Page 153 of Underground Prince

He cracked a smile, but it fell as soon as it appeared.

“Am I in trouble?” I asked, coughing against the dryness in my throat. I hadn’t spoken with someone this long since…

“You’re not in trouble,” he said. “Anymore.”

“I was?”

“What do you think?” I had his full attention now. “You failed to comply with a direct order from the government, you compromised a federal operation, not to mention your sprint into the target area and—oh yeah—taking a bullet in the stomach from a dangerous criminal who might as well be a sniper—”

I held up a hand, wincing, and he blew out a breath.

“I care about you so damned much,” he said. “Our friendship wasn’t based on lies. The deception is something I can’t take back. I met you with the intention of using you as a mole. No part of me thought we’d click the way we did, that you’d get under my skin as deep as you have. I’m not ashamed to say I love you, and seeing you on the ground, draining away color and blood, not one part of me was okay.” He rested his arms on my bed, his expression so wide open it was clear of planning, lies, and caution.

“Come here.” I lifted an arm and he leaned into it, allowing me to cup his neck and bring him close. “This is the extent of my hugs,” I said as explanation, and he laughed into my shoulder. But I tipped my head to say into his ear, “Thank you for saving an idiot. I love you, too.”

“Don’t ever run in front of a loaded gun again,” he said. “Or fucking carry one.”

“Never. But I don’t regret saving him.” I frowned. “Didn’t I?”

Kai tensed, then busied himself with pouring and handing me a cup of water.

“Your parents came in while you were sleeping,” he said.

“And they didn’t kick you out?”

He shrugged with one shoulder. “I flashed my badge.”

I glared.

“Kidding,” he said. “We spoke a while. Your parents are rather logical beings. They understood the circumstances and entirely accepted the fact that you crashed an FBI operation.”

“I wonder how I could ever give them such an impression,” I said, taking a sip.

“You’re in deep shit,” he said. “They’ll kill you once you’re all healed up.”

“For participating in illegal gambling? Waitressing in unregulated buildings with no type of law set in place? Getting involved with the mob?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Verily will poke at your corpse once your parents are done with you.”

“Not that your presence isn’t extremely comforting during this time,” I said, straining against the pillows, “but what are you doing here?”

“I need to tell you something,” Kai said, but with such tautness he had to be resisting the confession. “But if you’re hurting and need to—”

“You look like you’re about to vomit,” I said. The white walls, starched sheets, bland smells and stoic doctors had made me nothing if not observant. And this wasn’t right. Only one of us was allowed to feel like crap in a hospital room.

“I’m not supposed to give you any additional information.” His left hand tangled in his hair, clenching hard before dropping to his lap. “No charges are going to be pressed against you. That should be enough. But with all that’s gone on, I want to believe we can remain if not friends, then something better than strangers. I don’t want to add anything else to your family, but I want to come clean.”

“Kai.” I pushed up so I was no longer slumping in bed. “I’ve piled on a ton and I’m not proud of myself, but I’m ready to make it right. Spit it out.”

“We…” He stopped addressing me halfway through his speech, deciding the wall was the better spot to confess his sins to. “We never had anything on Theo Saxon.”

The intercom in the halls shot static. Soft squeaks passed under my door from the sneakers most nurses wore. Someone shouted for more Jell-O in Room 1302. I noticed because I’d gone outside myself, into those halls, and away from Kai.

Yet my shock expelled a high-voltage warning through my whisper. “What?”

Kai rubbed at his chin. “For two years I’d been undercover, tasked to first shadow, and then befriend, Sax. Trace was too guarded—both internally and out. Ward was too young. Sax was the rebel turned obedient son and was bound to make mistakes, whether deliberate or accidental. It didn’t matter. We needed an access point into this family.”

“Theo was seen as the weak link,” I said, still quiet, remaining spineless. But if Kai lowered his gaze, he’d see my fists.

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