Chapter 20 Worst Possible Scenarios
Worst Possible Scenarios
Enzo to Kai: If she’s hurt I will gut you and bury your body somewhere no one will ever find it. [delivered]
Kai
Downstairs, I strip into my running shorts and step outside, trying to burn off the steam that’s been building in me all day.
I love running.
It’s the only time my mind stops running wild. For a few minutes, I forget all my issues. All the shit I’ve buried.
But Nico’s on my heels. Fucking prick.
“You’ve been running for an hour already,” he calls out, his voice dragging through the air, his heavy breathing matching my pace. “What’s got you in your head?”
The guy just doesn’t quit. He’s got a fucking persistence about him. Keeps trying to be my friend. But then he flirts with Tess. Make it make sense.
“Nothing,” I grind out, the words slipping through my teeth as I pump my arms harder. Sweat coats my skin, my lungs burn, but I push myself.
“Alright. Keep your secrets. I’m going to find Tess.”
That fucking stops me in my tracks.
A growl builds at the back of my throat. “Stay the fuck away from her.”
He grins, unphased. “No can do, my man. She’s under my protection.”
I mutter a curse and break into a sprint back toward the house. I’m not leaving him alone with her.
It’s a friend thing.
I tell myself that, over and over.
When I get back inside, I find Tess in the kitchen, humming along to Rita Ora’s Poison while she’s making lunch. Of course, the entire kitchen looks like a warzone. Every pan’s in use. Sauce splatters everywhere like it’s some kind of art.
She doesn’t even realise I’m standing there, watching. But her hips? Damn. Every little sway makes my pulse race.
The mess she’s made? I should be twitching with irritation, but seeing her so carefree, so happy with herself... it softens the blow. The anxiety isn’t so prominent.
“Smells great in here. Whatcha cookin?” Nico’s voice cuts through the calm, and Tess jumps, clutching her chest like she’s had a mini heart attack. She’s always so wrapped up in whatever she’s doing that she’s oblivious to everything around her.
Rage coils inside me, bunching my shoulders, turning my knuckles white as Nico strolls into the kitchen like he owns the place. He doesn’t live here. He’s got no reason to be here unless he’s playing bodyguard. But somehow, he’s always around. Always finding reasons to be near her.
Tess catches my eye and smiles softly. Her gaze flicks to me, then back to Nico.
“Bolognese,” she answers, turning back to Nico.
He groans theatrically. “Enough for one more?” His eyes flash to hers, puppy dog wide, and I feel my jaw tighten even more.
She meets my gaze for a split second before looking away. “Sorry, I only made enough for two.”
Nico beams like she’s just given him a prize. Then, as if it’s all part of his game, he throws me a wink. “Tough luck, Kai.”
And just to twist the knife, he wraps his arm around her shoulder.
I hold my ground, but inside, something snaps.
The anger simmers, white hot.
But I don’t say anything. I just clench my fists harder.
Tess steps away from him, and a flash of relief washes over me. But it’s fleeting.
She plates her own food and walks toward the living room.
“The two of you can fight for it.”
Her voice is light, but her eyes flick to me again, the hurt too clear. I don’t know what just happened. But I know I fucked up.
Without a word, I follow her.
She’s sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, staring at the blank TV screen. She’s in joggers, an oversized t-shirt, and her hair’s piled up in a messy bun. She’s so fucking beautiful to look at it almost hurts.
I clear my throat. “Tess...”
She cuts me off, her voice soft but firm. “It’s fine, Kai.”
My words get stuck in my throat.
“We’re just friends, right?” she asks, her tone light but there’s an edge to it.
I nod, like an idiot. “Friends that fuck.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. I hate myself a little for needing to say that. It’s like I’m making sure I haven’t somehow fucked up this arrangement.
She scoops a mouthful of bolognese, avoiding my gaze for a beat.
“So… we’re good?” I ask.
“We’re good.”
I hesitate before walking back to the kitchen, thankful that Nico has disappeared and there’s still a portion of pasta waiting for me.
The day flies by. Tess talks, I listen. Back and forth, comfortable in the silence between words. But there’s a tension, and it sits in my chest, a gnawing feeling I can’t shake.
Later, after dinner, Tess asks, “Do you have any requests for dinner?”
“You cooked a full-on meal for lunch,” I reply, raising an eyebrow.
She looks at me, completely unbothered. “So?”
I can’t help but shake my head, smiling despite myself. “Whatever you want is fine with me.”
She grins and my heart aches a little. “Great! I’m making paella.”
My brow furrows. “Do you even have the ingredients for that?”
Her excitement is contagious. “I sent Happy out for them yesterday. I knew I’d want to make some this week.”
She bounces away with a happy little skip, and I watch her go, fighting off the urge to follow.
After dinner—which is delicious—we watch a film. Tess picks. I almost expect to have to watch some cheesy rom-com, but I should have known she’d go for a thriller. Not just any thriller either, but a brutal, edge-of-your-seat kind that makes even me raise an eyebrow.
She just sips her wine (chugs it more like) and laughs at completely inappropriate moments.
I’m starting to see why she seemed so unaffected by her own little crime scene if this is the kind of thing she’s used to. By the time the credits roll around my heart is in my throat and I’m not sure I’ll sleep without nightmares.
Tess stretches and yawns, completely unbothered. “I need sleep.” She stands, heading towards the stairs, then pauses. Her head turns back to me. “Do you… want to come up with me?”
I don’t answer. I just walk over, scoop her up, and throw her over my shoulder like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She squeals, smacking me on the back. I don’t care. I can’t help but grin.
Only when we get to the bedroom do I set her down, letting her body slowly slide down my front.
Her pupils dilate the moment she feels the tension in me, the way I’m aching for her. Just being this close to her is enough to make me lose control.
Her hands roam over my chest, feeling my erratic heartbeat, the proof of how badly I want her. She reaches up to cup my neck, tugging me down, pulling my lips onto hers.
I groan into her mouth, kissing her deeply, my tongue demanding entrance. Every touch, every kiss, coils my body tighter, leaving me desperate for more.
With my legs carrying us toward the bed, I walk her backward, guiding her until I’m pushing her onto the mattress, covering her body with mine.
I roam my hands over her, wanting to feel every inch of her. I lift her top, kissing her stomach with each inch that becomes exposed to me. She giggles and fuck. That sound.
I suck her nipple, and her laughter turns to moans.
After that we're in a rush of motion as we strip each other of our clothes before coming back together, skin to skin, as I take her lips with mine.
My cock strains, hot and hard as it rubs against her pussy. She spreads her legs wider, opening herself up to me.
But I want this to last.
Take my time.
I flip onto my back, pulling her with me. She lands on my chest with an, “Oof.”
“I need to taste you,” I murmur against her lips. “Ride my face again.”
I expect her to hesitate like before.
But Tess is always surprising me.
In the best ways.
She flips herself round so she’s facing my feet, her cunt glistening above me.
She’s so swollen and needy already and I haven’t even put my hands on her yet. Or my tongue.
I take hold of her hips and pull her down so I can swipe my tongue through her sweetness, groaning as I do.
At the same time, she takes my cock into her mouth and my moan cuts off into a strangled sound.
“Fuck, Tess,” I mumble against her pussy before burying my face in her, licking and swiping at her clit before plunging my tongue inside her.
She rocks her hips against me, whimpering around my dick. The vibrations only serve to make me harder. To bring me closer to the edge.
As I plunge two fingers into her wet channel and suck on her greedily, her thighs clench, locking my head in place as she comes.
I keep lapping at her arousal, even after her orgasm subsides, as she starts sucking me down further, swirling her tongue over the head of my cock before taking me right to the back of her throat.
My release hits me, blacking out my vision as I groan into her thighs.
She climbs off me once she’s sucked me dry. Her body flopping down into a starfish position next to me, completely spent. Tess’s chest rises and falls in rapid succession and her eyelids are half lidded.
“I don’t have the energy for sex,” she huffs.
A small breathless laugh leaves me before I force myself up. I hold out my hand to her. “Come one, let’s get ready for bed.”
She eyes me for a moment before placing her hand in mine and letting me drag her limp body up and into the bathroom.
The two of us get ready together, brushing our teeth side by side and it’s so domestic it’s easy to forget that we’re in a safehouse because she has the Russian Mafia after her.
I check my phone quickly.
Enzo: Still no sign of Petrov. He’s in the wind. Looking like it will be a couple more weeks.
On the few times I’ve spoken to him since we got here he’s not had much by way of updates. He should have found something by now. That alone terrifies me.
The reminder of the danger we’re in—she’s in—is enough to snap me back to reality.
By the time I get into bed, Tess’s small body curled up next to mine, I'm a nervous wreck. I can’t stop obsessing over the worst possible scenarios.
Tess falls asleep quickly, which is no surprise after the wine she’s drunk. Me? I lie awake for hours unable to shut my brain off.
I check my phone.
It’s now three in the morning and I still can’t sleep.