Page 99 of Hushed

“It doesn’t matter how you feel about it, Reggie,” Kenzie said. “It matters how Gage and I feel about it. And right now, we’re together. And I don’t see that ever changing. So, get used to it.”

Gage reached over and squeezed her shoulder.

“Your sister is right.”

Reggie shook his head. “And you’re sure you’re not pregnant?”

Kenzie laughed. “I’m positive. The tests belong to my friend Maggie. You may want to talk to her, by the way. She thinks she was raped by someone at the Cage.”

Reggie swore. “Why do people insist on going to that God forsaken club?”

Kenzie shrugged. “Probably because the other clubs in town aren’t accessible.”

“For a good reason, Kenz.”

She shook her head. “Kink shouldn’t be an elitist thing. Vetting and keeping track of who is in your club is one thing, but overcharging, and making it so hard to get through the doors that you give up is too much.”

Reggie paced and stared at her. “You shouldn’t even know what this stuff is.”

Now Kenzie did roll her eyes. “I’m a grown-ass woman, Reggie. I turn thirty in a few weeks. Stop acting like I’m still a teenager.”

Gage squeezed her hand as if to say he agreed, and she smiled over at him.

It was nice to have his support in this. At first, she was convinced he would back away because of his devotion to Reggie.

“So, what’s your plan now?” Gage asked.

Reggie looked at Kenzie and back to Gage. “I’m not sure. This needs to be handled, but I can’t say if my cover is blown or not.”

“I’m sure it’s not. But the visit I made to the White House a few days ago was likely related to all of this. I’m just now putting two and two together.”

“Can you at least stay for a few hours?”

Reggie grimaced. “I shouldn’t. But I’m sure Boomer and Peter are going to want to talk to me.”

Gage nodded. “Damn right they are. But if you don’t want to sit out in public, we’ll bring them in here and close this room for therest of the night so you can visit with them. It was closed earlier for a celebration, so people won’t question it.”

Reggie dragged a hand through his hair.

“I’ve just made a mess of this.”

“We’ll figure it out. Let me get the others. Just sit here and talk to your sister like she’s a full-grown human.”

Gage kissed her cheek before he stood and crossed the room to the door. Reggie took his place beside her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Are you really here?”

He wrapped an arm around her as Gage walked out and squeezed her shoulders. “I’m here, Kenz. Not sure for how long, but I’m here.”

“I’ll take what I can get. You’re alive.”

“Sort of. Christopher Reginald is dead for good. Even when I am able to retire, it will have to be under another name.”

She would not pretend to understand why. Having her brother alive was worth whatever name change or limited contact they would have to have.

Fuck. Was she crying? She wiped her eyes, and Reggie leaned over to the end table and picked up a box of tissues for her.

“Don’t cry, Kenz. I’m sorry I barged in on you like that. This isn’t how you should have found out that I’m still alive. I let my anger ruin everything.”

But the tears wouldn’t stop, and she turned her face farther into his chest and just let them fall.

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