The Forbidden Note (Redwood Kings Book 4)

It feels like there’s a cosmic push to keep me away from investigating Sloane’s case.

First, I had to press pause when Zane got hurt and his brothers were three seconds away from committing murder.

And now, instead of driving to The King’s mansion where I can safely sort through the files we stole, I’m heading to a downtown bistro in my nicest blouse and jeans to meet some random guy mom picked out for me.

My phone buzzes.

It’s one of the administrators in the Redwood Prep group chat.

Has anyone seen Miss Jamieson today?

No.

Isn’t she supposed to be here?

Someone give her a call.

A moment later, my phone starts buzzing.

It’s the principal’s office.

Hands trembling, I put the phone on silent and inhale a calming breath.

Harris isn’t stupid. He’ll be waiting for me to make a move against him. And if I don’t have a strong net to trap him, he’ll find a way to wiggle out and rain hell on me.

There needs to be evidence in those boxes against Harris and all the cronies who were involved in The Grateful Project.

If not, it won’t only be my head on the block.

The Kings will be a target too.

“I don’t like this,” Zane growls, sitting at my right. He’s wearing a fresh T-shirt, torn jeans and his signature military boots. With those bruises and his hair loose and falling into his eyes, he looks absolutely dangerous.

“You didn’t have to come.” My eyes drop to the sling cradling his wrist. “You should be in the hospital right now.”

“And you should be anywhere but here.”

“This is the only way to get my mom to calm down.”

“There are other ways.”

“Yeah, like what?”

He shakes his head. “She can dislocate my other wrist.”

“She’d love to. Trust me. But even after breaking all your bones, she’d still send me on this date.”

He runs his uninjured hand through his hair and makes a sound of frustration.

I glance out the window. Quietly, I admit, “Maybe this is a good thing.”

The air in the cab shifts.

I know I’m playing with fire but I throw gas on the flames anyway because the only person who can draw a line in the sand is me.

“Maybe me and this guy hit it off. Mom knows me best after all. It’s possible that he’s my future husband. Crazier things have happened.”

Zane goes deathly quiet.

I glance over my shoulder and my heart lurches in my chest.

A dangerous look is in his eyes. “Try me, tiger. I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

My heart ricochets and I tell myself not to take it seriously. “What is with you brothers and declaring marriage like it solves everything?”

“It solves whether or not we have the right to be together.”

“We don’t have a right to be together. That’s the whole point.” I hear the frustration in my tone. “You’re the king of Redwood. Sure. Fine. But you don’t control the world outside of Redwood. In that world… there is no legal or moral grounds for us to stand on.”

“I don’t give a damn about laws and morals. I only care about you.”

My moral compass is so damaged, so screwed up, that his words send a zip of electricity straight between my legs.

For the briefest moment, I consider throwing off restraint, climbing into his lap and kissing him like nothing else matters.

But I don’t move.

“Like I said, you can survive breaking laws and moral codes. I can’t. You won’t be able to see me if I’m in jail,” I snap.

“I’ll wait for you to get out.” He’s half-smiling.

I don’t smile back.

Zane is pushing hard on the defenses I have around my heart.

But us together?

It’s impossible.

We both need a reality check.

I make my tone intentionally sharp. “What do you expect, Zane? That you and I get to walk into the sunset together? That this…” I gesture between us, “thing turns into love? A real marriage?”

“Why can’t it?”

“That’s not happening. That’s never happening.”

Slowly, he unclips his seatbelt, not breaking eye contact. He slides across the seat. “Should I remind you who this body belongs to? Because it sounds like you need a refresh.”

I lift a hand and set it on his chest before he can put his weight on me.

My heart is beating loudly. “As far as I’m aware, I’m single.”

“You’re mine.”

“You’re too young for me.”

“You’re perfect for me.”

I scowl. “You should date girls your own age.”

“Is that what you tell yourself? That you should date someone your own age?” His fingers slide down the front of my shirt. “Because I don’t think that’s what you really want.”

I twist my head and notice the cab driver staring at us.

Shoving Zane off, I quickly fix my shirt and tuck it back into my pants. My body is aching, desperate for more of his touch. “Control yourself. People are watching.”

I’m not just talking to Zane, but to myself.

“Yes, ma’am,” Zane says in that deep, mischievous voice that warns me that he’ll never listen to instructions.

My skin prickles with heat everywhere his hands brushed and I cross my legs tightly.

Zane stiffens. “We’re almost there.”

I look out the window and notice the restaurant coming into view. My stomach tightens with nerves. “I hope this doesn’t take long.”

“Keep in mind that if he touches you, I’ll beat his face into the pavement.” Zane curls his lips up in a bitter smirk. “Just in case that isn’t clear.”

“You’re going to beat him with one arm?”

“I don’t need two arms to fight, tiger.” He winks.

“You’re that confident?”

“Come to my room tonight. I’ll show you what I can do with only one hand.”

I swallow hard.

The car stops.

Distractedly, I fluff my curls and take out my lipstick to reapply.

Before I can trace my lips, I suddenly find myself flat on my back with Zane hovering over me. He eyes me hard. “Who are you prettying yourself up for?”

“Zane…”

He frowns, his eyes two stormy pits of blue and gold. “I really don’t want to let you go.”

My heart is heavy.

Now that I’m here, looking up into the chiseled planes of his face and feeling the heat of his chest, I realize I don’t want to go either.

Is that because I have real, sincere feelings for Zane? Or is it just because of the urgency I feel to get back to the investigation?

“I’m only here so my mom can calm down enough to listen to me. I’ll take two minutes to apologize for wasting this guy’s time and leave.”

Zane considers it and then eases off me.

I think he’s going to let me go when he leans in and gently brushes my lips with his own. It’s only a quick flash of a kiss but I chase his lips down, searching for more.

His hand cups my face. The tender look in his eyes is mesmerizing. And unexpected. This rogue of a drummer with the tattoos, the blue eyes, and the thirst for danger is no longer hiding his affection. It’s pouring out of him like a flood and it makes me breathless.

He taps my nose. “Consider that a taste of what will happen later. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can come back for more.”

I poke his side, right where he got punched last night.

Zane doubles over. “Ow!”

“Stop messing around and go.”

He scrunches his nose and sits straight up. “I’ll be watching from here. This guy could be a psycho.”

“He can’t be worse than you,” I mumble.

His finger teases the corner of my shirt. A reluctant smile on his lips, he nods. “At least you know it, tiger.”

The cab driver glances at us. “W-we’re here.”

I ease out of the car on shaky legs. The sun is high in the sky and it beats down on my head. I can feel sweat gathering already.

I lift a hand to shade my eyes from the blaze and enter the restaurant.

I have no idea what mom told this guy about me but, after I break my date’s heart I need to figure out a way to break Zane’s.