Down to My Soul (Soul Series Book 2)(94)

“Grip’s here because I thought you might need some back up.” Bristol rolls her eyes. “Or at the very least a babysitter to make sure you don’t end up in jail, and I don’t trust Gep with that responsibility.”

“Jail?” I stop chewing. “What the f*ck?”

“We found Drex.” My sister passes a glance between Kai and me. “Took Gep no time. Drex is in Topanga, just where San last spotted him.”

I spring to my feet and scrape the remains of my breakfast into the garbage disposal, the satisfying grind only making me wish it was Drex’s head I was shoving down that dark, greedy hole.

“Gimme the address.” I lean against the sink, arms folded across my chest. I can’t even look at Kai, who went completely still as soon as Bris shared her news.

“I hope it’s okay that I caught Grip up on some of what’s happening. Not all,” Bristol says. “You can tell him what you like, but I don’t want you going to see Drex alone.”

I shrug, avoiding the sympathy and the questions in my best friend’s eyes.

“Gep will be with me,” I remind her.

“Gep’s ex-CIA. Just as likely to water board Drex as you are, if it comes to that,” Bristol says. “Besides, you need someone who will keep you, not just safe, but out of trouble.”

“And you choose this pothead to keep me out of trouble?” A small smile quirks one corner of my mouth. A full on grin spreads across Marlon’s face as he chomps on a piece of bacon.

“I’m all you got, dude.” The grin slips a little, and he glances at Kai, whose head is bent over her plate. “You’ve wanted to kill him before, and I’m always the one who stops you.”

Maybe not this time.

“There’s something else you should know.” Bristol heaves a deep breath before looking at me. “The rental property Drex has been hiding out in, it belongs to John Malcolm.”

Kai’s head snaps up, and her wide eyes find mine.

“What?” I run my hands over my face and through my hair. “Are they working together? Is he protecting him for some reason?”

“I’m still figuring that out,” Bristol says, a grim, determined set to her lips. “But we’ll get to the bottom of it before the day is over. That you can be sure of.”

My wheels are spinning like a windmill in a tornado.

“Where are we with that other project we discussed a few days ago?”

“What other—” Bristol’s eyes light up as her brain makes the same connections mine do. “Far. We’re already far down the road with that project. I’m waiting to hear back from one last person. Should be done by the end of the day.”

“Don’t wait to hear. Wrap that shit up, and we don’t have until the end of the day. Now that we’ve found Drex, that’s at the top of your list.” I push off the counter and nod my head toward the door. “Come on, Marlon. Let’s go.”

“Gep’s meeting you there,” Bristol says. “Don’t go in without him. He was confirming one last thing with his techie friend at the CIA, but he knew you wouldn’t wait.”

“Damn right.”

Marlon’s out the door, and I’m right behind him, but I hesitate. Kai’s been quiet since Bristol and Marlon arrived. I know this is tough for her. Not just me knowing about the tape, but my whole team knowing. My sister and Gep. Now Marlon. Shame highlights her cheeks, but she takes another bite of her toast like this isn’t killing her. I cross over, tipping her chin until she has to look at me.

“Be careful,” she says before I have the chance to speak. “Please don’t do anything crazy because of me.”

I bend until my lips are suspended over hers.

“You’re the only thing worth doing something crazy for.” I press a quick kiss to her lips. “Don’t worry about it. About any of it, okay? Let me take care of this.”

“I don’t suppose I could come with you?” The question barely makes it past her lips, before I shoot it down.

“No way are you going anywhere near that douchebag.”

She drops her head a little, nodding.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Her eyes flick to Bristol ostensibly consumed with making coffee a few feet away. “I know you’re still angry with me.”

“Furious,” I whisper over her mouth, drawn to the sweetness beyond her lips despite my lingering hurt and anger.

She closes the few inches to kiss me deeply, sinking her fingers into my hair, gripping me until I couldn’t move if I wanted to.

But I don’t want to.

I wish I could forget about the tape and about John f*cking Malcolm and just stay here and repair all that’s broken between us. She hurt me, like I’ve hurt her in the past, but every kiss, every touch, carries a balm that soothes me back into wanting every moment I can have with her.

“When you can forgive me,” she says, her breath coming hard, eyes melded with mine. “I’m yours.”

The look I give her penetrates as surely as if I’m sliding up inside of her.

“Pep, you’re already mine.”

And then I walk away from her while I still can.





IF BRISTOL DISLIKED ME BEFORE, AND I’m pretty sure I can safely conclude that she did, she must hate me now. I clear the breakfast dishes so Sarita won’t have to, putting away the preserves I brought back from Glory Falls. The quiet begins to suffocate me, and I struggle to breathe evenly.