Page 34 of Kade

“I like her.” Conner ruffled her hair. “It is good to meet you,sestra.”

Angel took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She’d woken up from a nightmare, only to stare into the face of a man who scared her. It wasn’t just the expression in his onyx eyes. It was everything about him. His entire demeanor said “killer.” This man was a hardened killer. He’d been a soldier, and she knew Kade worried about him. Seeing him in person, she wasn’t sure he was wrong to worry. This man could do serious damage and walk away without giving a damn about the carnage he left behind.

Emilio had scared her when he’d pressed a gun to her head, but Kade’s brother terrified her without doing anything.

“It’s good to meet you too, Conner.” He might look like Viktor, but they were as different as daylight was to dark. Viktor inspired trust; Conner inspired a flight instinct.

“Now, tell me about this fucker who touched you.” She jumped at the venom in his voice.

“I…” She cleared her throat. “It was an old friend of my brother’s. He used to come over to the house a lot before Kade started hanging out.”

“I need a name,sestra.” Conner’s hands clenched, and she shrank away from the anger vibrating off him.

“I think you’re scaring her.” Kade came over and sat on the bed, taking her hand in his. “Is he scaring you?”

Angel nodded, gripping Kade’s hand so tightly she was surprised he didn’t wince.

Conner relaxed so fast, if she’d blinked, she’d have missed it. He even slouched a bit. It was amazing and terrifying.

“I’m a scary motherfucker. I know it.” He sat in the chair Kade had vacated and took her other hand. His touch was gentle despite the coldness seeping out of his eyes. “You will never have need to fear me. You’re my sister, my family, and I will protect you with every breath I have. I’m sorry I scared you, but the thought of that bastard…” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I will make them suffer for taking your son and for threatening you. I swear it.”

Angel knew he was telling the truth, but it didn’t stop the unease from taking hold. This man was dangerous, but maybe that was what they needed to get Matthew back. She would trust him because Kade did, but she’d never fully be comfortable with him. It was a simple truth. The darkness in him scared her too much.

“Now, we need to get this show on the road. Kade, you might want to call your contacts in the FBI. Sometimes it’s easier to deal with the feds than it is the local police force. You said you already had men on the ground?”

“Yes, Dylan went down last night, and our best tracker should be landing shortly.”

“Will she be safe here for a few hours by herself?”

Angel bristled. They wanted to leave her behind? Oh, hell no. Before she could even open her mouth, Conner shushed her.

“We’re not leaving you behind,sestra. You deserve to be there when we make the bastards pay for taking our boy from you. I need to visit some friends and collect our arsenal. I need someone to watch my back.”

“You get my husband killed, and you better hope God can hide you where I can’t find you.” Despite how much Conner scared her, he better damn well protect the man she loved more than anyone except her children.

Conner didn’t even crack a smile. He nodded curtly. “I won’t get him killed.”

Kade told him to go on and he’d follow him in a few minutes.

Angel let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding when he left. “I don’t like this, Kade. Not one little bit.”

“Conner knows what he’s doing. We have to be prepared in case shit goes sideways. We aren’t coming home without our child.” Kade took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. He looked her in the eyes, his forehead pressed against hers. “I promise.”

“I love you, Kade Kincaid.” She pressed her lips to his again. “Come home to me. If you die, I will kill you.”

He chuckled and pulled away. “I love you too,moye serdste.”

She remembered the first time he’d told her she was his heart. They’d just made love, and he thought she was sound asleep. He’d whisperedmoye serdsteand pulled her close. She’d used Google Translate the next day and found he’d called her his heart. It was the moment she’d started to fall in love with him.

“I’ll be back soon. Watkins is right outside, and I have more men throughout the hospital.” He gave her another quick kiss and left before she could stop him.

What would she tell the nineteen-year-old girl who’d looked up into those laughing black eyes on the beach all those years ago? Would she tell her to run and never look back, or to hold on tight because the ending was worth all the pain they both suffered?

She would tell her to hold on tight and never give up hope, even when it felt like she was drowning and would never come back up for air. The end was worth all the pain.

Angel hoped her happily ever after would be just that, though. It had to be. She couldn’t lose everything again. She wouldn’t survive it.

God had better not let her down.

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