Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series) Read online

  “With this new ability, I might just start.”

  The car slowed and Alasdair informed her they’d arrived.

  “I’ve got to go, Kade. We’re here.”

  “I love you. You know that right?”

  Samantha sighed. “Yes, I know.”

  She hung up without saying it back, more to make a point, but then felt so guilty, she closed her eyes and whispered it to him anyway.

  Hafa gaman, elskan.

  Which means?

  I’ll tell you when you get home.

  Brat.

  Alasdair opened Sam’s door and she asked him what Kade’s words meant, surprised to see the large man blush. “It means, ‘have fun, baby.’”

  Sam smiled. “Oh. Thanks.”

  “I won’t be far, Dr. Moore,” Alasdair said. “But I’ll try to stay out of your way.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  Cole waited by the front door and grinned as he made his way to her. “Hey there, beautiful.”

  “Hi,” Sam said. “How are you?”

  He kissed her cheek and gave her a hug. “I’m good now that I’m seeing you. You look great.”

  “Thanks. Are you ready to lose?”

  “Never going to happen.” Cole held the door for her and followed her inside the bar. “How do you feel?”

  Sam smiled. “Ready for some football.”

  “Excellent.”

  Sam followed him to a secluded booth in the back corner of the bar and took her seat.

  * * *

  Kade slapped the file onto his dining room table and rose to his feet. “Do you think he’s working for Ármann?”

  Connall shook his head. “It’s much, much worse. He’s FBI and working with Interpol and MI-6.”

  “Why?”

  “Someone flagged our financial interests, and with the closing of the intern program so soon after it was started, someone’s put a wee word in their ears that something fishy’s going on.”

  “What does the intern program have to do with money? There wasn’t much allocated.”

  Connall opened the file and slid it toward Kade, his finger resting on a highlighted line. “According to this, a million was transferred into the intern program and then right back out, but not back to the main account.”

  “Where did it go?”

  “We don’t know. Duncan’s looking into it.”

  “Shite, Con. You, Brodie, and I are the only ones in this bloody company with the authority to move money around. You didn’t notice?”

  “Did you?”

  “No, damn it. I would have had to sign off on this.”

  Connall shook his head. “Not necessarily. You have to be informed of anything being paid over one hundred thousand, but moving money from account to account is fine for anything under one point five million.”

  “I understand that, however, I see everything anyway.” Connall stared at him and Kade sighed. “Spit it out.”

  Connall shook his head. “You’ve been a wee bit distracted over the past few weeks. Is it possible you may have missed something?”

  “Damn it.” Kade slapped his hands on the table. Connall had a point.

  “Fyrirgefðu.”

  “Apologies aren’t going to make this right,” Kade snapped. “I want a full audit of every account, even petty bloody cash, and I want it on my desk before end of day tomorrow.”

  “Aye.” Connall stood. “I’ll get Rònan on it.”

  Rònan was Hamish and Shannon’s father.

  “No. I don’t want a Fraser anywhere near the accounts. It needs to be someone we trust.”

  “All right. What do you want me to do?”

  “Talk to Duncan.”

  Connall nodded. “Okay. Do you want me to hang around?”

  “No. I’m going to call Ali and have him bring Samantha home.”

  “Is that wise?” Connall asked.

  Kade frowned. “Probably not.”

  Kade ushered Connall from the flat and pulled out his phone. He dialed Alasdair, issued instructions, and then made the call he knew may cause bodily harm.

  * * *

  Samantha was forced to sit next to Cole in the booth they shared in order to see the television screen. Since her conversation with Kade earlier, she admitted she was a little on alert, but Cole had been nothing but a perfect gentleman, and she’d finally allowed herself to relax. Until her phone rang…again. Kade was beginning to irritate her. “I’m sorry, Cole.”

  “The guy’s a little possessive, huh?”

  She sighed. “Not typically. He’s just under a bit more stress these days.”

  “Oh?” Cole sipped his beer. “What kind of stress?”

  Sam smiled. “Nice try.”

  “Sorry, you can take the cop out of the force…” Cole raised an eyebrow. “What’s with your protective detail?”

  She nodded toward Alasdair. “He’s my driver for the night.”

  Cole shook his head. “There are four others on Samantha watch.”

  “What?” she squeaked and glanced around the room.

  “The guy in the corner with the suspiciously butch-looking woman. No way in hell they’re on a date. And the two guys playing darts.”

  “How do you know?” she asked.

  “It’s what I do.” He leaned back against the wall. “Is everything okay with you?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Her phone buzzed again. “Seriously?”

  Cole smiled. “Just answer it.”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m having dinner with my friend and Kade has to get over it.”

  Cole frowned.

  “What did I say?” she asked.

  “I hate being referred to as the friend.”

  Sam wasn’t quite sure what to think of that statement. “Cole.”

  He waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it, Sam. I guess I just hoped that since I met you first, I might have a snowball’s chance in hell.”

  “It’s complicated,” she said.

  “How much do you know about this guy?”

  Sam traced the pattern in the tablecloth. “I know enough.”

  “From what I understand, the Gunnachs own Edinburgh.”

  “A little bit of an overstatement, don’t you think?”

  He shrugged. “People with that much power and money usually have something to hide.”

  Sam narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me something without actually telling me anything, Cole?”

  “I just want you to be careful. They aren’t to be trusted.”

  “You don’t even know them.” Sam frowned. “Where’s all this coming from? I thought we were having dinner, not discussing the company I work for.” Cole raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond, which made Sam more and more uncomfortable. “What?”

  “Have you given any thought to the fact that Kade Gunnach might not be a good fit for you?”

  Sam rolled her eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m just saying that he owns most of Scotland and you’re a small-town girl. Can’t you see the disconnect?”

  Sam clenched her fists in an effort not to throw her beer at him. “Enlighten me.”

  “He’s been paired with several high-profile women from entertainment to heiresses, but hasn’t settled down with any of them. Do you think you might be a little starry-eyed when it comes to him?”

  “Are you saying I’m not good enough for him?”

  “No!”

  “You know nothing about him, Cole.”

  “Maybe you don’t either. Have you thought about that? I think you might want to reevaluate what you’re doing with this guy.”

  Sam scowled. “Where do you get off telling me what I should and shouldn’t do?”

  “Sam, I just want you to be careful.”

  “That implies you think I’m not.”

  He sighed. “No, not at all. I just wonder if…”

  “What?”

  Before she could register what he was doing, he’d slid his
hand into her hair and laid his lips on hers. She shoved him away with a surprised squeak and slid from the booth.

  “Aw, come on, Sam. Don’t be mad. I’m just looking out for you.”

  “By kissing me?” she snapped. “You have no right to tell me the man I’m in love with is not the one for me.” She rummaged in her purse for some money and dropped it on the table. “You’re not my brother or my father, Cole. It’s none of your business.”

  He slid the money back to her. “This was my treat, Sam.”

  “Dr. Moore?”

  She turned to find Alasdair standing behind her. “I’d like to go home.”

  He nodded. “Yes, m’lady.”

  “Sam, come on.” Cole stood and reached for her. “Don’t go. You haven’t finished your dinner.”

  Alasdair stepped between them, effectively cutting off Cole’s attempt to grasp her arm. Sam started toward the door, watching the “detail” Cole had pointed out. He was right. They seemed awfully interested in her.

  Sweetheart? Kade’s voice swam in her mind. What’s wrong?

  Just leave me alone, she snapped.

  Alasdair led Sam to the car and opened the back door for her. She slid inside and laid her head back on the headrest. So much for a fun night out. Now she was tired, irritated, and starving.

  * * *

  Cole closed his hotel door with a click and pulled out his “other” cell phone. The one that if anyone were to find it, would prove to be both revealing and dangerous. “Hey, it’s Cole.”

  “What the hell is going on?” came the voice on the other end.

  “She won’t give me anything.”

  “Yeah, well my sister could never be accused of being an idiot,” Dalton said.

  “Look, do you think it’s possible the Gunnach family’s on the up-and-up?”

  “No. At least, not all of them.”

  “Your sister really likes this guy, Dalton. I don’t know that you’ll be able to convince her that he’s a scumbag.”

  “Damn it, Cole. You were supposed to charm her! Why the hell do you think we picked you? You’ve had over a month to woo her! I hadn’t banked on her falling for some guy in a skirt. She’s a football-loving southern belle. You were supposed to be her ideal.”

  “I apologize for not being her type,” Cole snapped.

  “On paper you are,” Dalton informed him.

  “Apparently, the universe had other ideas. She’s gaga for this guy, Dalton.” Cole rolled his eyes. “I even kissed her.”

  Dalton swore. “You kissed her? Damn it, Cole, you’re an idiot!”

  Cole forced himself not to release a litany of curses. “I’m not typically turned down.”

  “Yeah, but Sam’s different. I need to find out about this guy. My parents seem to like him too, which could pose another issue.”

  Cole laughed. “Are you saying you can’t control your family?”

  “Keep laughing, buddy,” Dalton warned. “The bigger issue is, that if Sam likes this Kade guy, he’s more than likely some kind of a saint. She has a higher bullshit meter than anyone I know, which poses a problem.”

  “Only one?”

  “It means that even if he isn’t a criminal, he might be being duped by someone, and Samantha might get caught in the crossfire.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  Dalton sighed. “Let me think about it. I may need to visit.”

  “How are you going to explain that?”

  “Pepper’s moving there in a few weeks. I’m thinking perhaps I should escort her.”

  “I thought she hated you,” Cole observed.

  “Nah.” Dalton chuckled. “She just thinks she does.”

  * * *

  Samantha felt the familiar bump of the entrance to the parking garage and opened her eyes as Alasdair drove into the darkness of their private floor. She slipped her phone back in her purse, and when she looked up again, Kade stood near the elevator bay.

  “If it’s all right, I’ll drop you here, Dr. Moore,” Alasdair said.

  “Do I have a choice?” She caught his eye in the rearview and frowned. “Fine.”

  Alasdair pulled the car to a stop. Kade opened the door and held his hand out to her. She ignored him and climbed out of the car. He dropped his hand and leaned in the window to speak to Alasdair. Sam took advantage of his distraction and rushed to the elevator. Pushing the button, she was irked to find the elevator didn’t come at her whim. It came at Kade’s, arriving just as he caught up to her. The doors opened and Sam stepped inside. Kade followed.

  Halfway to their floor, he pulled her into his arms and kissed the crown of her head. “Are you going to ignore me all night?”

  She felt the prick of tears as she sagged against him. “Yes,” she sniffed.

  “I made you some pasta. You can ignore me while you eat.”

  “I’d rather go home and sleep.”

  “And you will. After you eat and I talk.”

  “I am a little hungry,” she admitted.

  The elevator stopped at their floor and he ushered her into his apartment. He headed to the kitchen while Samantha set her purse and coat on the sofa and then dropped into what used to be Kade’s favorite chair.

  She noticed the vase that had been on the table was missing and frowned. “Kade, where’s the vase?”

  “It broke,” he called from the kitchen.

  “How?”

  “It fell off the table.”

  She frowned as she slid her shoes off and tucked her feet under her bottom.

  Kade returned with a plate and glass of wine. He handed her the food and set the wine on the table next to her. “I’m never getting my chair back, am I?”

  “Probably not. What happened to the vase, Kade?”

  “Eat, love.”

  Sam took a bite and sighed. “I’m going to gain fifty pounds a year dating you.”

  “I plan to make you a fat and happy wife.” He smiled and sat on the ottoman in front of her. “What happened with Cole?”

  “What happened to the vase?”

  “Samantha.”

  She took another bite and swallowed. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

  “It’s important, Sam.”

  She set her fork on the plate. “He warned me away from you.”

  “Did he now?” He squeezed her leg. “What else?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Sam.”

  “He admitted he liked me.”

  “And.”

  “He kissed me.” She felt the tension build in the room and made the mistake of looking at him. His eyes were burning and she shivered as she shifted in her seat, laying her hand on his leg to calm him. “But you knew that already, didn’t you? Where’s the vase?”

  “In the bloody rubbish.” Kade pulled away from her touch and stood. “Damn it, Samantha. I want to kill the bastard.”

  “Get in line,” she grumbled. “I just don’t know what to do now.”

  “You’ll stay away from him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s not who he says he is,” Kade said.

  “He said something similar about you.” Samantha set her plate aside and stood. “Why is it so important to you men that I follow your absolute orders and forgo my own judgment? I’m perfectly capable of making up my own mind about people.” She took her plate into the kitchen.

  Kade followed. “You haven’t finished, love.”

  She dumped the plate in the sink. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

  Kade crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “I’m not asking you to forgo your judgment, Sam. I’m simply asking that you keep your distance.”

  “Is that why you called forty-two times during dinner?”

  He smiled. “Three times…it was three.”

  “So you called me three times to tell me to keep my distance.”

  “No. I called you to tell you Cole’s working for Interpol.”

  “Interpol? Why?”

 
Kade shrugged. “There’s apparently an investigation into our family.”

  “That’s why he kept asking all those questions,” she hissed.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing!” She slapped her hand on the counter. “Damn it! Why do you assume I’m going to spill my guts to everyone?”

  “I don’t. I just need to determine what you said, so I can figure out what he might infer from it. Whether it’s no information or vague.”

  “Well, it was neither. I told him that I would not discuss you or the company with him and it didn’t matter what he said, my relationship with you was off limits. Nothing vague about that.” Sam crossed her arms. “Why is there an investigation, anyway?”

  “Not sure. Connall’s looking into it at the moment. It’s probably nothing, but I’ll know more in the next couple of days.”

  Samantha rubbed her forehead.

  Kade closed the distance between them and pulled her close. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t want to be right about Cole.”

  She let out a snort. “Yes you did.”

  “Okay, maybe I did.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her cheek against his chest. “I wish I knew what his agenda was.”

  “Can I ask you to keep your distance?”

  She shook her head. “Nope, but I will. Because I want to.”

  “Thank you.”

  She pulled away from him and started to do the dishes. “Can you answer something for me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why did you have a protective detail on me tonight?”

  “How did you know?”

  “I didn’t. Cole figured it out.”

  “Maybe I should give him a job,” Kade retorted.

  Sam turned from the sink and leaned a hip against the counter. “Right.”

  “I was trying to keep you safe without making you feel like you were being watched.” He pulled the plate from her hand and set it in the dishwasher before closing it and handing her a towel. “Leave those, love. I’ll take care of them.”

  She dried her hands and dropped the towel on the counter. “I should probably go. It’s late.”

  “Or you could stay for a while,” he suggested.

  “Honey, it’s almost midnight. And even if you’ve closed the lab tomorrow, your sister wants to spend the day with me. I don’t want to be yawning all day.”

  “Perhaps I should go with you.”

  “Outside of the fact you have a big dinner to prepare for, I get the feeling your sister wants to find out if I’m good enough for her big brother, and I’d personally like some girl time.”