Demand (Careless Whispers #2)(73)

“No one can see us.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean—” He thumbs my clit and presses another finger inside me. “I’m going to come really fast.” He kisses me, a deep slide of his tongue, and oh . . . oh . . . I stiffen and come. That fast, hard. My body shakes and quakes and I collapse against him, burying my face in his chest. “See? Embarrassing.”

“Try sexy as hell, and I’m hard as f*ck. Now I’m taking you home.” He goes down on a knee in front of me and starts lacing up my jeans, and a shadow catches my eye on the other side of the room.

“Kayden,” I say urgently. “I think someone is here.”

He stands and turns to scan the room, wrapping his arm around my waist. “What did you see?”

“A shift in the shadows. I know I’m drunk, but someone was watching.”

He unzips my purse and puts my hand on Annie. “Probably a kid, but stay here. I want to be sure.”

I lean against the wall and watch as he walks the entire floor, and Garner’s words play in my head again. I will find you. I shake off the memory and hug myself when Kayden returns with no evidence of our voyeur. “Nothing?”

“Nothing obvious,” he says, “but if you say someone was there, I believe you.”

“It felt—”

He cups my face. “I know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t him. Garner Neuville is not here. But I am. Okay?”

“Yes. It’s the rawness of my memories and the alcohol.”

“Which is understandable.” He takes my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

We head for the stairs, and I have such a strong feeling of being watched again that the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Which makes no sense. Kayden just checked the room. I’m officially done with drinking.



Bundled up again, Kayden and I exit into the cold night. “This way,” Kayden says, turning us left, his arm around my waist. “We have two left turns to reach the castle.”

“I’m never going to figure out these small clusters of streets.”

“Landmarks,” he says. “Look for restaurants.” He points to a green sign. “That’s a pharmacy sign. They’re always easy to find.”

We turn left onto another busy street lined with restaurants, and my head spins a bit. “I’m still tipsy, so I’m not likely to remember it tonight.” I sober a bit with memories of the bar. “I really thought I saw someone back there, Kayden.”

“And I really do believe you.”

“But I had this moment when I thought it was him. I hate that I’m letting him get to me.” We turn left onto one of the streets that’s more alleyway than road, with parked motorcycles in clusters along the walls and little alcoves here and there, and I’m immediately uncomfortable. “I know I’m drunk, but—”

“I feel it, too.”

I reach under my coat and unzip my purse, just in time. Someone jumps out at me from an alcove, and instinct kicks in. I throw an elbow, whirl around, and shove my knee into my attacker’s groin. He grunts and falls to his knees, and I point my gun at him.

“Kayden?” I call, glancing over my shoulder to see him slam a gun into the head of another man, who collapses next to yet another who’s already on the ground.

The man in front of me groans and rolls to his back. Kayden is there instantly, shoving his foot into the man’s chest. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I say, while Carlo and two other men appear seemingly out of nowhere and point weapons at the fallen men.

“Bitch,” the man on the ground growls at me.

“That bitch took you down while she’s drunk,” Kayden tells the man. “Who sent you?”

“Fuck you,” the man grumbles.

“I’ll be your bitch,” Carlo offers, placing his foot on my attacker’s hand and giving it a crunch, apparently pretty hard because the man makes a horrible sound.

“Who sent you?” Kayden demands of the man.

“I don’t know,” the man growls and when Carlo starts to apply pressure again, he says, “It was a cash pickup. I never saw the person.”

“What were your instructions?” Kayden asks.

“We were supposed to scare the girl and make her feel like you can’t protect her.”

Carlo laughs. “And then the girl beat your ass.” He glances at me. “Remind me not to piss you off.”

Kayden tells him, “Tie them up and dump them on Gallo’s doorstep.” He turns to me, and it’s only then that I realize I’m still pointing my gun. He takes it from me and sticks it back in my purse. “It’s done.” He links my arm around his, and sets us walking toward the castle, removing his phone to punch in a number.

“Detective Gallo,” he says a moment later. “You have a special delivery coming your way. And thanks for making me look good. Your men were idiots, and Ella is more convinced than ever that I’m the greatest warrior on the planet.” There is silence, then Kayden laughs. “I’m thinking you should arrest those guys and look like a hero. I’ll come file a police report tomorrow if you like. And I’ll even bring Ella.” He ends the call and sticks his phone back in his jacket.