Page 179 of Savage Hearts
Though he’s wearing a tux, he seems like he’d be far more comfortable in a leather bomber jacket and combat boots, a handkerchief knotted around his neck. Chunky silver rings decorate the thumb and middle fingers of his right hand. One of them is a skull.
He’s what I picture the swashbuckling pirates of the Caribbean looked like.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kage. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He has the kind of gaze Mal does, that same penetrating, laser beam intensity that could slice you in two. But his eyes are dark instead of pale green.
“Bet you have,” he drawls, slinging an arm over the back of Nat’s chair. “Must be some interesting conversations that go on in that household.”
I smile at him. “Don’t worry, I didn’t believe a word of it. If Nat likes you, you’re good in my book.”
He tilts his head and considers me. After a moment, he says, “You okay?”
He packs so much into those two words, it’s amazing. My heartbeat ticks up a notch.
I know he’s the one who gave Mal information about Declan when all this started, but I also remember Sloane saying the Russian Bratva and the Bratva in the U.S. aren’t that friendly.
What I don’t know is if Kage and Mal are still talking.
On the off chance they are, I’m not missing the opportunity to send a message.
“If you mean physically, yes. If you mean mentally, spiritually, emotionally… I’m dying.”
He inclines his head. “Yeah. Heard you caught feelings while you were away.”
“It’s much worse than that.”
He looks at me more closely.
“Do you think we could talk after dinner? Somewhere not so…” I glance at the Sicilians. “Loud?”
“You got something you want to pass along?”
I nod, starting to tremble.
“Declan won’t like it.” He glances at Nat. His tone becomes wry. “I’m already in enough trouble as it is.”
Nat squeezes his thigh. “It’s okay, honey. This is different.”
He sends her a look that’s equal parts hot and sour.
“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble. I won’t say anything to Declan, but I doubt he’d mind anyway, considering he tried to get a message to Mal for me, too.”
Kage narrows his eyes. “He tried to send a message from you to the man who wants to kill him?”
“Mal isn’t going to kill Declan.”
“Since when?”
“Since I asked him not to.”
He’s silent with astonishment for a second, then he shakes his head and chuckles. “Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Never mind. It’s just something Malek said to me once. Sure, we’ll talk after dinner.”
“Thank you.”
