No Turning Back (27 page)

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," I said quickly, shoving a hand through my hair.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"I'm at Blane's," I answered. "What's going on? Did you trace where Kade took the drive?"

"He's at some house," she said. "I'm sitting in my car outside of it now, thought there might be something to be seen."

"What house?" I asked, curious, and she gave me an address. I went very still.

"What was the address again?" She repeated it for me.

"Oh my God," I breathed.

"What? What's wrong, Kathleen?" CJ's voice was anxious in my ear.

"That's Blane's address. It's here."

Chapter Eleven

It took me a moment to process this, as stunned as I was, and I felt fear ice my veins.

"Kathleen? Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," I answered, my mind spinning.

"Listen," she continued, "I'm outside in my car. I parked on the street on the west side of the house. You have to get out of there."

"But if Kade's here," I argued, "Blane might be in danger. I can't just leave him." My pulse was racing now as I wondered where Blane was. Maybe he'd heard an intruder and had gotten up to check it out.

"Kathleen," CJ said, her voice sad, "I'm sorry but I think you need to realize that Blane probably knows that Kade is there. He might even be the one that sent Kade to get it from you." My stomach clenched at this and a shaft of pain pierced my chest.

"You're wrong," I said, shaking my head even though I knew she couldn't see me. "Blane wouldn't betray me like that. He wouldn't put me in danger." I heard CJ sigh.

"Fine," she said curtly, "but I'll still wait for you. I'll give you fifteen minutes to get out of there."

"Okay," I agreed. "I'm going to try to find Blane." I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse. Carefully opening Blane's bedroom door, I peered down the darkened hallway and listened. All was silent. As quietly as I could, I went back to my bedroom, hurrying into the bathroom and yanking on my clothes and shoes.

I was about to step on the stairs when I realized I had nothing to defend myself or Blane, should I need it. Thinking quickly, I retraced my steps to Blane's room, searching the walls blindly for a light switch. Flicking it on, I saw what I needed on the table next to the bed. Blane's gun. I grabbed it, checked that it was loaded and flicked the safety off. Now I was ready.

I crept down the stairs, pausing every couple of steps to listen. I didn't hear anything until I reached the bottom. Voices were coming from the den. Stepping as lightly as I could through the dining room, I paused outside the door to the den which was open a bare inch. Golden light appeared through the crack, sending a shaft of light into the shadowed dining room. Now I could plainly hear the voices and my heart sank as I recognized them. Blane and Kade.

"...you not to come here," I heard Blane say. "It's too dangerous if you're seen. No one can know we're working together."

"You have so little faith in me that you'd think I'd let someone see me?" Kade scoffed. "Please." There was quiet for a moment.

"Did you find it?" Blane asked.

"No," Kade answered, "it wasn't on there. And I think your pretty little girlfriend is hiding something from you."

"What? Why?" Blane sounded irritated.

"Because all that was on that drive was gay porn. More than I ever wanted or needed to see." My mouth twisted in a bitter smile and I had to appreciate CJ's style.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Blane said, and now I could hear the anger in his voice.

"Would I kid about this?" Kade said, sounding angry as well. "Maybe you don't know her as well as you think. And why the hell didn't you tell me you were involved with her? I could have shot you in that alley."

"Because it wasn't any of your business," Blane retorted. "She doesn't even own a computer, Kade, and I doubt she'd know what to do with it if she did. You probably just missed something."

"I didn't miss anything," Kade said evenly. "And we need that code or we're screwed."

"I'm well aware of that," Blane answered curtly. "Has Frank contacted you about it yet?"

"Yes. He said he's getting impatient. There's too much riding on this election. You and I both know that." Blane didn't reply to that.

My gut was twisting inside me and I felt like I was going to throw up. I had been wrong, so wrong. Mark had been right to warn me. I shouldn't have trusted Blane.

"So let's go see your girlfriend and make her tell us what she knows," Kade said. I stopped breathing, panic flaring inside me. "You know where she lives, right?"

"She's not there," said Blane flatly.

"Then where is she?"

A pause, and then, "In my bed." Kade laughed derisively. I cringed.

"I swear, you're more ruthless than I am sometimes, Blane," he said. "I guess those scratches on your shoulders must be from her. I trust now she'll tell you anything you want to know?" I didn't want to hear Blane's answer. Without realizing, I was backing away from the door, my hand pressed tightly to my mouth so I wouldn't betray my presence with any sound of the anguish that I was currently feeling.

Something crashed behind me and I spun around in horror. I'd inadvertently bumped into the table and sent a crystal candelabra clattering to the surface. For a moment, I was frozen, then realized the men had stopped talking. I jerked my head around in time to see the door fly open, temporarily blinding me with the light that spilled from it. Kade stood there looking at me, his gaze malevolent.

I didn't waste another moment. Fear is a great motivator. I turned and ran. I knew there was a door in the kitchen that opened to the grounds and would ultimately lead me to the street where, hopefully, CJ was still parked. I heard cursing behind me but didn't pause, running as if my life depended on it, which it actually did.

Scrambling through the kitchen, I threw open the door and tore through the yard. It was dark but I ran heedlessly, hoping I didn't trip over anything.

"Kat! Wait!" I heard Blane call from not very far behind me. I ignored him and kept running. They both were taller and faster than me and I knew I wasn't going to make it. Turning quickly, I aimed the gun high - I knew I wouldn't kill them but hopefully they didn't - and fired off a couple rounds. They both hit the ground and I took off again.

I saw the street ahead and tried to run faster, the cold air searing my chest as I gasped for breath. To my relief, CJ's car was idling at the curb, the lights off. I ran to it, yanking open the passenger door and diving inside.

"Go! Go!" I yelled at her, turning to see Blane and Kade closing in. CJ stomped on the gas and we pulled away from the curb. Turning around, I saw Kade raise his gun and I flinched, but Blane shoved his arm down before he could get off a shot. Then I saw nothing as they were lost in the darkness of the street behind us.

"Holy shit!" CJ exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stole quick glances at me. "Hey, point that thing somewhere else, would you?" She gestured to the gun I was still holding in my shaking hands.

"Sorry," I said, quickly thumbing the safety on and putting the gun in my purse.

"Where'd you get a gun?" she asked.

"It's Blane's," I answered, trying to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding in my chest.

"You took Blane's gun?" CJ said, smiling widely now. "Sweet." I didn't think it was sweet. My eyes stung but I blinked back the tears. I refused to cry. I had known that it was dangerous to get involved with Blane. I had no one to blame but myself for my own stupidity.

And yet, the thought of his lies and how he'd used me, been planning on using me, caused my stomach to tighten painfully. A surge of nausea made me clutch at my middle.

"Stop the car!" I said, and CJ must have heard the urgency in my voice because she pulled over immediately. I was out before it had completely stopped, my stomach heaving. I threw up the meager contents in the grass, wiping my mouth on my sleeve. Kade's sleeve, actually, and I grimaced.

Getting back in the car, I dug in my purse. I knew I couldn't go home. That would be the first place they'd look. Finding the scrap of paper I needed, I held it up so I could read it.

"Take me here," I said, giving CJ the address. "I can't go home, they'll be there. But you should be okay. They know nothing about your involvement."

"Where am I taking you?" she asked, looking over the paper.

"A friend offered to let me stay with her if I needed to," I said, thinking of Gracie and hoping she'd meant it.

"Are we still on for Monday?" she asked and I nodded.

"Absolutely." My resolve to thwart whatever plan was in place hadn't weakened. If anything, it was stronger now. If Blane thought I was some stupid little girl who "didn't even own a computer," well, he had another thing coming, even if it was true that I didn't own a computer.

"Nice job on the gay porn," I complimented her and she grinned. "They really hated that."

"So tell me what happened?" she asked and I repeated the conversation I'd overheard.

"I don't know how they're involved exactly," I said, "but supposedly Kade works for the Santini brothers. Blane works for the firm, and while I know he has no love for James, they must be working together to get James elected."

"It makes sense," CJ mused. "Blane's the brains and Kade's the gun. Blane must have realized your connection to Mark and wanted to gain your trust so you'd tell him what Mark knew. So he played good cop while sending Kade to play bad cop." I closed my eyes, dismayed at how easily I'd been played. CJ must have sensed how upset I was because she didn't say anything else.

Gracie lived in a much nicer apartment complex than I did and I thought again of what she made as an escort. I would have to figure out something soon. Obviously, I couldn't go back to work on Monday. Rent was due and I had just enough in my checking account to pay it, but I had to get another job quick.

I told CJ to stay in the car. I wanted as few people to know about our association as possible. Should something happen to me, I didn't want anyone to be able to link her to me and go after her as well. She said she'd wait to make sure I was all right to stay before leaving.

Tentatively, I knocked on Gracie's door. It was very late and I hated to wake her, but didn't know what else to do. I waited a couple minutes and then knocked again. Finally, I heard the lock turn.

"Kathleen?" she said in surprise when the door opened. She was wearing a beautiful red satin negligee and I belatedly hoped she was alone.

"Hey, Gracie," I said, smiling weakly. "I was hoping you meant it when you said I could stay with you." She didn't say anything and I hastened to add, "It'll only be for a day or so."

"Of course!" she said. "You can stay as long as you like! I was just surprised, that's all. Come in!" Stepping back to the railing overlooking the parking lot, I flicked a wave at CJ who flashed her lights at me and pulled out of the lot.

"Just letting my ride know they could go," I explained as I entered her apartment.

It seemed Gracie was fond of the tropics for her whole apartment was decorated in that theme. Bamboo and bright colors adorned the space as well as lots of live plants. Gracie must have a green thumb.

"C'mon," she said, "I have a spare bedroom you can use." I followed her down the hall to a bedroom that had a twin bed. It was decorated more sparsely and I could tell it was rarely used.

"The bathroom is over there," she said, pointing across the hall. "I have my own so no worries there. Let me get you some things."

She left and I sank down on the bed, suddenly bone tired. When she reappeared, she was carrying a small bundle.

"Here's a nightgown for you," she said, "as well as some toiletries. Toothbrush, hair brush, that sort of thing." I accepted the pile gratefully.

"Thank you so much, Gracie," I said and she just smiled. I could see the questions in her eyes, but true to her word, she didn't ask me why I was there.

"See you in the morning," she said, leaving me alone.

When the door had closed behind her, I wasted no time in ridding myself of the hated shirt, restraining myself from childishly stomping on it, but just barely. My jeans quickly followed and I slipped on the nightgown she'd given me to wear. It wasn't really my style but I didn't care. After using the bathroom and brushing my teeth, I fell into bed, falling asleep almost instantly and ignoring the wetness on my cheeks.

Morning came all too soon. It took me a moment to remember where I was and the events of last night. My heart plummeted in my chest when I recalled the vivid details in my mind. It didn't help that the soreness between my legs reminded me of just how much of an idiot I'd let myself become with Blane. He must be laughing himself silly at how easy it had been to get me into bed. Suddenly, I felt no better than the parade of women that Clarice and I used to make fun of - the ones that never had a clue how transitory and interchangeable they were in Blane's life.

Moping and feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to get me anywhere. I had problems that needed to be addressed. Hauling myself out of bed, I padded across the hall to the bathroom. I brushed the snarls from my hair and splashed some water on my face, then went in search of coffee.

To my surprise and dismay, Gracie had company. I stopped short in the kitchen as I saw her and another woman sitting at the table.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized. "I didn't realize you had a guest." I turned to leave but Gracie stopped me.

"Kathleen, wait. There's someone I'd like you to meet." I reluctantly turned back around, my cheeks burning. The nightgown Gracie had given me left little to the imagination. Indigo with spaghetti straps and nearly backless, it only came down to mid-thigh.