Page 35 of Kai
The gloom returned as soon as I remembered my sisters were in peril. “I have to get back to Thena and Missy. I need to find Affie before it’s too late.”
“We’ll find Affie,” he assured me. “Meanwhile, you need to slow down the guilt trip. You’re quite hard on yourself. Brutal, really.”
I lifted my chin and shot him a cutting glare. “You know nothing about me.”
“I know some things about you.” Kai lasered his stare on me. “Your sisters briefed me on this mission. I know you’re a fighter, and you work hard. I also know you put up a tough façade when the going gets rough—”
“It’s not a façade,” I protested.
“I even know what brand of chocolate you like,” he went on, even as he silently challenged my bravado with a knowingsmile. “Thena and Missy believed I was right for this mission,for you.” He paused as if to make a point I failed to understand. “We have a real chance of winning this fight, but we have to let go of the past and focus on the present.”
He was right, and insightful as well, something that impressed and alarmed me in equal proportions. His aura made an appearance, confirming his honesty, dazzling my eyes, and humming in my head. I blinked several times before it disappeared.
I wanted to believe everything Kai said, even though my skepticism reared up. Had there ever been a time when I was anything other than a hopeless, desolate, angry soul?
Tears threatened to overflow my eyes.Oh, no. I blinked and swallowed a salty gulp. Cece Astor didn’t cry, especially not in front of other people. Thankfully, Kai got busy storing his weapon in its case.
I took a breath and challenged him with a stare. “How did you find me?”
“We got a hunch from your sisters.” He set the case beside him on the floor. “We verified it as actionable intel.”
“Sounds mysterious.” I raised my eyebrows at him. “Specifics, please?”
“You should talk to Thena and Missy about that.” He focused all his attention on reorganizing his tools in his cleaning kit.
“Really?” I lowered my chin and glared. “You’re going to make me wait?”
“The info you want is not mine to share.” He zipped up his cleaning kit, leaned back on the bench, and held my stare, confirming he might be easygoing, but he was no pushover. His lips remained sealed. Hell, he might even be as stubborn as I was.
“Fine.” I conceded. “What’s the plan now?”
He glanced at me, quirking his lips to one side in a rueful half-smile. “You’re not gonna like it.”
“Just tell me.”
“Okay.” He shrugged. “Now we wait.”
Chapter Twelve
Cece
“Wait?”I gawked in horror. “No way! I have to protect my sisters. I can find Affie. She’s a pain in the ass, but I know how she thinks. Or how she doesn’t think,” I amended quickly. “I have to return to Astor House, and fast.”
“I get it, believe me, I do.” His eyes brimmed with understanding. “But we need to be smart and careful.”
“I’m all for that,” I said. “But why can’t we go back right away?”
“Because we’ve learned from our previous clashes with NWO mercs,” he explained with commendable patience. “They’re well-funded and have vast resources. Every time we’ve gone for the quick exit, they’ve been waiting for us, ready to ambush us on the way out. So, this time around, we’re turning the tables on them. I’ve stockedSerenitywith plenty of food, water, and fuel. The plan is to wait them out and let them search the area far and wide while some of our assets watch and gather intel on them.”
“And maybe, if things don’t go to shit, you and your team can get the info we need to find Affie,” I guessed. “You can also track the mercs to their leader, nab him, and nip this in the bud.”
“Exactly.” Kai inclined his head. “Are you on board with the plan?”
“Do I have a say?” I shot back.
“Of course you have a say,” he assured me. “If you tell me you understand our situation and the risks involved, but you still want to leave right now, we’ll go.”
“It’s a good plan.” I fidgeted in my seat. “Especially if wecan keep them from going after Affie. How long will we have to wait?”
