Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)(71)

“There is,” Dad replied. “You and I can’t go, but we also can’t afford to lose one of our allies.”

He paused, and I waited, a spring of hope blooming to life inside me.

“Is Kaidan listening?” Dad asked. “I need him to hear this.”

“Yes,” I said. I crinkled my brow at Kaidan, who shrugged.

“All right,” Dad began. “Son of Pharzuph?”

“Yes, sir?” Kai pushed off from the wall, as if my father were really in the room.

“I assume you’ve agreed to ally and help us with this cause in any way necessary?” Dad asked.

“Of course, Duke Belial.”

Kaidan and I stared at each other expectantly.

“Then pack a bag, boy. You’re going to Syria.”

My head whipped up to Kaidan, whose eyes had widened with surprise. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Dad added on a kicker.

“You’ve got to move while the summit’s still on. I should mention you’ll be traveling with the son of Alocer, and I’m putting him in charge. But I’m sure that won’t be an issue for you, will it?”

Oh, Dad.

Kaidan’s hands rounded into fists and uncurled again as he cleared his throat. “No, sir. No problem.”

I stared at the phone, which emitted my father’s low chuckle. A demon-worthy sound. He was so not funny.

“The son of Mammon will meet you there from Australia. He’ll lie low and watch your backs. I would send Blake, since he’d be easier to disguise than Flynn, but his father mentioned he’s got a dirt bike race tomorrow. Anyhow. You’ll need to use extreme caution out there because I’m sure Sonellion will have human watchers keeping an eye on the situation.” Dad filled Kaidan in on where to meet his contacts for weapons and instructions once they got to Damascus. “Any questions?”

“Only one, sir.” Kai stood tall and serious. “When do we leave?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

STRANGERS

Dad had already set the ball in motion before he was finally able to get in touch with us. Kope was on a plane to L.A. and would take a cab to Kaidan’s apartment so they could discuss the mission and arrive together. A local makeup and costume artist would also be coming to transform the guys into passable Syrians, under the assumption their getups were for a movie filming.

Kaidan and I had been rushing around his apartment since the phone call. We’d both showered and forced down some breakfast. I helped him pack, keeping it basic since we didn’t know what he’d need. Kaidan had been quiet all morning.

We finally stopped and sat together on the black leather couch, staring at the television and sound system that were turned off. Kaidan’s posture and silence spoke of mounting tension. Tucking my feet under myself, I angled toward him, wanting to touch him and ease him somehow. With a slow movement, I pushed the wavy locks from his eyes; they were just long enough to twist behind his ear. He didn’t move.

“What are you thinking?” I whispered.

“Hm?” His face pivoted to me, but his eyes remained blank.

“Are you . . . scared?” I asked.

That cleared his eyes. “Of the mission? No. I’m glad to do it.”

Back to wall staring. He cracked his thumb knuckles, and I took his warm hand.

“Are you upset about my dad putting Kope in charge? Because I don’t think it’s anything personal. Kope knows Arabic—”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” I squeezed his hand, worried that I was being too pushy.

“It’s nothing.” He finally turned to me and met my eyes, reaching up to stroke my cheek with his thumb. “Everything will be fine,” he promised.

I wrapped my arms around him, and he pulled me onto his lap, where we embraced, breathing each other in until a car door shut outside. Kaidan patted my bottom, making a little mmm sound, and I stood.

I opened the door, expecting to see Kope, but instead there was a tiny lady all gothed out with a spiky black pixie cut at her car, struggling to carry hangers of clothes over one shoulder and a ginormous coffee in the other hand. The nub of a cigarette burned between her lips. I rushed out and down the stairs to help, but she shook her head and nodded to the car.

“Get my kit from the front seat.” She spoke around the cigarette, her voice scratchy.

I found a plastic box with drawers in the passenger seat, and brought it up. Kaidan raised an eyebrow at me when I entered, looking uncertain about it all. He stood watching with his hands in the pockets of his low-slung camo shorts. The makeup artist stopped for a brief coughing fit and a chug of coffee.

Another car door closed outside and Kaidan stiffened as I moved toward the door. If it weren’t for Zania, I’d have done everything in my power to avoid this meeting of the three of us, which was bound to be uncomfortable at best. As I pulled open the door, guilt rushed forward at the sight of Kopano’s smooth face. I wanted to warn him that Kai knew what had happened, but I couldn’t. I gave him a small smile, and he nodded in return. Neither of us tried to hug when he came in, and I closed the door behind him as he set down his small duffel bag.

Kope and Kai stood there in a stare down and I froze. Kai was hardened, lips pursed. Kope appeared calm, but I could sense the wheels turning in his mind.

“I suspected you were not being forthcoming when I called you from Australia,” Kopano gently accused.