Point of No Return (15 page)

Cold shock poured through Kade. “What are you talking about?”

“Blane’s father came to me when he found out your mother was pregnant. I thought about killing her then, but your father seemed convinced she was willing to take a payoff and disappear. I should have gone with my instincts.”

“What payoff? She didn’t have any money,” Kade argued.

“You think I was going to let John squander his money on some pregnant gold digger? I told her to never darken our door if she wanted to live, and if she breathed a word of who the baby’s father was—who your father was—I’d take you from her and she’d never see you again.”

Kade slammed on the brakes, the car fishtailing as it swerved on the empty road. “You sonofabitch—” he hissed.

“Shut up, Kade,” Keaston broke in. “You listen to me and by God you listen good. You’re going to go over to Blane’s and convince him not to drop out of the race. Then you’re going to tell him you want nothing to do with the girl and that she really loves him, she’s just confused. He needs to stand by her side, marry her, give the child a name. Blane’s all about honor. I’m sure you can convince him. Then you’re going to leave and never, ever come back.”

The words were like a poisoned blade, the way they sliced through Kade, leaving a burning agony in their wake. Kade swallowed. “And if I don’t?”

“Then I will put down that girl like a fucking dog, you worthless piece of shit, and I’ll enjoy doing it. The only thing saving her now is that she carries Blane’s child and he still loves her. But that can change. Blane owes people—
I
owe people—people who do not take kindly to donating millions to a candidate who drops out of the fucking race because of a goddamn broken heart. I’ve put my ass on the line for him, but if he doesn’t get his shit together, I’m not responsible for what happens to him.”

“If anyone so much as
touches
my brother,” Kade spat, “I will fucking drop you, old man.”

“Do you think everything can be solved in that fashion?” Keaston asked, his voice rife with contempt. “Kill me and she dies, no question. I call it my Kade Dennon insurance policy.”

Kade didn’t see a way out. If he stayed, defied Keaston, Kathleen would die. If he tried to kill Keaston, Kathleen would still die. The only winning move was to take himself out of the equation. To do exactly as Keaston said.

Unless he confessed, told Keaston the baby was his, not Blane’s.

And then what?

He and Kathleen would be constantly on the run, evading Keaston’s reach, because Kade had no doubt that Keaston was crazy enough to try and kill them anyway, just because of Blane. Look what he’d done to Kade’s mother. How much worse would he do to Kathleen? It was no way to live, no way to raise a child. Kade could protect them, yes, but it would only take a moment, one split-second of inattention, for them both to be gone.

Kade could see it now. Her body limp in his arms, a small hole in the center of her forehead as blood poured from the massive exit wound in the back of her head, streaking her blonde hair with crimson while her sightless blue eyes stared up at him.

Kathleen—dead. Blane would never forgive him. And he’d never forgive himself.

The only protection Kathleen really had was that Blane loved her, and that Keaston believe she carried Blane’s child.

If Kade loved Kathleen, if he was serious when he told himself he’d do anything for her, he’d let Keaston have his way. If he really loved her, he’d want her to live, be happy. And Blane would be happy, too. Maybe Blane would forgive him and the guilt inside Kade would go away.

Kade would go to Blane’s, convince him to get back in the race and that Kathleen loved him, not Kade. Blane would love her and the baby, would raise him as his own—Kade had no doubt about that. Kathleen still loved Blane, and she’d get over Kade. It was the best choice, the only choice, he had.

“Okay,” Kade rasped. “You win. But hear this—if
anything
happens to either one of them, I will hunt you down and you won’t even see me coming.”

He ended the call. Helpless fury filled him, as well as an agony that was all consuming.

He’d been outplayed, outmaneuvered, and now he’d lose everything that meant anything to him.

Kade parked in front of Blane’s house. For the last time, he suddenly realized. After tonight, he wouldn’t be coming back, wouldn’t be seeing his brother again. Perhaps ever.

Pain knifed through him, and he had to take a deep breath and close his eyes, leaning his head back against the seat. He had to bury it deep, in the place he kept all the things he didn’t want to feel. The only thing that was going to see him through what he had to do was to shut it all down. Turning off emotions was what he had to do if he wanted to survive. Otherwise, the pain would destroy him.

The pain of leaving them. Blane. Kathleen. His unborn child.

Everything inside him rebelled at what he had to do, the things he had to say. The thought of seeing the trust on Blane’s face turn to horror and dismay, and finally, loathing
. . .
If Blane knew all that Keaston had done—was doing—nothing would stop him from going after his uncle, a move that would ultimately destroy Blane. Kade wouldn’t let that happen. It was the one thing Blane had always underestimated—Kade’s unswerving loyalty.

All Kade could do was make a clean break from them both
. . .
and hope they put the pieces back together. Blane and Kathleen would cling to each other. Kade knew Blane loved her, and she loved him. They could forget about Kade and be happy, raise a family
. . .

The thought made him want to eat a bullet.

Inside, it was dark save for a light burning in the library. Kade pushed open the door, unsurprised to see Blane sitting at the piano. He wasn’t playing, though. He just sat, his body resting on his arms folded on top.

Kade committed the scene to memory, recalling the many times over the years that he’d sat listening to Blane play. It had always amazed him, the way Blane’s fingers had flown over the keys, producing melodies that spoke of emotions too powerful for words.

Blane seemed to sense his presence, turning his body to face Kade, his expression blank rather than welcoming.

Well, what had he expected? Kathleen had been there. Kade should be glad. Blane’s anger might make things easier. But he felt far from glad.

Glancing around, Kade realized the room was missing a lot of stuff. He frowned, seeing some broken glass on the floor, in one corner. Blane had cleaned up, but obviously hadn’t gotten it all.

“I see you went all rock star on this place,” Kade said. He’d only seen Blane do that once before. It had been a long time ago. “You missed the corner. Mona’s going to be upset.”

“What do you want, Kade?” Blane asked, ignoring his comment.

“I hear you’re thinking of throwing in the towel on the whole governor thing,” Kade said.

Blane stared at him, his face utterly expressionless. “
That’s
why you’re here?”

“All I’ve heard for years is how much you wanted it,” Kade said. “Seems pretty stupid to give it up when you’re so close.”

Blane shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Besides, my poll numbers have tanked since the arrest. I don’t have a chance in hell of winning that race.”

Kade cleared his throat. “That’s easily fixed,” he said. “People love a fucking wedding. Get married.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Blane spat, anger flashing to the surface and obliterating the calm demeanor it seemed he’d only been pretending to have. “Or are you just here to rub it in? Kat told me you and she are leaving tomorrow.”

“She’s half right,” Kade replied. “I’m leaving. Not her. And it’s tonight.”

Blane frowned. “What?”

Kade walked to the sideboard and poured himself an inch of the scotch that Blane always kept there, downing it in one swallow.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he answered, keeping his gaze averted from Blane’s.

“Changed your mind about what exactly?” Blane persisted, a note of warning in his voice.

Kade forced a laugh. “Do you really think I’m cut out for dirty diapers and a fucking minivan? Not to mention tying myself to one woman for the rest of my life. Please.” He poured more scotch, using it to wash down the bitter taste of bile in his throat.

That statement seemed to ricochet around the room, fading into a charged silence.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Blane ground out.

A fine tremor went through Kade’s hand at the leashed fury in Blane’s voice. He still didn’t look at him, instead carefully setting down the crystal glass he held. The crystal had belonged to Blane’s mother and Kade didn’t want it broken.

“What the fuck would I do with a wife and kid,” Kade said, his voice flat and cold. “Granted, she’s an incredible lay, am I right? But there are plenty of those.” His eyes slipped shut as agony seared his chest. The words felt like acid on his tongue. He braced himself for what he knew was coming, and he wasn’t surprised when Blane suddenly hauled him around to face him, his grip like a vise on his arm.

“What the hell, Kade!” Blane hissed, his eyes flashing with fury. “You’re
in love
with her. You told me. You told her. Now you’ve got her, she’s yours, and you’re tossing it away because she got pregnant?”

“I didn’t sign up to be a dad,” Kade snapped, jerking away. “And I’m not changing my entire life because some chick can’t remember to take her fucking birth control pill.”

“This isn’t ‘some chick’—it’s Kathleen!” Blane yelled. He seemed to get himself under control with effort. “You took her away from me, got her to fall in love with you. You cannot just leave her. You know what Dad did to your mom. Why would you do the same to Kathleen?”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “I can do whatever the fuck I want,” he said. “Maybe she’s just not as interesting now that she’s no longer a challenge. You love her so much, care about the brat she’s carrying, then
you
marry her. That’ll kill two birds with one stone, right? You’re welcome.”

Blane’s face paled and it took everything Kade had not to crumple beneath the disgust and contempt in Blane’s eyes.

He couldn’t take any more. He had to get out of there.

Jerking out of Blane’s grip, Kade walked to the door, careful to keep his steps unhurried. Digging in his pocket, he fished out a folded piece of paper and tossed it carelessly onto the coffee table.

“Here’s an account with some money,” he said. “She can use that to take care of herself and—” To his horror, his voice broke and he abruptly cut himself off. Thankfully, Blane didn’t seem to notice. When Blane spoke again, his tone was low and threatening.

“You walk out that door—you leave her—and you’re no longer my brother.”

Kade’s hand was on the knob but the words made him freeze. He couldn’t stop himself from looking back at Blane. Their gazes met.

Words he shouldn’t say fell out of Kade’s mouth anyway. “Remember what you promised me,” he said, his voice much too rough. Then he was out the door and in his car, Blane’s house becoming a distant blur in the rearview mirror.

The late-night breeze drifted past Kade as he stood in the shadows, watching Kathleen’s window. He’d left Blane’s house an hour ago, but hadn’t been able to get farther than the city limits before turning back.