their existence.
She’d always believed that the way forward was through openness. That only when the public knew about them would they be safe and able to do any good in the world.
And despite everything that had happened, she wanted to do good. It had been Sam’s dream. He’d always been the nice twin. She and Sam had been a bit like Josie and Sadie. Sadie was a bitch, Josie a complete sweetheart.
So, while she wasn’t blasting what she was from the rooftops, neither was she pandering to Kane’s pathetic desire for total secrecy. She would make her own decisions.
And stupid Kane’s stupid mission came pretty low on her list of priorities.
She’d contacted the detective in charge of the case and said she might have information. Detective Bennett was a good man. At first, he’d been skeptical about her abilities, and reluctant to give her access to the man in custody.
So she’d told him exactly what he was thinking.
It had taken him a while to process what she was, and he’d had a little disbelief to overcome. But in the end, there wasn’t a lot of choice but to believe her, and he’d taken her to the man—at least to the room next to where he was being kept. Which was plenty close enough.
She’d gotten the information, and they had found the kidnapped girl in time and saved her. Sadly, they hadn’t been in time to save the other five victims.
All missing persons. All dead.
But the last one had survived because of her. And the man was off the streets for good.
Since then, she’d helped on a number of cases. She kept a low profile. Found ways for Steve to explain the information she gave him—she was creative—and so far, no one was too suspicious.
“My shift’s finished. Can I give you a lift home?” Steve asked.
She glanced at his face. He appeared guileless, but she didn’t need to look in his mind to know he had ulterior motives. “Detective Steve has the hots for Josie.”
“Have not,” he said, but didn’t sound particularly convincing.
Josie claimed she wasn’t ready for a relationship, but Kaitlin had seen the way she looked at Steve when she thought no one was watching. And really, it was time she got over her asshole of a loser husband.
She nodded. “Why not?”
“I’m surprised we haven’t seen you over Christmas,” she said as they drove out of the underground garage. Steve usually made an excuse to come around at least once a week.
“I thought you were both in Scotland. Josie said you’d be visiting family for the holidays.”
“I decided not to go.”
At the last moment, she’d copped out. While she missed the Kindred, there were people she really didn’t want to see. And Josie had refused to go without her.
And now everyone was gathered at the Rayleigh estate in the highlands of Scotland, ready for the meeting tomorrow. The meeting where they would decide what their next move should be.
But honestly, what was the point of her going? No one listened to her anyway. If they had, they wouldn’t still be working with either Kane or the colonel. They would have put the motherfuckers down.
Whatever Josie had said, it wasn’t anything to do with her feeling guilty about not being able to save her brother.
Because she didn’t. Josie was deluded.
That was what happened when people messed with your brain—you started seeing stuff that wasn’t there.
“You can stay for lunch,” she told Steve.
At least that would stop Josie having another go at her.
Kane paid off the taxi and stood there, looking around him. The apartment was in a nice area, close to Mayfair. It was, no doubt, expensive, but then, money was never a problem for the Kindred.
There were lots of ways to make money when you could read someone’s mind. A few of them were shit-hot at poker and kept the coffers full.
He was prevaricating, putting off the moment when Kaitlin would no doubt tell him to fuck off.
But she was coming to this meeting—even if he had to drag her there, kicking and screaming.
She wasn’t a kid anymore, and it was time she stopped behaving like one. Maybe he would tell her that…and most likely, lose his balls in the process.
He blew out his breath and headed into the building, taking the stairs to the second floor. Hesitating outside the door, he was tempted to reach inside and read her mind, but he’d promised he would never go in there without her permission.
That had been years ago after she’d told him to get out and stay out.
Sometimes it was hard, but it was a promise he would not go back on. And maybe it was for the best—did he really want to know what she thought of him? What she told him she thought of him was bad enough.
He rang the bell and waited. Then rang the bell again. His gut tightened as he heard footsteps, but when the door opened, it wasn’t Kaitlin but Josie who answered.
Her eyes widened, but she managed a somewhat forced smile. She’d never seemed comfortable around him, but then, as far as he could tell, she wasn’t comfortable around anyone. But she looked well, better than she had when she had left Uganda a year ago. He hadn’t seen her since.
She didn’t invite him in.
He raised an eyebrow, and she glanced over her shoulder but still hung onto the door.
He rested his hands on her shoulders, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. He always experienced an unexpected need to protect her, whenever he saw her—something he’d never experienced before, even with Kaitlin. But then, Kaitlin could look after herself, or so she’d always told him.
When he stepped back, she was studying him, head cocked to one side.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Of course. Kaitlin will be...”
“Happy to see me?” he finished for her.
She didn’t answer. She was the only member of the Kindred Kane couldn’t read.
Whatever the Conclave had done to her mind, it had locked it away from the rest of them.
With most people, he’d just have a quick glimpse inside their thoughts.
But from Josie, he got nothing. And she gave nothing away outwardly.
He’d guess she didn’t like him—she was Kaitlin’s friend after all.
Then the solemn expression melted, and she smiled. “No, she won’t be pleased to see you. She really doesn’t like you; you know.”
“I know.”
“Persuade her to go to the meeting.”
That was a surprise. He’d been sure she would side with Kaitlin. She must have seen his expression. “She needs to spend time with them. She won’t admit it, but she misses them.”
“I doubt she misses me.”
“No, probably not. Kaitlin hates you.” She gave another small smile. “She’s always talking about you.”
What the hell did that mean?
Then she shrugged. “But time is running out. She needs to forgive herself for what happened to Sam and move on before it’s too late.”
“She’s done nothing that needs forgiveness.” Unlike him.
“We know that.”
Finally, she stood back and opened the door wider, and he stepped into the hallway. He could hear voices and he followed the sound, opening another door that led into a living/dining area. Kaitlin sat at the table. They’d clearly just finished eating, the table cleared away.
As always, his gaze was drawn toward her, and a fist clenched around his heart. She was so bright, she almost shone. Her hair was cut short, but with a fringe that flopped over her forehead, and which sported a violet streak through it that matched the tight T-shirt she wore.
She was ignoring him and concentrating on her companion.
A man. A stranger. Kane was guessing that she already knew he was here—he’d never told her not to go into his head.
He could stop her if he wanted to, but why bother?
She’d always said she wanted a world with no more lies, and he had nothing to hide from her.
Of course, that made him wonder what she was hiding from him. What didn’t she want him to know she was thinking? Why had Josie said she talked about him all the time?
Best not to read too much into these things. Likely, it was just wishful thinking.
Finally, she looked up and straight into his face. She stared at him for a moment, a challenge in her eyes, then she leaned across, slipped her hand around the strange guy’s neck, pulled him close, and kissed him.