Page 107 of Explode
Want.
As for Rafe, he was focused on being a good 2IC to his father. He’dtold me he wasn’t ready for the promotion, he was hoping to have a few more years of messing about before he got bogged down by the family business. But he accepted his duty with his head held high, and no matter what Kai thought of him, I thought he was doing brilliantly.
It was the first time since Kimmy had been rescued that she’d felt upto seeing people other than me and Kai, and I’d given her a massive hug when I saw her standing next to Sofia. The two of them had built a bond having been shoved in the same cell.
Despite the ordeal she’d suffered, and the injuries she’d received,Kimmy had tried to protect Sofia from Markus after he tried to grope Sofia. Seeing how terrified Sofia was, Kimmy had intervened, earning Markus’ wrath. After he nearly knocked her out, he left the two locked in the cell, but undoubtedly, Kimmy had stopped Sofia from being subjected to a sexual assault.
Kimmy and I had spent the last few weeks managing severalprojects. Both had been my idea, but Kai was more than happy to back them.
The main project was opening a rape crisis center in the heart of EastBay, and Kimmy was going to be the manager. She said helping others through traumatic experiences was her way of dealing with what had happened to her. She had a long way to go with her own recovery but Kimmy was a fighter. She was strong and determined not to let what Hendrix did to her ruin her life.
She didn’t stay at the party for long, but the fact she felt up to facing asocial gathering spoke volumes of the progress she’d made. Even more surprising was that she agreed for Ernie to take her home, it was the first time she’d been alone with a man since Hendrix subjected her to his abuse.
Ernie had earned Kai’s trust with the loyalty he showed to the Wolfename. He had resumed his position as the head of Kai’s gang, The Shadows, but Kai had entrusted Ernie to recruit new members, something he was doing a damn good job at.
The gang was responsible for the sale of Kai’s drugs, and since we’dtaken back Hollows Bay, The Shadows had doubled in size.
As much as it didn’t sit well with me that drugs were being peddled onthe streets, I accepted it was part of this life. It was also an area of business I kept well out of, that was for Kai to run, just like his dealings with weapons.
Halfway through the party, Angel joined us. It was the first time shemet everyone, and Jane, who had returned with Angel, and was now living in the staff lodge on Kai’s land, helped Angel talk to everyone at the party.
I watched from a distance as Angel wrapped everyone around herlittle finger, much like she had done with Kai. He doted on her. In his eyes, the little brat could do no wrong. I figured he’d learn the hard way. Besides, I was wrapped around Angel’s little finger more than anyone.
For the rest of the party, I spent time catching up with Tank, Jack, andAsh. In the days after Kai killed Hendrix, the team flew out on new assignments, and with the exception of those three, we hadn’t spoken to the rest of the team since.
Tank had been out of commission for the last two months after he gotshot in the shoulder, but he told me he’d spent the time recovering at his cabin next to a lake where he fished most days. He was chomping at the bit to get back to work though, all he needed was the all clear from the doctor.
But Tank was the lucky one. He’d walked away with his life. Thesame couldn’t be said for Dan. Sadly, he’d taken a bullet to the head, killing him instantly. Oz had also been shot, only the bullet he took hit him in the spine, paralyzing him from the waist down. He was in a rehab facility on the other side of the country receiving specialist treatment, but he’d never walk again.
I’d been riddled with guilt when I’d found out about Dan’s death andOz’s injury, but as both Ash and Jack assured me, the men knew the risks when they signed up to work for Apollo, and they’d willingly give their lives if it meant their target had been rescued.
The guilt still sat heavy in my heart.
Jack, who was still none the wiser that Ash was the head of Apollo,had just come back from an assignment somewhere in the world. He didn’t say much about it, not that I would have expected him to, but something about him had changed. When Tank made a comment about Jack meeting a woman, Jack told him to fuck off, but I caught the hint of a blush on his cheeks.
Ash had stuck around in Hollows Bay for a bit, helping Kai and Milesto clear up the mess at the apartment, and track down the remaining Stags who had fled after attacking the Bianchi mansion. Needless to say, they didn’t live much longer. But Ash was due to fly home, wherever in the world that was, at the end of the week.
I was going to miss having him around, he’d taken to calling Kai‘Barney’ at every opportunity which usually resulted in the two of them trying to beat each other up. Ash brought out a playful side to Kai I’d never seen before, and I knew Kai was going to miss him as well.
Still, duty called, and Ash had a mercenary organization to run.
The party rolled on into the night, and by the time everyone left, I wasmore than a little drunk. Kai carried me to bed, but before he could extract my punishment for being late to my own party, I passed out. I woke several hours later, desperate for water.
Leaving Kai slumbering next to me, I went to the ensuite and poureda glass of water, downing it before pouring another. My cheeks were flushed and my body hot, so deciding to get some fresh air, I stepped out onto the balcony. The chilly night air instantly cooled my heated skin.
Leaning against the balcony, I stared out over the city. Although it wasthe early hours of the morning, streetlights lit the city up, and headlights from cars navigated their way through the streets. If I strained hard enough, I could hear the distant music from the clubs drift to my ears.
The view was stunning, and a feeling of contentment swept throughme, magnified when two arms wrapped around me, and a firm body caged me in.
“What are you doing awake, baby?” Kai cooed in my ear.
“I needed some fresh air,” I replied, leaning back against him.
“Did my wife celebrate a little too hard?” he asked, humor in his voice.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for my partyearlier. So, thank you. I had a really good time.”
He kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome, Star.”
