The Insiders by Tijan
THIRTY-FOUR
Kash paused the car at an intersection, his head bent forward.
When he turned left, Matt burst out laughing. “He doesn’t trust me to be alone at my own place, and he doesn’t want to spend the night with you there. I can’t go to his place. He doesn’t want that, either, so we’re going back to the estate.” He laughed to himself, speaking to himself, “The fucking Chesapeake. Our dad is lame.”
If he was expecting a response, he would be disappointed. No one spoke. There were things to say, but it wasn’t the right time. After a while, Matt’s deep breathing was the only sound in the car. Maybe I would have fallen asleep, if it had been a normal night, but it wasn’t. I was wide awake, and when we slowed at the gate, it let us in.
After he parked, I didn’t wait for Kash. I got out, heading for the villa.
He called after me, coming around to Matt’s side, “Wait for a guard.”
I didn’t. “I’ll be fine.”
“Bailey.”
I slowed, half turned toward him.
Damn him. A soft request and my knees were melting.
He added, almost gentle, “Wait for a guard.”
I waited, but I was gritting my teeth as I did. A car pulled in behind us and three guards got of their own vehicle, another two getting out of Matt’s Lamborghini. Kash nodded toward me. “Two with her. The rest with Matt.” They broke apart. Three bent in, and Matt was shifted in their arms. They all carried him inside.
I was going to start ahead, now that I had my two bookends, but the main door opened. My father stood there, a deep frown on his face as he took in Matt. He was wearing a robe, a phone in his hand. Shifting back to give them space, he was putting his phone in his pocket, but the screen lit up.
“Kash.” He called for him before looking.
Kash was already there, following behind Matt’s guards. He stepped inside and the door was mostly closed, left open only a crack. I couldn’t hear them. They were all the way up the front steps of the house. I could only make out Kash’s face as Peter’s phone was held between them. A second later, the door opened wide. Kash slipped out and approached me. He slowed down.
I saw the regret a mile away.
“I have to go and check on something.” He nodded behind me.
Quiet footfalls were heard. The guards were moving away, giving us privacy.
“You okay?” His mouth dropped. He rested his forehead to mine, our favorite place.
“No.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “At least you’re honest.”
I took hold of his shirt, not looking into his eyes. I focused right at his chest. “Who are you? I thought you worked for my father, then you were raised by them, and now all those people…”
I didn’t want to see the lies, the walls, the reservations. I needed him open.
I continued. “Those are people who have money, wealth that I couldn’t even fathom before coming here. They were clamoring for your attention.” I gripped his shirt tighter. “I need to know. I need to know who you are.”
I couldn’t tell him I was sinking. I was so past sinking.
He raised his hands, cupped my face and tipped it back. Right before his mouth closed over mine, he whispered, “I will tell you everything.”
“When?”
“Tonight. When I get back.” He waited a beat. “Or tomorrow. Matt’s going to be handled, and you and I can go to my place downtown. I want alone time with you anyways.” He sucked in some air. “I need alone time with you.”
Those lips opened over mine, and I stopped questioning. I couldn’t. Lust. Desire. Need. All of those and more, so much more, rose up in me, and I was panting by the time he pulled away.
A second kiss. A second whisper. “I’ll come to you tonight, later this morning.”
The guards walked me back to the villa. They went in, had me wait just inside, and once the house was secured, I went to bed.
I didn’t think I could sleep. I kept replaying everything. The house. The people. The sex. The drugs. Matt’s cruelty.
“You’re beneath us.”
I cringed.
How Matt talked to those people, how his group had been in the farthest back room of the house, as if others weren’t allowed in, weren’t good enough to join. At how he hadn’t been shocked to see Kash at all.
How Kash knew right where to go.
What have I gotten myself into?
