Free Stolen Desire (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #3) by Nova Raines, Mira Bailee Page B

is rising.
    I should walk away now, but I want to know what's going on, and Kaidan probably won't tell me later. So I do the wrong thing and step closer to the door.
    “You won't even listen,” Devon yells.
    “Some girl told you she was our half-sister, and you believed that bullshit? You're dumber than I thought.”
    “I’m telling you, Mom didn't die. She had another kid.”
    “Mom's dead! And that bitch is lying to you. Probably trying to get money from us.” Kaidan yells it, and something else crashes to the floor. I jump away from the door, my heart thumping wildly. A con artist pretending to be their half-sister?
    “She doesn't want our money. And she looks like her, Kai.” Devon's voice sounds distraught, like he really believes what he's saying. “She looks just like Mom.”
    “Get the fuck out,” Kaidan says again. “You're wasted again. Let Charles drive you back to your place. Maybe when you're sober we can talk about this. Don't you give a dime to that girl until we do.”
    “This is dad's house. Not yours. I don't have to get out.”
    “You need help. Again. Understand? You are a failure. Again! I swear to God, if you don't get help, I will find a way to make you. Before you kill yourself. Now get out.”
    The door swings wide, and I'm caught. Kaidan blinks at me, and then his eyes narrow.
    Devon laughs. “And another one sees you for what you really are.”
    Devon pushes past Kaidan and me and disappears down the hall toward the front door. But the door doesn't slam, so it seems Devon is refusing to leave after all.
    Kaidan and I just stare at each other as he clenches and unclenches his fists. A chair’s been knocked over, and papers are strewn across the floor behind him.
    Kaidan's gaze trails down my bare skin, lingering on my soaked bra and underwear where they cling to me. The veranda doors open, and everyone walks through, laughing.
    His eyes turn flinty, and he grabs me by the arm and drags me a few steps down the hall.
    I wince. “You're hurting me.”
    His expression is cold as he looks down at me. “Get some clothes on. Do you know what you look like?”
    His words are laced with disgust, and my mouth drops open. Before I can respond, Kaidan turns around and storms past his friends, back out to the veranda.
    His friends grow quiet as the door shuts behind him, and they dart looks at me, like they're trying to figure out what I just did to piss him off.
    Heart in my throat, I flee to the foyer and run up the nearest staircase. I don't want to be here anymore. The night's ruined. Why does Kaidan have to be like this?
    My eyes are burning when I reach the landing and the party room at the top of the stairs. Low music is playing up here, and the black lights are on, casting a weird glow over the white couches. I went up the wrong staircase, so I have to cross through the party room to get to the hall where my room is.
    I belatedly realize Devon and Corey are in here, right in my path. They're sitting on two white chairs positioned across from each other, but they don’t see me yet.
    Devon snorts a line of coke and stands up. “Gotta take a piss. Don’t do it all,” he says, sounding irritated. Then he’s heading out of the party room toward the hall.
    Corey eagerly snorts a line off the glass table, and as he does it, I try to scurry past without being noticed.
    But he sees me. He jumps out of the chair to block my path. “Hey, sexy.”
    I stumble back and find I'm pressed between another lounge chair and a couch. He takes a step to close the gap between us. I can smell the beer on his breath, see his bloodshot eyes.
    I fold my hands across my chest, feeling even more exposed than before.
    Corey touches my arm and runs his hand up and down it. I try to jerk away, but I'm trapped between him and this stupid chair, with nowhere to go.
    “Kaidan doesn't want that shit up here. And he doesn’t want Devon doing that here.” My voice is shaking, and I hate myself for feeling