32. Quiet Reconciliation
Quiet Reconciliation
Ice blue eyes stared right through her.
Max’s voice lowered to a seductive whisper, a crooked smile on his lips as his knife slid over her trembling legs. “What. Do. We. Have. Here?” His voice rose in glee. The knife continued its agonizingly slow descent. “Why don’t we call Lucien in here? Make it a reunion of sorts.”
Kate wiggled in the binds, wincing when the rope dug deeper into her skin, finding no give.
Her eyes sped over the room, but there was no one to help her, nothing but the inky darkness and the monster in front of her. If she were to die, she’d do it with her dignity intact. “I don’t think you want Lucien to come in here.”
“What?!” He edged closer, holding the knife to her throat. “What did you just dare say to me?”
Kate leaned in, the blade sinking into her sensitive skin. “You’re no more than a foot soldier. I heard every word in there. You are… nothing.”
He slid the knife over her throat.
Kate shot up, reaching for her neck, wet. She drew back her hands, heart in her throat. No red. Just… just sweat. Her shoulders dropped.
A nightmare, just a nightmare.
Light poured out from behind the curtains, announcing another day in her current situation. She watched as fine dust swiveled in the bright light.
There was no way out. Even if she managed to shake off Lucien, freedom wouldn’t be in her reach. She felt like a hare, bouncing over the snow, paws digging for grip, while a fox stayed on her tail.
And then there was whatever happened between her and Lucien yesterday evening. It couldn’t happen again. Ever.
She dangled her legs over the bed, ignoring the pin pricks running down them, the tiny spasms moving beneath her skin.
Stress like this… she wouldn’t be able to keep it at bay, not for much longer.
Kate focused on her breathing, the smell of mint calming her raised heartbeat.
Bare feet padding over the bedroom floor, she reached for the door, slipping through to pour herself a cup of coffee.
Ahh, the sweet smell of coffee. Well, technically bitter but whatever. Kate filled the cafetiere to the brim, watching as the ground beans swirled, mixing with the steaming water.
“You’ve made coffee.” She turned to find Lucien standing in the hallway, blinking against the light of the morning, voice gruff.
Kate hid a grimace behind a nonchalant hand. So that’s what he looked like before his morning shot, rubbing over his eyes, yawning like he hadn’t had a decent sleep in years.
Perhaps she should chuck the coffee into the drain because it was nice to see him so… normal.
Thank God for small mercies.
She needed it, because with what she’d discovered last night… a little humor would go a long way for her protesting limbs, for her mind to find a tiny bit of peace.
Kate raised a delicate eyebrow at him. “Splendid observation Sherlock.”
He stretched, a long oomph escaping him.
She purposefully glanced away, a show of muscles this early in the morning would be…
bad. Even from him, especially from him.
A realization that didn’t sit well. He’d lied to her or rather, had danced and skirted around the truth.
Who knew what else he was keeping from her. Ever again, Kate. Ever. Again.
Humor it is. She dearly needed to lighten the load on her overreacting immune system. Lucien wasn’t the only one with secrets after all.
She held up the coffeepot in invitation. “Want some?”
“Yes, please.” Lucien dragged a chair back, flopping himself down in it.
“What’s got you so cheerful this early in the morning?” He held up a hand, shielding his eyes like a vampire in the blazing sun.
“Nothing in particular really.” She took a sip from the brown liquid, closing her eyes while she let it swirl over her tongue. Delicious. Opening them, she found Lucien staring at her, a watchful glint in his gaze. Noted how he waited for her to swallow before taking a sip of his own.
Does he think I’d poison him?
Wait, why hadn’t she thought of that before?
“Hmmm, curious.” There was indeed a hint of suspicion in his voice.
“Can’t a girl be in a good mood in the morning, hmm, night owl?” Kate tilted her head, shooting him a teasing smile.
“Not after last night’s happenings.”
Depends on the happenings you’re referring to.
“Yeah, well.” She poured herself more coffee. It splashed over the edge and dripped down the outside of her mug. “If I had to let threats on my life destroy what I have left… carpe diem, no?” Maybe she was getting numb to having her life in danger.
“That’s the spirit.” Lucien coughed, lazily rifling through the papers strewn across the table. “Talking about spirit, could you fill in for me today?”
Kate angled her head in question, eyes narrowing. “Fill in for what? I’m not exactly fit for the life of a murderer.”
He snorted. “You sell yourself short, sweetheart, but no worries. I’m supposed to give a self-defense lesson at the sanctuary, thing is, I’m needed elsewhere.”
Hah, he’s hilarious. Seems like humor will be in abundance today.
Kate laughed, rolling her eyes while she took another sip of her coffee.
“I’m quite serious.”
The mug stalled halfway to her lips. “Me? Me? Give a self-defense class. I don’t know the first thing about teaching.”
Lucien leaned backward in his chair, front legs lifting off the concrete. “Again, another huge underestimation. You’ve proven to be a swift learner, you’ve mastered the basics, and your instincts are solid. Besides, they’re no cage fighters.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “Thanks for the compliments, I guess, but that doesn’t make me a teacher.”
A loud tsk-tsk echoed across the house, spooking Ghost from where he lay under the piano. Seeing the message wasn’t for him, he dropped his chin on the floor with a loud sigh blowing out of his nose.
Kate Withers giving lessons to a group of women staring up at her, waiting for her instructions. Her palms began to sweat.
“I think they’d love to have a woman take over for once. It could give them a boost of self-confidence when you show what y’all are made of.”
Kate rolled her eyes, huffing. “I can’t even beat your ass. What am I supposed to teach them?”
His answer came easily. “Perseverance, resilience, determination, not to mention the fact that you don’t freeze. That might seem normal to you, but most people would shut down where you pushed through Kate.”
Well damn. Was he kidnapped by aliens overnight?
“Besides,” a cocky smile played along his lips.
“I’m not some untrained ’ass’ as you so eloquently put it.
I’ve been training rigorously for many years, if you could knock me on my ass at this stage, I’d have a serious problem on my hands.
” He winked at her, adding, “But give it some time, you’ll catch up… If you want to, that is.”
He sure wasn’t letting go of this one.
She grinned, rolling her shoulders. “Complimentary, aren’t we today?”
“Hmmm, merely truthful as per usual. Now.” He leaned forward on the chair, a knowing smirk already in place as he teasingly inquired, “Does milady feel up for the challenge?”
Gods. “You’re such an insufferable bastard.” He knew just which buttons to push with her.
He got up, stretching his legs as he said. “So I’ve been told before.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll be the teacher for today.
” Her hands met each other in a mock punch, the sound resounding across the living room.
“Let’s replace your ass. They’ll be asking for trainer Katherine from now on.
” She felt her lips spread into a sly smile, mirroring his.
“They’ll be chanting, be gone with stuck-up Lucien. ”
“Stuck-up Lucien, you say?” He moved closer to her, drawing up to his full towering height, making her lift her chin in order to keep her eyes glued to his. “ You’d do well to remember that trainer Kate will still be getting in the ring with trainer Lucien.”
Oh yes, she hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. “Fuck.” It slipped out before she had a chance to swallow the word. Knowing full well what the consequences would be of antagonizing him.
He raised his eyebrows in triumph as if he’d just won a prize.
“Fuck indeed. Lesson 101 in self-defense. Never challenge your own trainer. He’ll show less mercy in future…
dealings.” Okay, yes, Kate needed to get going before she would dig herself an even deeper grave.
Clapping her hands together, she blurted out. “Let’s get going, shall we?”
The mere “Hmmhmmm.” told her he knew precisely where her mind had strayed. Making her way to the hall to get dressed, she heard him mutter under his breath. “Smart girl.” Just loud enough so that she’d hear it. Yep, she would not be setting foot on that bomb this time around.
Hurrying down the hallway, his answering chuckle followed her on foot.
***
The car ride had been silent. It left Kate with plenty of time to stew over his latest threat, picturing the scenarios of him getting back at her.
None of them bode well.
She glanced over at the driver, one hand on the steering wheel while the other rested on his thigh, fingers drumming to a beat only he could hear. No doubt also conjuring up the many different ways he could terrorize her in their next showdown on the mats.
Kate sighed, drawing his attention to her. He still wore the same sly smile plastered to his face, shooting her another promising wink. All good fun. She sighed again, resigning herself to her fate.
Casually rolling to a stop in front of the shelter, he killed the engine and turned in his seat. But her attention was elsewhere, on the building, where her doom sat waiting for her. With a cough, Lucien redirected her attention to him.
“You can still say sorry, you know…”
Her hand was already on the doorknob, ready to escape his presence and face the uncertainty awaiting her in the halls of the sanctuary.
She should have known he still had something up his sleeve. Turning to face him, she asked. “Excuse me?”
He smirked knowingly, resting his hand on the stick shift. “Don’t act all innocent now, apologize, and I’ll go easy on you next time we square off.”
Her eyebrows rose in indignation. “I think my gracious acceptance to help you should function as a sorry.”
“Hmmm… maybe.” He leaned toward her, voice low as he muttered. “I want to hear you say it though.”
Opening the door with a click, she muttered. “Stick that apology up your ass, Lucien.” The damage was done anyhow, the last thing she would do was grovel for his mercy.
“Duly noted.”
Kate stepped out of the car, legs trembling slightly. Her breath swirling in the air before her, she rubbed her hands together, wondering if this winter would last forever.
“Good luck.” It should have been comforting, yet he managed to make it sound like a dark promise.
What have I done?
“And have fun!” He wiggled his eyebrows in amusement. She shut the door in his face, perhaps a little more roughly than was strictly necessary.
But even as the shivers raced down her spine, she realized something: the entire time they’d been together, thoughts of Max hadn’t crossed her mind again. It prevented her from straying into dangerous territory and kept her from slipping into a panic.
Straightening her shoulders, she strode toward the looming building, her pulse racing.
Fake it till you make it, Kate. You’ve freaking got this.
Eyes burned into her back while she took the sand-colored steps two by two, heavy snow covered the lower stairs, lessening to a thin, crunching layer as she passed under the ceiling. The Volvo engine roared to life behind her. He’d stay, watching until she was safely inside.
“Hey, Kate!” She turned, squinting through the falling flakes at Lucien’s rolled-down window. Barely making out his thumbs-up jutting from the car. “You’ve got this!”
Her heartbeat dulled, limbs softening. She nodded her chin, waving her hand at him by way of thanks.
Yes, he was successfully getting into her mind. And that perhaps was the most dangerous territory of all.
A warm voice called out to her. “Welcome back, Katherine!” It was Georgia. A swift hug followed. With Kate throwing a glance over her shoulder to see Lucien steering his hulking black car onto the road, speeding off to wherever he needed to be.