I hated sitting here wringing my hands like a damsel.
I hated not being there to watch his back.
I hated that tomorrow I might wake up to another morning without Ocean between us.
And I knew Coby hated it all, too.
He’d kept his promise and checked in regularly, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t him.
“Malcom’s power reaches further than you think,” Kellan warned. “He has eyes and ears everywhere. What happened to Roshaun should have told you as much. If you were captured or killed during your frolic through town, what happened to your brother would look like a kiss on the fucking cheek compared to what Ocean would do to me.”
“He wouldn’t hurt you,” Coby denied. “You’re his friend.”
Kellan shook his head, but his voice held no bitterness when he spoke. There was only respect. “In another life, maybe. In this life, Ocean is my boss. He’s…” Kellan trailed off before abandoning that train of thought with a shake of his head. “Let’s just say I grew up with someone just like him. Someone I called a brother, and when I had to walk away, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I’d rather not form attachments this time.”
“It sounds like you have no intention of sticking around,” I said, letting suspicion ride my tone.
Kellan merely shrugged. “I’m a drifter,” he explained simply. “It’s what we do.”
“Hmm.”
An hour later, Kellan surprised us with dinner. Afterward, Coby disappeared to make a few phone calls. She’s been doing that a lot lately. I frowned at her retreating back as I wondered what she was up to.
She and Ocean were both little schemers.
Kellan got bored enough to ask if I wanted to play cards, so I agreed. After winning the first hand, I decided that I was entitledto a truth. “How did you and Ocean meet?” I asked while we took turns drawing a card.
I didn’t expect the answer to come so readily.
“He saved my life. I had just left Chicago and was new in town. I didn’t know all the players yet and pissed off the wrong people. Ocean stepped in, threw his weight around, and I got to keep breathing.”
“That was nice of him.”
Kellan laughed and shook his head. “Not really. Nothing in this town comes without a price.”
“That’s when you started working for him, huh?” Kellan nodded and tossed seven of clubs on the table. I threw a nine of the same suit and scooped up the cards. “Why do you think he saved you?”
“My sparkling personality and devastating good looks?”
“Kellan.” I gave him a reproachful glance and threw down a king of hearts.
He blew out a breath and then tossed a two of spades down before taking the trick. “I think Ocean wanted someone in his camp who had no connections or shred of loyalty to his father. Who better than a stranger in his debt?”
“So you really don’t think he cares about you?”
“I didn’t say that. Ocean is a good man. I wouldn’t work for him if he wasn’t, but I don’t let things get personal anymore.”
“Ah, right. Because of yourrealfriends waiting for you back home,” I teased.
“You know I knew a headstrong girl like you once.” A fond smile appeared on his lips before he said, “You’d like her. She had a knack for driving me up the wall, too.”
“You loved her?”
Kellan shook his head. “Only as a sister. I mentioned that theFolaisn’t the first family I’ve served and survived, but what Ididn’tsay was that Ocean isn’t the first heir I’ve known to burndown his entire world for the woman he loves. Or in Ocean’s case, the womenhe loves.” Kellan waggled his brows.
“So…how did it end?”
The knot in Kellan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, and the cards crumbled a little in his fist. “He sacrificed himself for her.”
