of what our role in this whole situation is.
Kaden explains that for now we just observe. “The wedding gives us the perfect opportunity to snoop around from the inside, thanks to Royce and Blaine’s soon to be family connection to our suspect. Kronin is on the list of the guests for the wedding of the year, he’s due to arrive any day. So we’ll watch them closely. The two men don’t seem to hang out on a personal level, so we’re pretty sure that the wedding is being used as a diversion for something big. The only thing I ask you guys, is to act normal and keep your eyes and ears open. I’ll give you more instructions as we know more.”
I can’t resist a dig at Kaden and give him a small military salute and a ‘yes sir’. The light I see in his dark blue eyes is something that makes my core clench and my center throb: there’s heat, anger and understanding and also something else. He knows I’m challenging him and he’s telling me that he won’t back down. He’s telling me that he meant it when he said that he wouldn’t apologize anymore. That we can play this game but if I step out of line, there’ll be consequences. Fuck at this rate, he might spank me too. This is totally becoming a thing.
“Another thing, before we go into the lion’s den and meet Mommy Dearest for dinner.” Royce intervenes, interrupting my staring contest with Kaden. “Sloane, we thought that it’s better to introduce you as Blaine’s girlfriend. We don’t think that we should advertise our current … ménage with these people. And it’s not because we’re ashamed of it or anything. It’s just that the less attention we draw to us, the more chance we have to be free to do our job.” I nod, tightening my hold on Blaine.
“What about River and Kaden?” I ask.
Royce offers me a small smirk, enjoying the situation way too much. “River is your brother and as for Kaden, he’s your bodyguard, it makes sense that we’d hire you one after we’ve been stalked by your ex.”
Kaden’s shit eating grin makes me want to slap him when he chuckles. “I take my job very seriously, Sloane. I’ll ‘guard your body’ very carefully.”
Huh? Really? Dick! I’m about to retort something scathing, when River protests. “Hey! Why can’t I be the bodyguard? I don’t wanna be her fucking brother! At least can I be the stepbrother who’s secretly fucking his hot step sister?”
Kaden shakes his blond head. “No, you can’t. And you watch way too much porn if the first thing that comes to your mind is to ‘fuck your stepsister.’ Look, we thought that this would be the best way to explain me being armed and your wounds. We’ll say that we were spending winter break in Seattle and that Sloane’s ex showed up and … we don’t have to lie about what happened in that boathouse.”
River mumbles something about Kaden being a killjoy but he stops objecting as we all pile into the elevator that takes us up to the hotel’s exclusive terrace restaurant and sky bar. This was sure as hell going to be interesting.
Sloane
I come from a middle-class family and when I first started dating Pierce and hanging around Sasha’s professional football player boyfriend, I thought I saw the way rich people live.
You know what? I saw shit, I think as we stepped into a stunning tropical garden that not only is located on the top floor of the hotel, but offers the illusion of complete privacy to the diners as every table is surrounded by lush trees and bushes that create a natural and stunning partition.
We’re ushered toward the edge of the terrace where the tables also offer a breathtaking view of the harbor of Monte Carlo.
And if I thought that all this was impressive, I still have a lot to learn about the way the top one percent does things, because when I don’t see any other diners, the maître d’ informs us that the restaurant and bar have been closed to all the other guests for the evening to allow for our family event. We don’t have time to sit down at our table because the happy couple arrives and introductions are made.
“Oh my baby! We haven’t seen each other for a whole year. I’ve missed you so!”
Blaine’s mom is a stunning brunette in a shimmery silver floor-length gown and as I stare into