Free Burned Hearts by Calista Fox Page B

that went up in flames with the Lux and because our last residence had zero reception in that box canyon. And well, she has no fucking idea where I live.”
    I convinced myself all of that was enough to keep the wicked witch from materializing.
    In fact, I patted my stomach and grinned. A little peace from Kathryn DeMille drama was a good thing.
    Kyle said, “She’ll never know about the kid, will she?”
    â€œNot if I can help it. And let’s face it, Dane is his own wraith. He makes ‘donations’ to ensure only approved photos of him and select information about his investments post to the Internet.” It’d blown my mind he had that sort of influence—and financial stature—to make that happen. But I’d come to realize the importance of safeguarding one’s personal details, especially when involved in such a precarious situation with an Illuminati faction. “There won’t be pictures of our son on the Web, and chances are, it might never even be divulged that Dane and I are married.”
    â€œAnd you’re okay with that? I mean, the last part?”
    I’d already considered this. Sure, what woman wouldn’t want to show off her tall, dark, and sinfully delicious man?
    Conversely, after all Dane and I had experienced since getting together I wasn’t opposed to the hush-hush relationship.
    So I said, “For now it’s all right. I feel better keeping all of this amongst us. It’s unbelievable how the vultures circle at the tiniest whiff of blood.”
    â€œNo shit.”
    â€œDane’s parents died in a plane crash when he was just a month old. To have grown up with all those vultures had to be difficult,” I lamented. “Dane didn’t even know at such a young age why everyone wanted to be near him, be a part of him, be included in every aspect of his life. Thank God he had Amano looking over his shoulder for him. But even so, Dane eventually had to accept and acclimate to the fact that he was a hot commodity. That couldn’t have been a good feeling, knowing so much of it was based on his bank account.”
    I gave this further thought and conceded, “Then, later on, because he’s so damn good-looking.”
    Kyle scowled. “That whole skyscraper height and dark, broody looks thing again.” He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
    I laughed softly. Kyle was six-one, so Dane didn’t exactly dwarf him. “Anyway, we’re all kind of messed up in our own ways, huh?”
    â€œYeah. I’ll give you that one.”
    I didn’t mention Dane’s childhood friend Mikaela Madsen, whom Kyle had also met. She’d had a pretty tumultuous upbringing as well. Mikaela didn’t know I was pregnant or that I’d married Dane. Which meant I also had yet to share with her the miraculous news about Dane surviving the explosion. A peculiar cross to bear in that, of all people, she should be a part of those in the know.
    She’d even orchestrated his memorial service at my prompting—since it would have made no sense for me to do it when no one knew Dane and I were more than just boss and employee at the Lux. I knew how torn up Mikaela was about his death. It disturbed me greatly not to be able to ease her pain. Yet there was nothing I could do about it at the moment.
    â€œSo,” I ventured, wrapping up my discussion with Kyle. “Do your awesome reconnaissance and I’ll get out of your hair. I have a nursery to decorate.”
    â€œYou ever gonna name the kid?”
    I shrugged. “Nothing’s sticking. I figure it’ll hit me when it’s the right one.”
    â€œSure. We’ll see how that works out for you. Otherwise, we’ll just go with ‘Kid Bax’ for the first few years.”
    I laughed again. “Get back to your Mission Impossible work.”
    Leaving the kitchen, I went into the room designated for Kid and eyed it speculatively,