Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)(72)

“Well, that certainly didn’t stop you,” Kai replied.

Kope’s calm expression turned to a frown. “Do not play victim when you are partly to blame.”

Kai’s hands were in fists. He stepped closer, and so did I. This was worse than I’d expected.

“Brother,” Kope began, a mild warning in his voice, but Kai cut him off.

“What, your life wasn’t perfect enough? College? Not having to work? You needed just a little something more?”

Kope’s badge expanded. He closed his eyes and shook his head. His fists balled for a second, as if he were trying to maintain control when confronted with another man’s wrath.

Kaidan’s feelings of betrayal ran deep, and the situation scared me. These two needed to get along for this mission to be successful.

The makeup artist finished her coffee and let out a sigh, breaking the silence with her jagged voice. “Save your lines for the set, boys. I don’t usually work this early on the weekends and I’m not in the mood.”

When they didn’t move or break their stare down I spoke up. “Seriously. That’s enough. We don’t have time for this. Come on.” I was shaking when I grabbed Kaidan’s arm and pointed to the chair. With one last slanted glare at Kope, he obeyed. I sat on the couch and crossed my arms and legs, tense. Kope stood against the wall. I didn’t look at him, but I knew he was trying to calm himself.

Crap, this was bad.

The makeup artist got straight to work, pointing Kope toward the bedroom. She was efficient, having one guy dress while she worked on the other. I sat on the couch and watched in amazement. When she’d applied a full beard to Kaidan, he caught my eye and sent me a half grin. I shook my head in wonder. He already looked like a stranger. The transformation was sort of freaky.

Both guys were given traditional loose outfits of long white cotton shirts and drawstring pants. They each wore white scarves over their hair and foreheads with black bands around the crown of their heads. To top off their disguises, both of them had to wear brown contact lenses. Their light-colored eyes would stand out too much. By the end, only their hands, faces, and feet showed.

“Wow,” I breathed as they stood before me. I turned to the woman. “You did an amazing job.”

She shrugged. “This was an easy one. Here’s the extra outfits your producer requested. Break a leg, boys.”

Making quick work of the cleanup, she left us. The moment the door closed behind her, palpable waves of discomfort tainted the air.

When Kaidan went in his room to get his packed bag, I gave Kope a small smile over my shoulder, hoping he wasn’t too hurt or upset. His responding expression was one of resigned understanding. I handed him his pile of extra clothes and he put them in his bag. I turned quickly when I heard Kaidan coming back in. Kai glared back and forth between the two of us for a second. I had to swallow, because he looked so unlike himself. Both of them did. Jealous. Paranoid. Bearded. It was unnerving.

Kaidan took his pile of clothing and shoved it into his duffel bag. I checked the clock: 8:30.

“I’ll drive you to the airport,” I offered. Kaidan grabbed his keys from the coffee table and tossed them to me without a word.

I couldn’t help but contemplate the wrongness of this whole situation as we climbed in the SUV and set out. Forcing Kaidan and Kopano together, saving a young woman from prison by purchasing her—I wasn’t even sure of the whole plan yet. Dad had been in a rush and told Kaidan that Kope would debrief him on the plane. All I knew was that I felt sick about it. The only consolation was that the Dukes and whisperers would be in Vegas. If the guys could work quickly, they’d only spend a day in the countryside of Syria before bringing Zania back here to L.A.

Sending her to L.A. had been my idea, and Dad agreed. I’d immediately thought about the convent where I was born, which also served as a shelter and safe house for women. My job today was to call the convent and explain the situation of my friend, a refugee from Syria. I prayed they had room for her. Of course she wouldn’t be able to stay there forever, but we’d worry about that when the time came. One giant issue at a time was all I could handle.

When I stopped at the curb at LAX, I spoke as they reached for their door handles. “Guys.” I turned in the seat to see them. “Look, I know this whole thing is weird, but please think about Zania. She’s going to be scared to death and might be hurt.” My voice thickened. “And she hates men. It won’t be easy for her to accept your help. Don’t make it worse by fighting. Just, please . . . put the animosity aside and help her, okay?”

The three of us were still, and the tension eased slightly. “All will be well, Anna. Do not worry.” Kope’s soft words were a comfort. I closed my eyes and nodded, believing him. He climbed out of the car, leaving Kaidan and me to say our good-byes as he entered the airport alone.

Knowing Kope was still within earshot, I signed to Kaidan: Don’t be mad at him. He respects you.

He exhaled a sarcastic huff of air and signed: He knew how I felt, and he still went after you.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

“I wish you would have been honest about how you felt when he called,” I whispered.

He tapped the console, staring down at his fingers when he spoke. “Maybe I just needed to make sure the two of you weren’t meant to be.”

I touched his hand and signed. It was always you for me. Only you.