“Together?” A slow smile crept over my lips. “Okay.”

Her answering smile was tentative. Hopeful. “So, that means I go when you check out the address.”

I nodded. “Tell me how you know they’ve been watching us?”

Kat drew in a deep breath. “There were photos. Lots of photos, Daemon. From the time I moved in here and up until a few days ago.”

“Jesus.” I scrubbed my hand down my face.

“The night I got sick and went into the lake? They had a photo of that. They’ve been watching this entire time. They…they have to know something happened to me and you were involved.”

I reached over to her, folding my hand over her knee. I squeezed gently. “Lets not jump to that conclusion yet, Kitten. They’ve always been up in my business. The pictures aren’t that surprising. That’s what the DOD does. They monitor and chronicle us. If they’ve known that I’ve healed you or told you about us, you…we…”

“Wouldn’t still be here?”

I nodded again.

Kat looked a little better. “What do you think Bethany meant by ‘They are coming’?” she asked.

Leaning against the couch, I tossed my arm along the back. “I don’t know.”

“I guess it might not mean anything. I mean, she was kind of whacked out.”

Staring straight ahead, I let that process. If Bethany wasn’t right, what did that mean for Dawson? “I can’t help but wonder what my brother is like right now. Is he like that? Whacked out? I don’t think I could…deal with that.”

It hurt to admit that, to speak it out loud.

Kat inched forward, halting when I looked at her again. A second passed, and then she wiggled her way over so that she was pressed against the side of me. I inhaled sharply when she rested her head against my shoulder.

“Even if he is…whacked out,” she said. “You can deal with it. You can deal with anything. I don’t doubt that at all.”

“You don’t?”

“No.”

Lifting my arm, I curled it over her shoulders and then lowered my chin to the top of her head.

“What are we going to do, Kitten?”

“I don’t know.”

“I have a few ideas.”

“I’m sure you do,” she replied, and I heard the smile in her voice.

“Wanna hear about them? Although I’m much better at the show part rather than the tell.”

“Somehow, I believe you.”

“If you didn’t, I could always give you a teaser.” I paused, enjoying the moment of lightness. “You bookish people love teasers, don’t you?”

She laughed. “You’ve been doing your research on my blog.”

“Maybe,” I replied, gathering her close. “Like I said, I’ve got to keep an eye on you, Kitten.”

Chapter 25

We checked out the address found on the bank transfer the next day, on New Year’s Eve. The whole plaza was packed with cars. I pulled the baseball cap low and then climbed out. It had stopped snowing and the parking lot had been plowed, but a thin layer of ice and snow remained.

The number on the address turned out to be a lawyer’s office, based on the plaque outside. Above the entrance and the large windows were the same damn reddish-black stones Kat and I had seen at the warehouse. Jackpot. Opening the glass door, I walked inside the lobby. Keeping my chin down, I bypassed the elevator and went for the stairwell. I passed the windows, seeing little white boxes tacked along the top of them. My gaze flipped to the ceiling, and I saw a glass-breaking sensor. The building was obviously wired for security.

On the third floor, I found the office at the end of the hall. Unlike the rest of the offices on the floor, this one had the stone above the door and over the small window. I could see that there were people inside the waiting room. On the door a sign had been taped. Closed For New Year’s Day.

Perfect.

I hurried back to where I parked the SUV. Getting in, I tossed Kat a quick grin and pulled out of the parking lot. “It appears to be a lawyer’s office. Has at least two floors above the main one. They’re closed for New Year’s and obviously on Sunday. Bad news is they are outfitted with an alarm system.”

“Crap. Know a way around that?”

“Fry their systems. If I do it quickly enough, I shouldn’t trigger an alarm. But that’s not all. Above the entrances and windows is that same damn blackish-red gemstone.” I smiled. “This is good, though. Whatever those stones are, they have to mean something.”

“What if it’s guarded?” she asked.

I didn’t answer, because I think she already knew the answer. The office looked legit, but it was obviously connected to everything going on. I had to get in there.

Kat let out a low breath. “When are you going back?”

Tomorrow was the plan, but right now, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to drag Kat into it, especially after what happened at the industrial park. If things went south, I didn’t want her in danger, and I also didn’t want her to see what I’d…what I’d have to do if the situation turned sour.

“So are you going to Ash’s party?” I asked, changing the subject. I knew Dee had invited her to the party tonight.

“I don’t know.” She fiddled with the button on her sweater. “I can’t imagine her wanting me there, but back to—”

“I want you there.”

She glanced at me, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Kitten?”

“Okay. I’ll go.”

My lips tipped up at the corners.

“Dee said she’d drive me over,” she added, dropping her hand to her lap.

I winked. “I’m taking you home.”

Kat opened her mouth, and then a strangled laugh came out. “Is that so?”

“Yep.” I hit the highway, but didn’t pick up speed. The roads were congested. “We need to talk.”

Her fingers went back to messing with the button. “About what?”

I smirked as I shot her a quick glance. “You know. What happened last night between us isn’t something I’m going to forget. It changes everything.”

“Changes everything?” Her eyes widened.

“Don’t pretend like last night didn’t happen.”

Kat let go of her button. “I’m not pretending like nothing happened last night. I…I don’t want to.”

I wanted to pull the car over and show her just how thrilled I was to hear that. “Good, because if that wasn’t the case, then you probably shouldn’t have kissed me.”

“You kissed me,” she argued.

I arched a brow. “You kissed me first.”

“I…” Kat threw up her hands. “You’re right. I did kiss you first.”

“Glad we’re on the same page,” I replied drily.

There was a moment, and then Kat laughed huskily. “We…we’re on the same page.”

Reaching over, I found her hand and threaded my fingers through hers. I squeezed, and she responded with the same. A lot was unspoken between us and everything was up in the air, but there would be time later.

We would have tonight.

After dropping Kat off, I took a quick shower and then headed over to the Thompsons’. I took my car since I’d need it to take Kat home later.

The Thompsons’ house was much larger, closer to Matthew’s and deep in the woods, a lot more secluded. I found Dee helping Ash cut up orange slices in the kitchen. There was already a huge bowl on the gray granite counter. “What’s up with the oranges?” I asked. I wasn’t sure why Ash put so much effort into the party since she didn’t invite anyone from school, but who was I to judge?

Dee glanced over her shoulder. “For the punch.”

“That’s a lot of punch then.” I eyed the bowl.

“I like my punch,” Ash replied, cleaving an orange in two with a quick swipe as she smiled sweetly at me. “Want to help? You can hold the oranges for me.”

Okay.

“Yeah. I’ll pass on that.” Pursing my lips, I wheeled around and walked into the sunken living room. The guys were there, sitting side by side on a sectional, their fingers flying over their controllers. On the wide screen was one of the Call of Duty games.