Out of the five cards, the ucina was the rudest one to give out, symbolizing the person who’d received it had spent the year delusional and unable to see reality for what it was. It was meant as a warning to do better in the coming year, pay closer attention, start fresh, have a revelation, that sort of thing. Depending on who’d given it, it could be gifted with good intentions attached.
Something told Nate that wasn’t the case with Zane.
He tossed the card onto the end table with a curse, eyes catching sight of one of those tiny green notebooks Kaz loved to scribble in. Even knowing it was wrong to snoop, Nate found himself snatching up the book, flipping through the pages to scan the words written in red ink.
His heart sinking deeper and deeper with every single one.
Chapter 25:
Kaz ended the call and stuffed the earpiece back into his multi-slate before exiting the vehicle and quickly making his way across the lot.
Saint had contacted to warn him that they’d gotten word a few of Pious’s people had remained on planet, even after their leader had gone weeks ago. There’d been no word about that, and all attempts to reach Pious for an explanation had gone unanswered. Nothing had come of it, and as far as they knew, there was nothing nefarious behind them staying behind, but Kazimir needed to be read into the situation, given his station.
At the moment, he couldn’t care less about a few stragglers. Maybe they were sightseeing? Wouldn’t be unheard of. Vitality was one of the richest planets in the Dual galaxy. Lots of people traveled there. He’d ordered a few deeper searches into the matter, but had left it at that.
Even still, it’d taken way longer than he’d hoped, and all he could think about was getting upstairs and making it up to his pretty racer. When he’d invited Nate over, he’d wanted to make it special. Give him a tour of the house, offer to make them dinner.
Show Nate what a fully stocked kitchen should look like and how to utilize it.
He chuckled at his own thoughts, but just as he was about to reach the entrance, Zane stepped out.
“Took your time,” Zane said as soon as he spotted him, walking over like his presence here was no big deal.
Kaz’s gaze swept over his shoulder toward the lobby.
“He’s upstairs already.”
That comment caused something to snap within Kaz and without thinking, he shot forward. He had Zane slammed against the side of the building, his hand at his throat and the tip of the crystal blade pressed threateningly to his side in less time than it took to blink.
“Going to stab me with my own knife?” Zane asked, not sounding worried in the least. He didn’t try to struggle, his arms remaining still at his sides as he peered back at Kaz with that empty look he more often than not had in his eyes.
That emptiness was what had kept Kazimir from ever developing any kind of feelings for the other man. Why it’d worked so well for them to screw on the side and help each other scratch the itch. It was nothing like the fire and passion that could burn behind Nate’s gaze. Zane was empty.
Pretty soon, he’d be emptied of his guts, too, if he didn’t start talking. Fast.
“Did you touch him?” Kaz demanded.
“No.”
He held his gaze pointedly until Zane sighed in annoyance.
“Using your dick to get people to do what you want is your thing, Kazimir, not mine.”
“Right,” he drawled, “you just take it where you can get it.”
The muscles in Zane’s jaw tightened slightly, but that was the only indication that he’d hit a nerve. “Sure, you should be theone saying that? Only one of us picked trash up off the streets and it isn’t—”
Kaz released his throat only so he could take a swing at him, his fist connecting hard with Zane’s right cheek. Pain radiated throughout his hand and up his arm from the contact, but he barely noticed it.
To his credit, Zane remained on his feet, waiting a moment, most likely for them both to calm down, before turning back to Kaz. “You like him that much?”
“What are you doing here?” He didn’t ask how the other guy had known he’d be bringing Nate by. It was obvious by the impromptu visit that’s why he’d come, and it didn’t really matter who’d ratted them out. Yet.
Later, later Kaz would hunt down whoever was running their damn mouth and sew it shut while they tried screaming through the threads.
He’d also be changing the code. It’d been a detail he’d completely overlooked since it was rare for either of them to meet up anywhere other than at a hotel.
“Did Nate see you?”
