Kairo continued, “We need you and Isidore to lay low here for a while. Just make a list, and one of us will grab stuff for you both. We can cook up a disguise so you can go out with one or more of us later.”
“I’m sorry to trap you inside, Athena, but it’s just safer,” Isidore apologized.
His sister made a dismissive sound and waved a hand at him. “I know, I know. This isn’t your fault. I just wanted to save people the trouble of shopping for us. You’re right. We’re in hiding until these bastards are caught.”
A deep sigh of relief slipped past Isidore’s lips and he slouched on the love seat, his shoulder bumping Kairo, who smiled at him.
“I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to work and the rest of your life,” Kairo continued.
Isidore could only smile. It wasn’t like he could just say that he had no interest in returning to work and his normal life. That this needed to be his life now. Yeah, that wouldn’t sound insane or creepy at all. So, he just smiled and bit the inside of his cheek.
He was so screwed…
9
KAIRO JONES
While Athena was helpingEd and the others figure out what to order for dinner, Kairo took Isidore up to the second-floor bedroom he’d be sharing with his sister. They’d lucked into a place with five bedrooms and Charlie was feeling generous, giving Kairo the solo room while forcing Ed and West to bunk together.
Charlie had described the room as existing in the center of the sun, and Kairo immediately understood what he meant. Bright-yellow paint covered the four walls while white-and-yellow striped curtains hung in front of the windows. There was a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a mirror on the wall, and a few other knickknacks to give the place a homey feel.
Kairo walked over to the dresser, opened the top drawer, and pulled out the bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries Will had placed inside. “This should hold you over until we can find what you’d prefer.”
He turned back to the room and frowned as he tried to see it through Isidore’s eyes. The man had been born to money, so he was likely accustomed to high-end furniture, luxurious thread-count sheets, and breathtaking vistas out of a window.
While he wouldn’t say the accommodations were poor by any means, they were very simple in comparison. Barely better than the temporary prison cell at the top of the house, which Isidore had informed him had been storage at one time but later turned into temporary lodging for extra help when they’d thrown a house party years ago. Isidore had then been extremely quick to inform him that any regular live-in staff they had always possessed much nicer quarters.
That just made him ache for Isidore more. From what he’d learned of the man so far, he was extremely generous and kind. Kairo was willing to bet his left nut that anyone on his payroll—particularly the personal staff—was probably treated like family and well paid. The idea that any of them could stab him in the back was disgusting.
“I’m sorry this isn’t nicer,” Kairo said, cringing a little. He’d worked with plenty of other rich clients and hadn’t cared one bit about their accommodations. It had been the least of his concerns when all his attention was focused on saving their lives. Why was Isidore so different? He pushed the question aside and tried to reassure him. “If we’re lucky, it should only be for a few days. Once we track down who’s behind this mess, we can work fast to get you and Athena home again.”
“What? This looks perfectly lovely to me.” Isidore strolled past him and dropped onto the edge of the mattress. They both might have winced at the high-pitched squeal of the bedsprings. Isidore hopped to his feet and placed his hands into the pockets of his trousers as he walked over to one of the windows, peeking out through an opening between the curtains.
“Let me go check the room Charlie assigned me. If the bed is quieter or more comfortable, we can swap.” Kairo backpedaled to the open door. Charlie had mentioned that he’d been given the room directly across the hall from Isidore and Athena.
“Kairo, stop. Please. Is this because I’m rich? You think this room bothers me?”
“Actually…yeah…”
Isidore’s smile softened, but the sadness that entered those gray orbs cut him too deeply. This man didn’t deserve to look so sad. He closed the distance between them, his right hand reaching out toward Kairo’s arm as if he meant to grab it, but it fell back to his side before they came into contact. “I’m like everyone else. Yes, I appreciate the finer things in life, but I also appreciate simple things. The only thing that matters to me is that my sister is happy and comfortable and safe. Since coming to this house with your friends, you have provided all three of those things for her. For me, I would be happy to sleep on the tile floor in the living room. Though it would be nice if you could loan me a blanket to curl up with.”
His words were sweet, but they only made Kairo feel frustrated on his behalf. “Don’t you ever go after whatyouwant?” he snapped.
“What?” Isidore gasped, sounding almost scandalized by the question.
“Take whatyouwant,” Kairo repeated slowly, enunciating every word so carefully. “Instead of worrying about your sister—who might I point out is quite good at going after exactly what she wants—or me, do you ever think of yourself first? Just reach out and grab what you want.”
“I—” Isidore started and stopped to swallow hard. His face was flushed and he’d turned so Kairo couldn’t read his eyes any longer. Deep furrows cut across his forehead as his eyebrows snapped together.
Kairo wasn’t sure if he should apologize and simply hug him. He’d been too harsh, too blunt. This was none of his business. He should—
Isidore’s hand suddenly shot out and wrapped around the back of his neck, pulling him in close enough for their chests to bump together. Kairo gasped and tilted his head up. Words were trying to form in his brain, but they melted under the searing heat of Isidore’s mouth slamming down on his. Pleasure streaked through him as Isidore’s tongue invaded and tangled with his. But the joy was ruined by an unexpectedly sharp pain from his split lip.
A single whimper escaped him before he could stop it, and Isidore was instantly releasing him. The taller man took a step backward, horror and insecurity filling those eyes.
“Your bruised lip,” Isidore whispered in a harsh voice. “Or you don’t—”
There was no way in hell he was allowing Isidore to even finish that thought. Kairo grabbed the front of Isidore’s poor battered shirt with the missing buttons and jerked him close. “Don’t stop,” Kairo ordered.