Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kim

The rest of the evening passes like a nightmare.

The police arrive first, and Carcetti isn't the only one in cuffs.

I watch a cop push Leo against the wall, slapping metal on his wrists. "You Kincaids have been stirring trouble lately," some middle-aged balding cop sneers in Leo's ear.

Carcetti is taken out by ambulance and Melissa has disappeared. I give a statement, but I'm not convinced the cop is listening to a word I'm saying, his eyes all over me.

It's then that Mason enters the club. I've got to hand it to him. He sucks all the air out of the room. Well, him and the team of lawyers behind him.

One stations himself at my side, another at Leo's, who is out of cuffs in a matter of seconds.

Everything gets a lot friendlier when the video tapes are played back, Carcetti grabbing me, holding a gun to my head.

Even Leo stomping his hand is clearly self-defense.

I watch as Leo whispers in Mason's ear and Mason gives the smallest smile with a nod of agreement.

Leo disappears and then comes out again, holding a small computer drive in his hand, that he hands to the lead investigator.

I have no idea what he's giving the man, but he crosses back to Mason. I start moving toward them too. Any anger that I had toward Leo has been completely replaced by a deep need to curl against him. I want to be in his arms. I'm a few feet from his side when I hear him say, "If it blows back, I'll take the heat, but we've got a few things to discuss first."

Mason catches my gaze, not answering as he looks from me to Leo.

But Leo doesn't say anything to his brother. Instead, he turns to me too, opening his arms.

I step into his embrace without a moment's hesitation, letting him wrap me up.

My head comes to his chest, as I hold onto his waist. "Do we get to leave soon?"

"Yeah, baby, we do. Tired?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm tired and I want to go home."

He grazes a kiss across my forehead. "I'll wrap up as soon as I can, but I can have someone take you home now if you can't wait. Roman or Jake can drive you."

I honestly don't know if he means my place or his and I'm not taking the chance I get dropped off at my apartment.

Chandra will be murder. She's been blowing up my phone with questions as it is.

And I need to speak with Leo. Just be next to him without all this noise. I just want to stretch out against him, feel his strength next to me.

Tonight was so crazy and when his arms are around me, I feel like I can breathe again.

"I had the bed sent…" Mason says. I'm trying to figure that one out when he adds, "And Roman packed all the essentials himself and brought them over."

My brow scrunches, confusion making me look between the brothers, as Leo says, "Thanks for taking care of those details."

Mason waves his hand. "You've been a little busy tonight. And in case I don't say it later, nice job taking down another Carcetti. Big Toni is going to be pissed and that's a problem we're going to have to handle soon."

"Vendetti's younger brother has been quiet too, but he won't stay quiet. That's a coiled snake waiting to strike."

"You're right," Mason eyes Leo, appreciation shining in his eyes. "You've got some plans?"

"Toni, yes. I think I've got something figured out. It's a good one too. The younger Vendetti, I'm still working on it."

Mason slaps Leo on the back. I'm still in Leo's arms so the smack reverberates through both of us. "Keep thinking. I look forward to hearing your plans."

Leo nods. "Can we talk tomorrow? There are a few other details we need to discuss."

Mason nods. "I'll come to your place with brunch."

It takes another half hour but we finally leave. I slide into the seat of Leo's car, closing my eyes. "You're not bringing me to my apartment, are you?"

"Fuck no," Leo answers as he climbs in. "In fact, you might as well pack your stuff tomorrow. There is no way you're sleeping without being next to me."

"Giving orders again?" But I smile, relaxing into the seat. I have no desire to be more than two feet from Leo for a while.

"Baby," he says, and I can hear the softening of his voice. "Please. I'll go crazy if?—"

I turn to him, opening my eyes. "I was teasing. Maybe poor timing, but I promise, I'm as eager to stay next to you as you are to have me there."

He reaches for my hand then, pulling the back of my fingers against his lips to give them a long kiss.

I sigh out my pleasure at the feel of his skin on mine. "Does Mason know that after you bluster, you're a big softie?"

Leo looks over at me, cocking a brow. "No one gets soft Leo but you, baby. Don' t you know that?"

I did not know that. My belly flutters as I clear my throat. "Are we talking about the baby tonight?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know. It feels like…"

"There's a lot going on?"

"Yeah."

Leo turns onto the highway, and I realize we're leaving Las Vegas proper. I lift my head. "Where are we going?"

"The Carcettis live in Summerlin," he says as though that answers my question. "So naturally, we are going to Southern Highlands."

"What's in Southern Highlands?"

"Your house."

"My house?" I sit up, straighter. "What does that even mean?"

"Well, technically, it's our house. Or, more accurately, a Kincaid house. Mason picked it up on a short sale. Even the rich go bankrupt."

"How much real estate does Kincaid Enterprises own?"

He winks at me. "I told Mason this morning I wanted to take you out of the city. The plan is moving bit sooner than I imagined, and I had every intention of asking you first?—"

"Questionable."

He smiles. "But tonight, I think we'll both sleep better in a place no one is going to look."

"Why would you call it my house then?"

"I thought you could raise the baby there."

My head is spinning. Is he giving me a house? "I really appreciate the thought, but I don't have the kind of money that would allow me to even keep the lights on in a house in Southern Highlands."

He shakes his head. "In case it wasn't clear, I have no intention of leaving you to raise this baby on your own. And what babies need most, besides love, is money."

My breath catches. We're pulling off the highway and it takes everything in me not to climb over the console and into his lap while he drives.

It only takes a few minutes before we're pulling into a gated community and then into a driveway for a house that is circled by a large high wall and thick metal gates.

There is a guard at the gate and a few more out on the lawn. "Who are they?"

"Kincaid Enterprises security men we keep on retainer. We are not taking any chances."

I swallow down a lump. The car comes to a stop and I do exactly what I wanted a minute ago. I'm over the console, my ass landing in Leo's lap, my feet still in my seat. I wedge myself between Leo and the steering wheel. There is barely room, but I don't care as my lips crash against his, my hands threading into his hair.