From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(111)

“Well, then take a closer look at Brad and Tad because Squirrel is practically in love with me. We’ve been friends for so long we’re like an old married couple.”

But old married couples could get jealous. Old married couples sometimes found all that love and familiarity turning into hate. “When was the last time Squirrel had a girlfriend? Any of them, really?”

Jared thought about it for a moment. “Brad usually has a girlfriend in LA, but he cheats any time we’re on the road. And it’s not like the arrangement I have with Jess.”

“What is the arrangement with Jess?” How could he have forgotten about Jessica Hamilton? Jared’s super-couple other half? Somehow it was easy to forget her since Jared rarely mentioned the woman he spent much of his off time with. She was a stunning beauty. He’d seen her on the covers of magazines. What if she wanted to take her relationship with Jared past their arrangement? Would she kill to do it?

Jared sighed. “I’m telling you this because you’re my brother and I trust you, but don’t ever mention this to anyone else. Jess has some issues with her sexual identity that she would rather not explain to the press. I like women I would rather not expose to the press. We came up with the idea of helping each other a couple of years back and it’s worked quite well. Every now and then I’ll get caught talking to some woman, but Jess always goes out and explains that she loves and trusts me and it dies down.”

That was a lot for a woman of her station to take on. But there was also the issue of timing. From what Kai understood, Jessica hadn’t known Jared when the killings began. Unless she was obsessed with him. God knew plenty of teenaged girls had been. They’d shown up at the house at all hours of the day trying to get his attention. “What is the identity issue she’s dealing with? Is she a lesbian, because that’s quite accepted in Hollywood today. Given that she tends to star in intellectual films, I would be surprised if she would lose work over that.”

“She’s asexual.”

“Ah,” Kai said, understanding the issue. There was a small amount of the populace that simply didn’t have any kind of a sex drive nor did they find themselves sexually attracted to either gender. It was oft discussed as to whether this was nature or nurture, so to speak, but admitting she was so far out of the status quo likely would bring her unwanted attention. “I understand. And you’re sure she’s not in love with you?”

Asexual people could love as easily as anyone else. They simply didn’t care for sexual intimacy. Kai wouldn’t eliminate her because of her preferences though.

“It’s not Jess. She’s in Hong Kong filming as we speak. I doubt she flew here, killed Lena, and then made it back for AM call. I want to know who told the feds Lena and I had that fight. Because we didn’t. She told me she needed to talk to me about firing someone. I avoided her. That’s not a fight.” His cell trilled and Jared frowned again. He stared down at the screen. “This is my private line. No one has this number. I crushed my professional line earlier because it’s nothing but reporters. How do I know that number? Janice. Shit. I think that’s Janice. My old publicist. I’ve got to take this.”

Jared put the phone to his ear and stepped out.

Kai looked back down at his cell. Shit. Nothing. He picked it up and quickly texted.

Are you coming to work?

Kori always had her cell with her. Maybe if he kept it professional, she would reply. He waited a minute and then two more. Nothing.

She was done with him. A few thoughtless words and she was through. Guess her feelings hadn’t been as strong as he’d thought.

He had to face some real truths. She’d lied to him about what she wanted. She was a masochist. He’d never once lied about being a sadist. They were a match to have at the very least played together. Yet she’d stayed away from him, preferring other dominant partners. Maybe she’d been looking for an out. He’d threatened her that first night. He hadn’t meant to, but the fact that she’d been lying to every partner she played with could have gotten her escorted out of Sanctum. He might have played that to his advantage because he was a selfish bastard who’d wanted her so badly he couldn’t stand it. She’d seen the opportunity to get out of the relationship with her Sanctum membership intact and she’d taken it.

But she’d said I love you.

Kori didn’t lie. She couldn’t be bothered to. If she’d said it, then she meant it, and not in terms of “I love what you do to me.” She’d said I love you and that meant she loved him.

So why was she ignoring him?

Talk to me, he texted her. Please talk to me.

He sat and stared at the screen as though he could will her to reply. The phone buzzed in his hand.

I’ll be in the office in an hour. We do need to talk. I don’t know how we move past this.

He took a deep breath. Okay. At least she was replying to texts. He would give her that for now. We will move past this. I love you. No matter what you heard, I love you. Let me try to explain.

I’ll be there soon. Just got home and have to deal with your brother’s friend first. As soon as I’ve figured out what he wants, I’ll be there.

Jared’s friend? Who’s there, baby? I don’t want you opening the door to anyone. Anyone.

It’s the weird one. He’s trying to find out if we saw Lena last night. Don’t be a drama queen. I’m not alone.