Hunt and Prey (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 8) by Kaylie Hunter (novels to read for beginners txt) 📕

rubbing the back of his neck. “You can’t tell her. If I can’t fix it, I’d rather she hears it from me.”

“This sounds good,” I said, sitting on the arm of the couch. I rubbed my hands together, excited to hear something juicy. “Spill.”

Wild Card paced a few times, inhaled a deep breath, and confessed in rapid speech. “I never filed the divorce papers. We’re still married.”

I was speechless. I didn’t know what I expected him to say, but him confessing that they were still married wasn’t anywhere in the ballpark.

“Say something,” Wild Card ordered.

“She’s going to kill you.” I looked up at him and started giggling.

“Damn it!” he said, punching the air. “I know. I know. She’s going to be pissed.”

“But…”

Wild Card looked over at me with a hopeful expression. “Please tell me there’s a happy ending that follows that ‘but’.”

I raised my hands to my sides in an I-don’t-know gesture. “Kelsey’s a control freak. How could she not know she’s still married? She would’ve checked on the filing. For tax purposes, if for no other reason.”

Wild Card shrugged. “I have no idea why she didn’t check. But my lawyer confirmed we’re still legally bound to each other until death do us part.”

“So, let’s back up. Kelsey told me you gave her the papers and she signed them. Where did they go?”

Wild Card paced a few more times.

“Did you throw them away?”

He looked away while answering. “When I gave her the papers, the look on her face…” He shook his head. “Something broke. I saw it. I wanted so badly to fix it, but at the same time, I knew she was leaving. I knew the longer we stayed together, the harder it would be when she left. I didn’t know why she was leaving, just that she was getting ready.”

“I can see that.” I walked over and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “She needed to find Nicholas.”

“I know that now. But back then—I don’t know—I guess I thought I wasn’t good enough for her.”

Kelsey could seem very detached at times. Reading her thoughts, let alone her feelings, was challenging, even for me. “So? Then what happened? You asked her to sign the divorce papers?”

“Then she disappeared. She packed her bags and left. The divorce papers taunted me from the dining room table for over a week. Every day I’d see them sitting there and it made me so angry with myself...” His pained expression was focused on the floor. “Then one day, I got the bright idea that if I burned them, she’d have to come back to sign a new set. It was stupid, but I thought—”

“You thought you’d have a second chance,” I said, answering for him.

Wild Card kept his head bowed. “But when I went searching for her, I couldn’t find her. And by the time I did, we had other shit to deal with, and well, then I forgot.”

“Forgot?” I asked, smirking at him. “Or you pretended to forget?”

“Will it matter?” he asked me. “Or is she going to hate me no matter what?”

“Kelsey will know you didn’t forget,” I answered, laughing. “And when you explain the situation to her, I want a front row seat. It’s going to be a brilliant fireworks display when Kelsey lights into you.”

He chuckled, throwing himself in a chair. “I’m doomed.”

“Look on the bright side.” I paused until he glanced up at me. “Grady’s going to be royally pissed when he finds out Kelsey’s still your wife.”

Wild Card smiled. “That jealous bastard is going to lose his shit.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

KELSEY

Monday, 11:30 p.m.

“Go away, Grady,” I said without turning around. I had been unpacking my clothes, hanging them in the closet, when I’d heard him near the bedroom door. He’d been watching me for several minutes.

“I miss you.”

“You shouldn’t even be here.” I zipped the suitcase closed, moving it to the corner of the room. “This trip is family business.”

“Which involves Aces. I have every right to accompany my men.”

“Does Donovan know you’re here?”

“He agreed I should be here. I’m good at protecting people, and you might need me.”

“How exactly are you protecting anyone when you’re spending all your energy stalking me?” I slid past him to escape through the doorway and down the hallway. I fought the urge to run, walking down each step at a normal pace.

“Kelsey, when are you going to admit you miss me too?” Grady called after me loud enough for people throughout the house to appear from various locations.

“HOW DARE YOU!!” I yelled, turning to face him. “You left on a mission, and two days later you were practically renewing your vows with your bitch ex-wife!”

“How many times do I have to explain?” He walked over and cupped my face with his hand. “I was protecting the family. I was protecting you.”

I focused on his face as I whispered back, “You did the same thing to her.”

“What?”

“You cupped her face. You held her face in your hand and looked at her—” I knocked his hand away “—the exact same way you’re looking at me now.”

Grady frowned. “I love YOU!”

I stepped back to add distance between us. “But you love her, too.”

My fears were confirmed when he flinched.

I turned and walked away. “Leave me be, Grady.” I walked through the main seating room, out onto the veranda, and down the side stairs. I followed the path past the pool deck and around to the railing that overlooked the ocean below.

The waves beat against each other in the evening breeze, crashing onto the beach before retreating. Despite the warm air and mild breeze, those waves seemed angry—as if they were trying to fight against the sandy beach. Or maybe, I was simply projecting. Seeing what I