Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) (49 page)

“Let’s go,” Nick instructs, releasing me from his grip.

His hand settles on my back, pushing me down the hall toward our room. I meet eyes with Dylan as I move past and he offers me a weak and knowing smile. The guys are still laughing and giving O’Sullivan shit for screaming like a girl as we get out of earshot.

We pass multiple doors and take two turns before we end up at our room at the back of the house. Our boys and Cara have been holed up in the basement theater room most of the day. It’s nice to see them being typical teenagers. Shannon’s been asleep upstairs for an hour or so. I can only imagine how exhausted she is being pregnant with twins and an infant to take care of.

Nick shuts the door behind him and flicks the lock. We’re completely isolated at the back of the house. If we get in a big fight no one will hear us screaming at each other, so that’s a bonus of the world’s largest house.

I flop down on the end of the king size bed with luscious champagne colored linens and an upholstered cream headboard. It’s like staying in a hotel for all intents and purposes with the attached marble encased bathroom. I feel like I’ve been on vacation for the last week and a half we’ve been here. We’re moving into our new house next week so I’ve been shopping like crazy with Shannon and her awesome assistant/best friend Karl. Thomas the bodyguard is always with us, silently shadowing our movements. I’m making a home for the first time in my adult life and it feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

Nick’s expression is still not a happy one as he crosses the room to stand right in front of me, forcing my gaze up to meet his. His sapphire eyes are stormy seas of emotion, not settling on any one too long. I’d prefer the fake brown ones right about now.

“You made your point,” he growls.

“I’d hope so,” I scoff.

“If you can’t behave around these guys we need to reassess shit and quick.”

“I’m sorry?” I ask, completely offended and no longer feeling bad.

“If you’re gonna be climbing all over the guys, this won’t work. Either you and I won’t work or we’ll need to move where you can control yourself better.”

I’m up and on my feet before he finishes his truly off base statement.

“First of all,” I say poking his chest with my index finger as I go. “Fuck you. I’m in complete control of myself at all times, Nicky. How dare you accuse me of doin’ anything other than bein’ completely faithful to you! I see those guys as nothing more than friends. O’Sullivan was tryin’ to get a rise outta you and it fuckin’ worked. I was makin’ a point to the guys that not only can I take care of myself, but I’m also not up for their shit. You wanna go and get all insecure that’s your issue, not mine. And if this is gonna be a constant problem for you, then you’re right, this won’t work with us.”

I’ve poked him all the way back to the door during my rant.

“You looked at another man the same way you look at me,” he grumbles.

“No, when I look at you I mean it. What he got was Agent Russell. You’ve got me.”

He drops his head in defeat as I spin away from him, my anger currently boiling over. I stomp over to the closet and begin rifling through for some different clothes. I’ve been in jeans and a sweater every day since we got here. It’s been heaven on earth. I need something different on right now.

“What are you doin’?” Nick asks in a resigned voice.

“Goin’ out. If I’m gonna be accused of bein’ a whore I might as well act like one, right?” I sneer, snatching a little black dress from the back of the closet.

Prick!

“Kat,” Nick says with warning in his tone as I brush past him.

I slam the bathroom door and lock it for good measure before pealing out of my clothes and jumping in the shower. Making quick work, I hop back out before the room has a chance to steam up. I dress quickly and then spend some time on my hair and make-up. My resolve to leave has hardened with each minute that’s past. Slathering lip gloss on my lips, I inspect my final look.

A simple black scoop neck form fitting black dress with my hair up and a smoky eye. I look good if I do say so myself. I take a breath to calm my anger before exiting the bathroom expecting to see Nick on the other side of the door, scowl in place.

I’m shocked to find Shannon sitting on my bed.

“That’s what I thought,” she huffs. “Where are we headed?”

“Out,” I grunt.

I notice she’s got on black slacks with a tuxedo stripe down the side and a cap-sleeved silk violet maternity shirt that sets her green eyes alight more than usual.

“Let’s go,” she encourages.

I slip on some sky high black strappy heels and we head out. When we enter the great room all the men are on the couch including my boys. Cara is sandwiched between Cole and Dane, while Sawyer sits in front of her on the floor. She’s cocooned by love.

“Mom?” Sawyer questions from the floor, the first to notice my appearance.

“I’ll be back later,” I reassure him as he pushes to his feet.

“Shit,” I hear Kav grumble.

All eyes in the room are on Shannon and me now and the gazes are weighing me down like a bolder on my shoulders.

“Have a good evening, gentleman,” Shannon says brightly, tugging me along toward the kitchen and garage. “Don’t wait up.”

“Kiddo,” Dylan warns, gifting him a dagger-filled stare from Shannon.

“I’ve got my gun,” she says pointedly.

“Me too,” I chime in to ease the tension.

Nick’s sapphire eyes are churning with fury as I quirk an eyebrow at him.

“You two have made your point,” Callaghan relents.

“No point bein’ made. We’re goin’ out!” Shannon says with a slight shimmy. “Love you!” She offers the room a big blown kiss before winking at me.

“Love you boys,” I say sweetly to my kids that are staring at me like I’m an alien invasion of their mother.

“Love you too,” they respond in unison.

Cara has a smirk on her lips. She gets it. I don’t know how she gets it, but she does. I send her a grin before turning my back on the room and following Shannon to her SUV. We climb in and speed off before anyone has the chance to follow us based on the acceleration Shannon uses.

“Turn off your phone,” she orders. “You know he’ll try to track you. I’ve already got mine off.”

“What about the baby? Don’t you need to be available?” I feel bad I’ve dragged this heavily pregnant woman out of the house on a Saturday night in January.

“Kel knows how to find me,” she assures me with an ornery grin. “Time to teach Nicky a much needed lesson.”

Yes, it is.

Nick

“What did you do?” Cole demands as Shanny and Kat exit the garage.

“Pissed her off,” I answer honestly.

“Did you just see her?” Sawyer asks. Shocked that I’m still sitting here after his mother just left the house looking like a model headed for a runway.

“I did.”

“And you’re just gonna sit here while her and Aunt Shanny go out lookin’ like they do?” Dane asks exasperated at me.

“I don’t feel like gettin’ shot,” I respond in a grumble.

“You know dudes are gonna be all over her. Uncle Dylan, I know Aunt Shanny’s pregnant, but she looked awesome too. You’re really just lettin’ ’em go?” Cole sounds distressed, his soft blue eyes brimming with distrust for the men in the room.

“What would you do if you were us?” Kellerman asks respectfully.

“I’d be in a fuckin’ car followin’. I sure as shit wouldn’t be sittin’ here like bumps on a log. It takes nothin’ to lose people. Women like that are treasures and any man that sees them tonight’s gonna know that. Act like you give a shit!” Sawyer screams at me.

“Sawyer,” I try to soothe him.

“Dad,” he responds harshly, puffing his chest at me.

“Jake’s rubbed off on you,” I compliment him.

“Yeah and if he was here he’d kick your fuckin’ ass.”

“True.”

“Fine. If you two aren’t goin’, we are. Cara, we’ll be back once we find Mom and Aunt Shanny,” Cole growls, standing up off the couch.

“Guys you’re not gonna be able to find ’em,” Kav steps in. “They just need a few hours to cool off.”

“I thought you were her protector?” Dane sneers, bucking up to Kav.

“I am,” Kav responds plainly.

“You fuckin’ suck at it,” Dane scoffs in return, yanking his phone out of his pocket.

Kav scrubs his hand over his head as my son orders a taxi like a man while the men in the house sit around like frightened teenagers.

I have beyond fucked up with Kat and I’m at a loss with what to do. When she looked up at O’Sullivan with those sexy hazel eyes, my gut flip and my heart stopped. I never want to see that again as long as I live. I know she was playing and it wasn’t serious. I knew it in the moment, but it fucked with me nonetheless. Then, like a supreme asshole, I basically called her an out of control slut. I’m such a winner. Now I’ve sent her out into the night with Shanny to get into God knows what kind of trouble. SHIT!

“Love your kids, man,” Kav says in a chuckle at their protective ways.

“Cab’ll be here in thirty,” Dane announces to his brothers who all start to move to get ready to leave.

“Thanks for callin’ us a cab, boys. We’ve got it from here,” Kellerman assures them, offering me a pointed look that says get my ass in gear.

“’Bout fuckin’ time,” Sawyer grumbles, flopping on the couch next to Cara.

She curls into his side with the same grin on her lips that’s been there since she laid eyes on the girls.

“Where are we headed?” I ask, looking down at my appearance in sweats thinking I’m not dressed for the evening we’re about to tackle.

“Not to the gym,” Callaghan scoffs, eyeing my clothes too.

I offer him a wry grin. We’re all wearing the same fucking clothes.

“Guess we’ve got twenty minutes to get our asses in gear,” Kav says happily.

He’s enjoying this too much.

“You all okay on your own?” I ask my kids that are still good and pissed at me.

“Yeah,” they huff in unison. “Go get Mom and we’ll be better,” Dane finishes for the group with a meaningful glare.

“Right.”

“Johnny’s asleep and should stay that way for the rest of the night. Can you four keep the baby monitor with you and check in on him a few times while we’re gone,” Kellerman asks the group.

“I’ll take care of my nephew,” Cara says, showing the maturity she possesses.

“I know you will, Baby Girl,” Kellerman responds with a wink.

Cara smiles in return. I love that she’s changing so much already. She’s relaxing and accepting everyone fawning all over her like a champ. Her and the boys can hold down the fort so the adults can attempt to behave like adults for once.

I race down the hall and take a five-minute shower before pulling on dark jeans, a tight navy T-shirt and a dark grey blazer. I slip on brown leather boots and run back down the hall to meet the other guys all wearing similar outfits only differing in the color of shirt and jacket. We look like some kind of boy band for sure.

The cab pulls up and the five of us lumber out to the yellow minivan shouting goodbyes to the teenagers as we go.

“Where to?” the driver asks as we smash ourselves in.

“Bar,” all the guys and Kellerman answer in unison.

“Any particular bar?” I ask as we pull away.

“Bar is the name of the club, man,” O’Sullivan explains with a sly grin on his lips.

“Right.”

We ride in tense silence to Kansas City’s Power and Light District, which is hopping with people pouring out of restaurants, bars and clubs. When we pull up in front of the seemingly old warehouse the line around the block to get in is not a welcome sight.

We pile out of the cab and follow O’Sullivan to the doorman at the head of the line. They talk for a few seconds before shaking hands. The doorman lifts the velvet rope and we stride through to the discontent of the people waiting in line. I feel bad for about two seconds before I’m enveloped by the bass of the dance music and the wide-open space in front of me with a sea of people moving in harmonious waves of undulation.

It’s going to take time to find the girls in here. From the looks of the club the main floor is the dance area with bars and some tables at the edges, while the second story balcony looks like a VIP area. We head to the left up to the VIP area. It’ll give me a good vantage point to spot my woman if she’s on the dance floor.

Past another velvet rope, and we’re in a quieter area with soft couches and chairs in creams and greys. There are glass barriers muffling the music from the main part of the club below us. We’re led to a table and immediately brought bottles of vodka and tequila. I barely notice as I lean over an open part of the balcony with Kellerman next to me, searching for our women. It’s dark, other than lights and lasers making my scan more difficult.

It takes us maybe ten minutes to finally locate them. By this time, all five of us are searching. I spot Kat near the middle of the floor dancing like crazy with Shanny. There’s a large group of men surrounding them, watching like panting dogs. Before I do something stupid, I take a moment to stand and watch them. Kat and Shanny seem oblivious to their revelers as they swing and spin each other, their heads tipped back with huge smiles.