Chapter Three

KACE

My feet feel like lead weights as they march swiftly, thumping and pounding on the cement. I try to catch my heavy breath while it races unevenly in and out of my nose in quick succession. Lily has shaken me, and I bet she doesn't even know it. This woman, this crazy, beautiful woman is like no one I've met before. She is smart, gorgeous, and without knowing me at all, she gets me, even though she doesn't know it yet. Her views on wild animals—on predators—the way she appreciates them for how they are, the understanding of the need to kill or be killed.

When I moved into my apartment two months ago, I thought it would be the same as always. Keep my head down. Stay invisible. But she saw me, and I noticed her watching me. And fuck, did I notice her. The moment I saw her, she lit up the entire hallway. There was a glow about her, a spark, something I haven't seen emanating from anyone, ever. I can't describe it. She knocked me off my feet from the moment I first laid eyes on her. And that light that pulls me to her has never dulled. Every time I see her, I want to run to her, bathe in her glow, and feel her warmth.

But I can't.

There's just no possible way.

Even now, she has a spark about her, the way she lights up, even when talking about something so dark. Like even though she knows there's danger involved, it still excites her. I realize she was talking about her job, although I can't help but think about her being in my life and how that might work in her favor if she knew.

If only she knew.

Making friends isn't on my list. I should have said no to going back there with her to view the lions. Little does she know that I'm the lion—the predator—and when Lily talked, it felt like she was speaking about me, not to me. That's why I clammed up in there.

I'm struggling to stay away from her, but I can't figure out why. I've never had this problem before. Women were always a scratch that tended to an itch. I've never had a problem walking away. But with Lily, I'm finding myself watching her every move. I could have met Cavaleri's nephew anywhere, but I knew Lily would be here, at the zoo, at this time.

So why did I risk being spotted by her when it was obviously going to happen?

It was sloppy.

I'm not sloppy.

Ever.

Taking in a deep, long, calming breath to rein in my racing thoughts as I reach my car, the button beeps as I press unlock sending a small, high-pitched beep through the back street. My jaw is still tightly clenched from the tension of my actions and the unease of how easily Lily rattles me.

This woman has the potential to unravel me.

It's distracting.

It's unsettling.

It's kind of nice.

Letting out a deep, throaty groan as I open my door and slide into my car, I turn on the engine and rev it to capacity. Pushing the car into gear, I hammer the throttle down roaring off down the street at speeds definitely not law-abiding to get home and try to sort my fucking head out before she arrives home too. I can always tell when she's home because living next door to her, I can sense her, and it's something I've become very accustomed to.

LILY

After spending the rest of the day with Marshall and the cubs, I'm on a giddy high. Or maybe that's from meeting Kace officially today. I can't really tell. Maybe it's both? His awkwardness in the lion's den was strange. He tensed up, but I'm not sure if it was from something I said or something I did. Or maybe just from being alone together and having wild animals around us. Either way, he wanted out of there fast, and I'm hoping that doesn't mean he's going to avoid me from now on.

I know very little about him really—other than his name, and that he apparently meets weird Italian men at zoos. I wonder what that was about. I want to ask him, but I'm not sure we're at a stage in our ‘neighbor relationship' that I could ask him something like that yet. I mean, technically, we've only really had one conversation.

After a big day, it's nice to be home. I've already had a long soak in the tub, probably too long because the tips of my fingers still look like dried, wrinkled prunes, but it was worth it. I love working at the zoo, but it can be hard on the body. Lion cubs may look little, but they weigh quite a bit, and holding them for prolonged periods of time, especially when cuddling them like I do, can give you a sore back and arms. So I'm tired and ready for bed.

My fluffy bathrobe tickles my senses as the soft textures glide against my skin while I walk to my room to get changed into my pajamas. The annoying tone of Milkshake by Kelis starts to play from the living room. I groan wondering what crisis is happening tonight as I roll my eyes and turn on my heels, heading back out of my bedroom toward the living room to pick up my cell.

"Molly, it's nearly eleven at night! Shouldn't you be heading out to some guy's house by now?" I quip, and then the extremely unusual sound of a baby crying echoes down the line. I tilt my head slightly at the foreign noise that I would never associate with Molly, especially considering her major distaste for children is a common topic of conversation for us.

"Lily, you need to help me. Like… I mean… really help me. This is the biggest emergency I've ever had."

I take a deep breath and sit down on the couch next to me as the tone of her voice is actually one of seriousness and not banter for once. "Molly, do you have a baby with you?"

She lets out an exasperated groan as the baby cries harder, sounding on the verge of tears herself. "Yes! Oh my God, Lily! You have to help me. My niece is here, she's six months old, and she won't stop crying. Can you come here now? Please, Lily. Please, I need you."

I smile briefly. "Of course, but why isn't Holly helping?"

She sniffs sounding like she's going to cry again. "My sister isn't here. It's just me and this… thing. It's a long story. I'll tell you when you get here. Just hurry the fuck up before it dies from crying or something."

Standing up, I race into my bedroom to get dressed. "Okay, Molly, just stay calm, and I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm getting dressed now, and I'll leave straight away."

She sniffs again. "Hurry… and bring chocolate!"

"Babies can't have chocolate, Molly."

"It's not for her, it's for me. I need calming down, not her. This thing is causing all the trouble, not me. Just get here, Lily!" She hangs up her cell, and I giggle to myself picturing Molly holding a screaming baby out in front of her as far away from her body as humanly possible. For Holly to leave her daughter alone with her sister, something must be wrong. So, I get dressed as quickly as I can and slip on my sneakers. I'm going to have to run to get there fast. I don't have a car, and the quickest route right now is to sprint the two blocks to her house.

Opening my door, I race out of my apartment not looking where I'm headed, and my body collides straight into a brick wall. Well, that's what it feels like anyway as my body slams straight into it. An "oomph" escapes me as I step back, looking up.

Strong arms reach out grabbing my upper arms to prevent me from completely falling backward. Swallowing hard, I look up into Kace's smoldering gaze as he looks down at me. His eyes bore into mine with such intensity my knees buckle marginally. His grip intensifies on my arms as I dip slightly.

"You okay, Lily?" His deep baritone voice washes over me like smooth silk shaking my very foundation.

I swallow hard again trying to shake myself from the trance of his gaze and simply nod once as I chew on my bottom lip. It's only when a slight chuckle from next to us alerts me that someone else is here. My eyes finally break from Kace, and I notice a man next to him wearing a white wife-beater, a leather jacket, and jeans. His hair is short but a little longer on top, and he has a well-maintained beard. His eyes, though, they're piercing blue and could give Kace's a run for their money. His face is well defined, and his build is strong and masculine—he clearly works out.

A lot.

Though his arms aren't quite the size of Kace's.

When I hear the clearing of a throat, it makes me realize I am staring at the man, and his smirk makes my cheeks turn red hot.

"Lily?" Kace repeats.

Clearing my throat, I shake my head as if to bring myself back to the present and look to Kace, who I notice still has a tight grip on my arms.

"I'm okay, just have to go downtown."

His brows crease together, and he shakes his head slightly. "It's the middle of the night."

I shrug and purse my lips together. "Duty calls."

"How are you getting there?" he asks but doesn't ask where I'm going.

"Was gonna just leg it. Quickest way I guess without a car."

He huffs. "No, I'll take you."

His friend looks at him and furrows his brows. I find that strange but ignore it as I don't really have time to be arguing, Molly has a crisis I need to get to.

"Thanks, but I can walk. It's not far."

He drops his grip from one arm but keeps it on the other and starts leading me down the hall. His grip is tight, not painful, but enough that I couldn't break free without a struggle.

"Kace… man, we have that thing we need to do," his friend calls out.

"It can wait, Axel. I can't have Lily out in Washington DC in the middle of the night on her own. It's dark, and there are unsavory people out there."

I furrow my brows as he continues to pull me down the hall.

"Kace!" Axel calls out.

Kace ignores him, walks me down the hall, and we turn the corner.

"Kace, I really don't want to interrupt your night," I say as his grip on my arm lessens.

"You're never an interruption, Lily. But there's no way I'm letting you go out on the streets this late at night by yourself. Not when I can drive you."

"Your friend didn't look too happy."

Kace finally smiles. "That's how he always looks. You get used to it."

I laugh as we climb into the car. "I'm sorry, for a second there I thought you made a joke? What would Axel say about that?"

Kace smirks. It's a good look on him as he starts the car and pulls out onto the road.

"Axel doesn't get a say. He listens."

"Are you like… his boss?"

Kace laughs, but then silence fills the car because he doesn't answer.

I figure why not push, so I ask more questions. "So you must run a pretty tight ship? Must be a stressful job?"

Kace doesn't turn his head, but his eyes shift toward me and look right through to my soul. "Don't dig, Lily. You might not like what you find."

"But sometimes… what some don't like, others do."

He finally turns to me, his face is stern. Hard. Unreadable. "And those ‘other' people are the ones who end up hurt."

The intensity of his stare sends goosebumps over my skin. My stomach flips as electricity flitters through the air. We stare at each other, and every breath catches in my throat. He's a force, an undeniable energy that's pulsing through my body. The tension is rising, and as his eyes stay locked on mine, it's only now that I realize his car has stopped, and a screaming baby breaks me away from the trance. The dark night crumbles around me shattering the daze as the streets and surroundings all finally come into view. My lungs finally take in that deep breath I need, while I look around to see we're out the front of Molly's place. I blink a couple of times as Kace seems to be gathering his bearings from our moment too as I try to figure things out.

Shaking my head, I look around the car furrowing my brows and wrack my brain, but nothing's coming to me.

"Lily, you look weird. What's going on in your head?" Kace asks.

I sit back into the seat and slump down looking up at Molly's apartment. "We're at Molly's?"

He furrows his brows and nods. "Isn't that where you wanted to go?"

I chew on my bottom lip and breathe harshly out of my nose. "Kace, I never told you where I was going."

He opens his eyes wide, his chest stops mid-breath like he's paused his breathing. I furrow my brows watching him like he's been caught in something—I just don't know what.

His stunned face softens, and he lets out a fake half-smile. "C'mon, Molly's waiting." He opens the car door and slides out leaving me speechless in the car, wondering what the hell is happening.

My brain is working overtime, and I can't for the life of me figure out how the hell Kace knew that I wanted to come to Molly's, or how the hell he even knew where Molly lived in the first place?

A sudden knock on the car window shocks me out of my thoughts as I see Kace looking down at me. I take a deep breath and nod, open the door, and step out.

"Kace, how did you—"

The door of the apartment flings open, and Molly's standing there with the crying baby on her hip. Her hair's a mess and her face, bright red. She looks at me and opens her eyes wide with the ‘help me' look she's so good at, while the screaming of the little girl echoes down the city street. Dogs howl, and a neighbor starts yelling out of his window, his stern fist hurtling through the dark night air.

"Put a lid on it, Earl. Can't you see I'm trying here, you low life piece of sh—"

"Okay, Molly. Let's go inside, hey?" Kace interrupts her yelling at her neighbor.

I can't help myself as I pull out my cell and stealthily snap a candid shot of Molly holding a baby. Let's face it, this is a very rare sight indeed. I giggle to myself while we all amble inside her apartment.

The screeching cries of the baby are actually quite loud. Even I feel uncomfortable, and I like kids, so I can imagine how bad Molly's feeling right now. The high-pitched tenor this little girl has going on is ear-piercing. We make it to the living room, and Molly stops and turns to face us. Her eyes begin to water as she pulls the baby up from under her arms and holds it out directly in front of her as far away from her body as possible.

"Make it stop!" she says, yelling over the baby's racket.

I furrow my brows putting on an awkward smile. Bringing my pointer finger up to the little girl's nose, I pet it making coochie-coo noises.

Shit! I'm really not that great with babies either.

Molly grunts and starts pacing the floor holding her at arm's length as she bellows even louder.

"Oh my God, make it stop! " she yells stopping right in front of Kace and practically throwing the baby at him.

He has no choice but to clasp the baby in his grip as it's thrust into his chest. The moment she's in his arms and against his chest, she stops crying. Literally, the room falls silent, and we all hold our breath as Kace cradles her in his arms tenderly. He looks down at the little girl, and it's like something in him changes. The hard edge evaporates, and only this soft shell of a man is left—a kind, gentle, loving man who is caring and nurturing this tiny little human.

He rocks her gently, running his finger along her reddened cheek as he smiles down on her cute little button face. "There you go, sweetheart. You just wanted to be held properly," he whispers softly.

I look up at Molly, who's chewing away on her bottom lip, and she raises her eyebrow at me and smirks. "Well, fuck me," she quips.

Kace looks up at me watching him. I smile because seeing this softer side of him is refreshing. It's nice to know there's more to him than just the hard, dangerous mystery that is Kace Colt. He has a gentle side too, even if he doesn't want to admit it.

But as soon as I smile, it's like this light switch flicks, and he realizes that he's let his guard down. His smile falters, and his eyes glaze over. His relaxed body stiffens, and he swallows hard as he walks over and hands me the baby. She slides into my arms easily and continues to stay calm. All she wanted was to be held properly.

"I… umm…" Kace pauses like he's lost for words.

"You were great with her. Thank you," Molly says.

"I'm ah… I'm gonna go. You coming, Lily?"

I furrow my brows. Something's wrong with him. I don't like the edge to his voice.

"Thanks for the ride, but I think I'll stay and help Molly with the baby."

"Okay." He turns and heads for the door.

Slumping my body, I huff. I'm not sure what I wanted from him, but it was more than that. Maybe an ‘I'll see you soon?' or something to that effect.

"Okay," I reply softly.

He turns back to face me, and his nostrils flare. "I'm sure you're staying overnight. And I trust Molly will drive you home in the morning. But if you need me, you can call."

"Okay," is all I can reply.

Just when I think I'm beginning to get to know him, he throws another curveball.

He's so hot and cold. I can't figure out if I have third-degree burns or frostbite?

"I guess I'll see you later, then?"

"You will. Bye, Molly." He turns and heads for the door.

"Bye, Kace," Molly whispers as he walks out of the door. The sound of wood is harsh making me jump as it hits the door jamb when it closes.

"So… that was intense," Molly says, swiveling on her heels and heading for the kitchen. I take a deep breath and follow her, still holding the baby and wondering why she's even here.

Sighing, I look down at the sleeping child and smile. "Yeah, Kace was weird all right. It's like he knew I was coming out of my apartment to see you and that I'd be walking, and he was there to stop me."

She turns around stopping in front of the fridge and raises an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"

"It's like he has ESP or something. Maybe he's psychic. He seems to know things. Like I swear I didn't tell him I was coming to your place, and yet we got in the car and ended up here. How the hell did he know your address?"

She purses her lips and shrugs, then turns to open the fridge in search of something. "Well, from what I can tell, the man is an enigma, a baby whisperer, and a fucking sex machine," her muffled voice echoes out from inside the fridge.

"Wait! What? A sex machine?" My stomach flips. "Have you and Kace…" I pause hoping like hell he doesn't know her address because they've been intimate with each other. Here. Probably where I'm standing. A shudder runs through me as I picture them banging against the wall next to me. I have to shut my eyes to try and rid the thoughts and stop myself from overthinking.

"Pfft, a girl can dream. I said he's a sex machine because of the way he looks. Keep up, woman, and open your damn eyes, you're holding my niece."

I open my eyes to see Molly out of the fridge and looking at me holding two bottles of wine with a giant grin on her face.

I chuckle. "Umm… Molly, babysitting and wine don't really go together."

She shrugs. "Fine, you babysit. I'll drink. And where's my chocolate?"

Shaking my head, I roll my eyes. "On a serious note, why is she even here?"

Molly twists the cap off the wine bottle and takes a long drink right from the bottle. A little drop of red wine drips from her mouth, she swallows and takes a deep breath. "Holly's husband was in a car accident and is in the hospital in critical care. She needed to get there and didn't want to take Ava to the hospital, especially since Jared's all banged up like that."

I wince. "Oh, crap! I'm sorry, Molly. I know you like your brother-in-law. Is he gonna be okay?"

She takes another giant gulp from her wine bottle. "Yes, fine. They had to remove part of his liver or something, but he'll make a full recovery. Holly is picking up Ava in the morning, but I have to deal with it until then."

I giggle. "Seriously, she's your niece, and you're calling her it?"

"Meh… she's one of them ."

"Them?"

"The devil spawn. Satan's child. The evil incarnate."

I can't help but laugh as I shake my head looking down at Ava, who's sound asleep looking perfectly delightful with her little button nose and curly blonde locks. "I don't know, she's kinda cute to me."

"Don't be fooled, Lily. It's their powers, their evil childlike persuasion. They're all masters of deception. They make you think they're cute, then bam, they start screaming and puking and spitting… and it's disgusting. Hell on earth. Why I work with them is beyond me. Actually, I'm sending in my resignation right now." She walks over to her laptop and opens it up, taking another drink from her wine bottle.

Laughing, I shake my head. "Molly, do not resign. You need the money to get into the job you really want. Dancing in film clips… remember? The kids are only a means to an end."

She groans, slumping in the chair. "Fuck." She guzzles down more wine.

I look down at Ava and smooth back a curl from her face. "It's going to be a long night, little one."