From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(119)

“Sure you are.” Tag sat back, regarding him seriously. “Serena’s already gotten several calls about Jared and the movie. She made a statement that she didn’t think the movie should continue without him. The TV show is standing by him. I think he’ll get all his jobs back and come out of this more popular than ever.”

“Yes, but what did it cost him?”

Big Tag looked at him from across the table. “I know what it cost you. Don’t think I’m ignoring that. I know how much you’ve sacrificed, Kai. I think you should tell Kori why you did it. I won’t have you lose her over this. There’s been too much loss as it is. Simply ask her to be quiet about it.”

He wasn’t sure she could. He wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t think Erin deserved to know. It wasn’t a question of Erin’s competence or her place in the order of those who loved Theo. It was about protecting her. “I can’t. If she decided Erin needed to know, she would tell her.”

Tag groaned and shook his head. “I think that’s a bad idea. Erin is starting to come out of it. Not entirely and she never will, but she smiled this morning. She told me she’s already named the baby. If she knows, she’ll want to be a part of the team that brings him back. I’m not a monster, Kai. I knew she needed revenge. It’s why I let her and Nick take out McDonald. She’s smart and one of the best operatives I have, but she’s also basically my sister-in-law. Maybe they weren’t married, but I think they would have eventually. I know it’s what Theo wanted and I have to honor my brother by protecting his family.”

“I can’t tell Kori.” Tag’s words did nothing but make it even clearer. Kai had to get her back and he couldn’t use the only tool that would work. “I have to hope she’ll miss me.”

Tag’s eyes narrowed. “Seriously? Are you going to meditate on that?”

He flipped off his friend. “I’m going to keep trying to talk to her.”

“Or you could make her listen. I thought you were the big bad sadist. Shouldn’t the big bad sadist go hard after his girl?”

According to his brother when Kori discovered her old Master’s issues, she left and he allowed it to happen. Was Kai playing into her fears? He’d been trying to take it slow, trying not to give into his instincts. He wanted to tie her up in ropes and contracts and legal bindings. He wanted to possess her, to own a piece of her soul and give her part of his. He’d seen her fear of commitment, but maybe it came from a fear that she wasn’t good enough to pursue, wasn’t worth the chase.

He could give her a chase. “Tag, I’m going to need you to make sure Sanctum’s ready for me tonight. And I’ll need to know when Kori’s coming home from the hospital. Sarah won’t want to be alone.”

“I think Mia is planning on staying with her,” Tag replied, pulling his cell out.

“Mia’s staying?” He’d expected her to flee town at the earliest possible time.

“I’m hedging my bets. If Rush can’t get me what I need, then maybe Drew Lawless can. I’m meeting him for lunch somewhere quiet. When you get a chance, I’d like your take on him. And his sister is hanging around for a while. She says it’s about trying to save her friendships.”

But it was likely all about Case. The question was would Case have anything to do with her now that the op was over.

None of that mattered as much as getting his girl back. “I need to teach my sub that she won’t be allowed to walk away without a fight. The good news is, I think she’ll like how I fight.”

He intended to win.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN





Kori looked out of the car window and frowned. “This isn’t home, Case. Are you taking me to work? Because I kind of thought the office would be closed for the day.”

It wasn’t day anymore. They’d spent the entire morning and afternoon at the hospital, getting looked over and then talking to police. Sarah had required two stitches on her neck, but mostly she’d been a terribly lucky girl. She was all right with the singular exception of her heart. Kori was afraid that was broken. Jared had sent her a text apologizing and asking her not to contact him again.

That was when Sarah finally cried.

“I was told to bring you to Sanctum, Kori,” Case said. “And you know I always do as I’m told.”

Why was she here? Well, deep down she knew why she was here. Kai wanted to talk to her and apparently they were doing it on neutral ground. She knew she needed to talk to him, knew it had to happen soon, but she’d promised her friend. “I need to pack a bag for Sarah and get to the hotel. We’re all staying with Mia tonight.”

Somehow after everything they’d been through it was easy to forgive Mia.

It was easy to forgive Kai, too. She just wasn’t sure it was going to be easy to be honest with him about what she wanted.

She wanted him and only him for the rest of her life. She wanted to throw away all her inhibitions and love him and let herself be. She’d fought for so long to not be the girl she’d been with Morgan that she had to ask herself who she’d become. Becoming anti-Morgan was only another form of denying herself. What did she want?

Kori wanted Kai and she wanted to write. She was simply afraid to reach out and grasp them.