“We probably have four main issues we need to talk about and hopefully resolve tonight.”
“Only four?” I grin, teasing them.
When I get a soft noise of warning from him, my eyes drop, making the sound get louder. “Bebe.”
“I promise I’ll be good.”
Kade takes over when Santiago and I start staring instead of talking. “First one is obviously Victor.”
“Easy. I’m going to kill him.”
Aleksei lays his fork down and sits back in his chair, looking like a pompous dick. And now he’s got as much challenge in his eyes as Santiago did.
I match his pose, holding his gaze. “He is my father, Aleksei. I get to kill him. Of course, you can be with me the whole time, but I have everything I need, and I will be the one doing it.”
“You don’t need the stain associated with his death on your soul. You are my wife. I will carry that for you.”
“You are my husband, one of my Alphas, but I won’t let you do that. Not with this.”
“How would you kill him, then?” The color in his eyes darkens, but I know it’s not directed at me; it’s the subject matter.
I laugh under my breath but hold a finger up. “Let’s go back a step.” I shuffle around to face Kade properly. “Are you returning to Interpol?”
I ignore the sounds both Santiago and Aleksei make.
“It’s not impossible. It would be difficult, given you’re packed with two men heavily involved in the criminal underworld, but if you still wanted your career, Kade,wewould make it happen.”
And it’s true. I’d be saying something similar to both Aleksei and Santiago if they were in his shoes. I’d move mountains for them, if it meant they got to achieve their dreams. I also know they’d do similar.
“I don’t want to be hasty. Me being on their books, even if I say I’m taking extended personal leave, might give us an advantage. So, as of yet, I don’t know.”
“Say you decided to stay…in the system, could any of us be forced to testify against each other?”
“It depends on the circumstance, what country we register our Pack originating from, and the crime being investigated.”
“I have a good lawyer, anyway. My main concern is, I don’t want to jeopardize your career by telling you things that might incriminate you, or me, if I was ever subpoenaed.”
“I would deny it, anyway.”
“But I know you, Kade. That’s not who you are.” I stop talking mid thought as I realize what I should have figured out by now. “You joined Interpol because of your sister, didn’t you?”
“I did. I’m sorry again for not being honest with you from the start. I was so set on not dragging you into the awful side of life because you already see a lot of crap with your job. I didn’t want to add to your stress in any way, and I thought my job would do that. And also, possibly put you at risk.”
Kade stops talking, his eyes moving into the distance for a few moments before he returns them to my face. There’s decision and sadness in them. “I found the man responsible for giving her the drugs, Quinny.”
Aleksei sits up straight, like someone shocked him with a live wire.
Kade laughs. It’s hollow, and the sound makes my chest hurt. “And maybe, one day, I’ll introduce my parents to the man who killed him.” He shuts his eyes briefly, and when he reopens them, he looks at Aleksei. “I’d rather introduce Aleksei as my packmate, though.”
I fly out of my seat, wrapping my arms around Kade and squeezing the living shit out of him while whispering into his ear. “Oh my god, Kade. Why didn’t you say something? I’m so sorry. So sorry, honey.”
He holds me tight, and I feel him breathing against me. It’s sad, for sure, but he’s not falling apart. If anything, he’s relieved he finally has closure.
“She would have loved you. Another time, Quinny, another place, I want to tell you about my sister properly.”
“I want that too.”
“And don’t think I’m not giving this the attention it needs, but our night of sharing isn’t over. We will give her the time she needs, but we have to keep moving forward. Will you please explain why you asked about me staying on at Interpol?”
