Page 56 of Mended Souls
“I always piss people off. Where is this so-called sex traffic operation going to take place?”
“That is unknown at this time. This source also said something about you pimping out your girlfriend.”
“What did they say about Kadence?”
He shrugged, lighting a cigarette and inhaling the toxic fumes into his lungs. “That she’s a hot piece of ass.”
Garrick grabbed me before I had the chance to punch the daylights off of a fed. “I will kick your ass if you say anything like that about Kadence. I’m going home. If anything happens, call Cross. And if you hear anything about Kadence,” I glowered at Foster, “you will inform me so I can properly handle the situation.”
Agent Foster left, and he was lucky I didn’t shoot him. “Did Elijah ever talk to you about having a sibling? Or a girlfriend?”
Garrick cocked his brow. “No? Elijah wasn’t the type to sit down and drink a beer with me when he would visit the territory.” He paused. “Elijah didn’t have friends. He had people he tolerated for business.”
“Something isn’t adding up. Elijah had to have someone he trusted.”
“I’ll see if I can find anything for you, and go from there. I know some people in the outer territories.”
“Thank you. If you need anything let me know.”
CHAPTER 43
KADENCE
When I woke up alone, it ruined my mood. I hated how clingy I was with Blaize, but she made me feel safe. She held me last night after my nightmare, and I expected to wake up in her arms this morning. Since being here in her bed, I hadn’t woken up with her as much as I would like.
I had therapy today, and it would be the first session since everything happened with Annika. Three days passed and Annika was back home, but I still couldn’t help the guilt in my chest, even if she didn’t blame me. The reason she was shot was because she was my friend. She took the bullet that was meant for me, and she could’ve died.
When I got to Dr. Williams’ office, I flashed her a soft smile and I knew it didn’t meet my eyes. I thought this session would be different and I would talk to her about a scene I wanted to do with Blaize to help us both, but now I was spiraling.
“What happened? Is it Blaize?”
I shook my head. “No, Blaize is amazing. We need to work on communication, but she’s great. Annika got hurt.”
“Is she okay? What happened?”
I leaned back onto the couch. “We were shopping. On our way to the car, I saw something and then someone started shooting. The bullet was meant for me, but it got Annika.”
“Do you think it’s your fault?”
“It is my fault,” I told her with more fire in my voice. “This person wanted me dead. Blaize didn’t kill me, so I am still a pawn to hurt her. I put Annika in danger. It should’ve been me who was hurt.”
“Kadence, Annika is alive. Her getting hurt is not your fault. It is the person that did it. Regardless of this person wanting to hurt you. If you use your logic, it would be Blaize’s fault, which it’s not, but this person wants you to get her.”
I groaned. “I never thought this would be my life. When I ran away from New York, maybe I should’ve chosen a small midwestern town or maybe the south. This wouldn’t happen if I was somewhere else.”
“Maybe you needed to come here to find yourself. Fate works in mysterious ways.” She smiled. Dr. Williams had restored my faith in doctors and therapists. Whoever said therapy was useless—like me, in a past life—is an idiot because this was the jumpstart I needed to get on track. “Now tell me about you and Blaize.”
After I went into long, graphic detail about me and Blaize, Dr. Williams beamed even working on our kinks, she could see the happiness radiating from me like a beacon. This was a reality I never thought would be mine.
There was still a part of me that felt like this life would be pulled out from under me, but I wasn’t living in fear anymore. Even if my father found me, I was an adult free to make my own choices. My track record may not be the greatest, but I refused to let my past hold me back from the future I want. And Dominic? If I ever saw him again, I’d like to think I'd be strong and fighthim, but I’d need Blaize or Hawke to help me. Healing was never linear, but I was on the correct path with Blaize by my side.
“What is the plan for communication? I don’t want you hurting yourself for her. What are you planning?”
“She’s better, but she doesn’t want to scare me. I’d much rather know what I need to expect versus having someone hurt me out of the blue. I told you before that she’s a domme. I have a scene set up, but I don’t know if I should do it. Not now. How can I focus on a scene or sex if this is happening?”
“It could be the distraction the both of you need. From my understanding, kink and BDSM takes focus and trust. If that’s what you think you both need, do it. Focus on that and not what’s happening around you.”
EVERLY
