by Davis, Jen
It was too late to hide it now. He turned back, the shirt clutched in his hand. She didn’t mention it, though; she didn’t say anything about his hair either. “You need to go. It’s not safe to be around me right now.”
She moved forward and put her palm over his heart. He flinched back at the contact. “What are you saying?” she whispered. “Are you in danger?”
He dragged the shirt over his head. “No. I am the danger.”
She stood to face him. “I’m not afraid of you. You would never hurt me.”
“I killed a man,” he said harshly, and her eyes widened. “After I left you. Merry fucking Christmas. You still want me now?”
“Always.” She touched his arm, and he shook her off.
“You’re not listening to me. I killed someone. I blew his fucking brains out, and I would do it again. I probably will do it again, if I can get my hands on the rest of the bastards responsible for what happened to Scott.” He wrapped his hands around her upper arms and shook her gently. “You do not want me in your life, baby. Right now, I’m poison.”
Her fingers clutched the necklace he gave her for Christmas. God, it felt like a lifetime ago. “But you love me,” she whispered.
“God, woman, of course I love you. I always have and I probably always will.” The words felt ripped from his chest. “It doesn’t mean we can make this work. Sometimes, love isn’t enough. Or maybe, I love you too much to let you near this toxic life of mine. Either way, the end result is the same.”
“Don’t do this, Kane.” Her green eyes shone with unshed tears. “We’re better together. We’re stronger together.”
“No.” His voice was implacable.
She made a broken sound in the back of her throat. “It was supposed to be forever this time.”
He walked past her into the living room, where he pulled on a jacket and stuffed his feet into the boots beside the door. “You can’t be involved in this world, Mandy.” He summoned the words that refused to leave his memory, even after years of trying to chase them away. “Don’t call me; I won’t answer. Don’t try to see me. I love you, but you are no longer part of my life.” He opened the door and spoke without looking back. “Leave the key under the mat on your way out.”
Heart in his throat, he walked away and closed the door, leaving the love of his life behind him.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Amanda
Amanda managed to hold it together until Kane closed the door behind him. Only then did she walk woodenly back to his bed and curl up into a ball. His pillow still smelled like him. Would she have to go the rest of her life without smelling him again? Would the memory of it melt away as it had before?
Would she have to go back to the half-life she’d been living without him in it? The idea of it opened the floodgate of tears she’d held back in front of him. Clutching his pillow to her, she let her agony escape in heaving sobs.
It wasn’t fair. They’d just found their way back to each other. And once again, her father was getting his way. He always did.
She cried for what felt like hours until all her tears ran dry. When she sat up, her insides felt hollow, like someone had scooped her out and left only the shell in place. She’d hoped never to feel such emptiness again.
There had to be a way to stop all this. God knew Kane wouldn’t listen to her, but maybe there was someone else who could get through to him. She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found the name she was looking for.
Brick’s voicemail picked up.
“Hi. This is Amanda Griffin. First, I want to thank you for your help at the site last week. If you and the other guys hadn’t been there, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I’m calling because I need your help again. Kane needs your help.” She drew a shaky breath. “Someone killed his brother. I think my dad had something to do with it. Now, Kane—he’s not himself—I’m afraid for him. And he wants nothing to do with me. I’m begging you. Please help him. He needs a friend. I’m going to go deal with my dad. Maybe between the two of us, we can keep this from getting worse.”
She disconnected without saying goodbye. There was no way to know when Brick would get her message or if he’d take her seriously, but it was time to do her part.
Climbing from the bed, she stood in front of the mirror and put herself to rights. She wouldn’t give her father the satisfaction of seeing her disheveled. Fresh lipstick and a comb through her hair left her looking almost as good as new.
She fought the urge to take the pillow with her when she walked out of the room. Instead, she stopped to scribble a short note and left it on the table. As he’d asked, she put the key under the mat on her way out.
***
No traffic slowed her down on the way to her father’s house, so Amanda made it there in quick time. Normally he wouldn’t be there during the week, but his office was closed between Christmas and New Year’s.
She let herself in the front door, and Terrence scuttled over in dismay. “Miss Griffin. Is your father expecting you?”
“No. Where is he?” She hated putting the kind old man in the center of her family problems, but she knew him well enough to recognize he wouldn’t simply leave her alone.
“He’s in the study, ma’am, but—”
No longer listening, she marched straight back to the room her father used as an office. He was bent over the desk, rifling through some papers.
“What did you do, Dad?” She was proud her voice didn’t waver at all.
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. Straightening, he looked at her coolly. “I did what needed to be done. Kane Hale has been a burr on the heel of this household since the day you met him. I tried to be patient. I tried to let you find your way on your own, but you couldn’t see past your schoolgirl infatuation.”
“It’s not an infatuation. I love him. I always have. Your unwillingness to accept it doesn’t make it any less true.” All it did was reinforce her decision to cut her father out of her life.
“I still have the video, you know.” He gestured vaguely toward his computer. “I warned you way back then there was no statute of limitations on murder. Did you think I was bluffing, darling? Obviously, Mr. Hale made it through the confrontation with his rival motorcycle gang. He’s like a roach,” he muttered. “So obviously, I need to come at this another way. The way I should have years ago. I’ll turn the video over to the authorities.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” she warned.
“Won’t I?” He chuckled. “Tell me, dear daughter, why would I not? You have shown me your word is meaningless. You backed out on our agreement for you to stay away from him, not to mention how you reneged on our deal about Nathan.” He looked over her shoulder. “And speak of the devil.”
Fear pulling her muscles tight, she whirled to face the man she’d hoped never to see again.
“Amanda,” he said smoothly. “So lovely to see you, pet.” All signs of the bruising on his skin had faded to muted yellows and greens.
She took a step back and bumped into her father’s desk. “Stay away from me. There’s a restraining order against you.” Her eyes flicked to her father. “He tried to kill me the last time we saw each other. I told you what happened!”
Nathan laughed and it was a chilling sound. “You do love to exaggerate. Obviously, you’re fine.”
Her dad picked up his keys from the desk. “You two obviously have a lot to work out. I’ve got an appointment.” He narrowed his eyes at Nathan. “I’m sure she’ll still be breathing when I return.”
“I think I can manage.” Nathan patted her father’s shoulder as he passed. “And you can count on my support next November, Governor.”
The door clicked closed after her dad walked out, leaving her alone with the man who almost strangled her to death.
He advanced toward her. “You’ve been a very naughty girl, Amanda. I think it’s time for a long overdue talk.”
***
Kane
Kane stared, dumbstruck, at the small, wrapped package on the clubhouse kitchen table. His mother, even in the depths of her grief, found a way to buy Malcolm a birthday present.
How long had it been sitting there?
He wanted to hurl it against the wall just for existing. He wanted to shake his mother. Punch his father. What the fuck kind of circular pointless existence did they all live in where this shit never, ever changed?
His hand curled to snatch it, when someone beat on the front door. Was it the cops? David Bennett? The Russians? Only one way to find out.
He pulled open the door. “Brick? What are you doing here?”
“Repaying a favor.” The big man barged in. “I heard about your brother, man. I’m sorry.”
He gaped. “How do you even know? How did you find me?”
“You forget I used to be part of this world,” Brick scoffed. “You weren’t really hard to find. Listen, your girl called me.”
“Mandy?” An irrational jolt of jealousy shot through him.
“Don’t look at me like I’m trying to steal her, dumbass. I have my own woman.” Brick pushed his shoulder. “Listen, you came to me once when Olivia was scared for me. I was in a world of hurt, and you really helped me out. Now your girl is worried about you. You’re in a dark place, a very dark place. The thing is, there’s a bigger reason I’m here. I think you might need to be worried about her. She went to go confront her father.”
He had cocked his arm back to return the forceful tap to Brick’s shoulder, but he dropped his hand when the words registered. “He wouldn’t hurt her.”
Brick shrugged. “I wouldn’t put anything past him.” He rubbed his neck uneasily. “I didn’t get into the details of this with you before because I didn’t think it would help any. But after I dragged her ex off the build site—the day he hurt her—he was spouting off in the truck, saying the mayor was his bitch. Apparently, Amanda’s dad wants to be governor, and he thinks her ex can give him the keys to the kingdom. The dude said flat out he could do anything he wanted to her as long as she was still breathing when he was done.” His hands balled into fists. “Took all I had not to beat his ass all over again, but I thought he was only making noise, you know? Now your girl’s walking back into her father’s house. You trust him not to sell her out again?”
Not a chance.
“C’mon.” Brick tilted his head toward the door. “I’ll drive you.”
***
Amanda
Amanda pulled the phone out of her coat pocket, holding it low behind her father’s desk as she dialed 9-1-1. Putting it on speaker, she dropped it face down on the chair beside her. With the volume low, she couldn’t be sure someone answered, but she could hope. “Stay back, Nathan. Leave me alone.”
“Ah, pet, you know I can’t. You’ve been a bad girl and you need to be punished.” He took a menacing step toward her.
She backed away quickly, and he pursued. “My father is the mayor. We’re in his house, for God’s sake. You can’t plan on hurting me here.” Please, please God let the police figure out where to go.
Nathan snarled. “Your father is nothing to me. A political pawn. The only reason I have anything to do with him is that it gives me access to you.” He bit his lip. “You and that sweet pussy of yours. Of mine, honestly. Because let’s be real, you and I both know you belong to me.”
She fumbled in her purse, then pulled out the same gun she’d displayed the night she broke things off. She’d gone nowhere without it since the day he’d strangled her. “I have a gun. I’m warning you. I won’t let you put your hands on me again. Walk away. No one has to get hurt.” She scurried around the desk, putting the heavy piece of furniture between them again.
“Someone does have to get hurt, but it’s not going to be me. You and I both know you’re not going to shoot me.” With a sweep of his arm, he knocked everything from the top of the desk. The papers and files fluttered almost silently, but the lamp clattered onto the floor. “You wouldn’t risk the scandal to your precious father. No. You’re going to put the gun down and take your punishment like a big girl. I’ve waited for a taste of you long enough. When I’m done, you’ll be lucky if you can walk again for days.” He lunged forward, pushing her into the tall bookcase and tearing the sleeve of her coat.
Books tumbled down on top of them both, and the tall piece of furniture swayed, threatening to tip over.
“Get away from me. I said no!” She fired the gun twice.
The shock on his face was almost comical as blood bloomed on his left side. He dropped her arm and went down to his knees.
She pushed past him, back to the other side of the desk where she grabbed her phone, putting it to her ear. “Hello? Is anyone there? I need help.”
A soothing male voice responded. “Yes, Miss Griffin, the police and an ambulance are on the way. Are you all right?”
The door flew open and two officers came in with their service-weapons drawn. She dropped her gun and the phone, raising her hands high in the air. “Don’t shoot,” she croaked.
“It’s okay, Miss,” the African American officer said, lowering his weapon. “We’re here to help.”
His partner, a middle-aged white guy with a mustache, approached Nathan. “Stay right there, sir. The medics are right behind us.”
“H-how did you get here so fast?” It may have seemed like Nathan had her cornered in here forever, but it was probably only a few minutes.
“I called them, ma’am. As soon as I saw your father leave you two alone.” Terrence kept his eyes on his feet as he passed the threshold. “Mr. Shaw said some terrible things to your father about what he would do to you the next time he saw you.” He glanced at Nathan’s prone form with distaste. “Folks like him tend not to see the help when we’re around.”
The medics rolled in behind him, making a beeline for Nathan. Kane and Brick were on their heels. Two men she didn’t recognize rushed in last.
“Mandy!” Kane shouted. He looked crazed as he shouldered his way toward her. Her legs nearly gave out once she was inside his arms. “What’s happening? What are the police doing here?”
“Mr. Hale? Is that you?” Terrence’s eyes rounded like saucers.
Kane nodded. “It’s been a long time, Terrence.”
“Mr. Shaw tried to attack Miss Amanda, and she shot him.” He pointed to the medics who were loading Nathan onto the gurney. “I’m so glad you’re here, sir. I always thought you were the right man for her.”
“This is the one you’ve been fucking? Does everyone know?” Nathan shouted, lunging off the gurney toward the white cop. “I’ll kill you, you bitch.” He grabbed for the gun in the officer’s holster.
Kane spun Amanda in his arms, ready to use his body as a shield. But before Nathan could fire, the cop closest to her started shooting.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
She lifted her head from Kane’s chest and craned her neck to see what happened. Nathan was on the floor, his sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling. Blood gushed from two fresh holes in his chest.
“Damn, Gleason,” the white cop muttered, toeing the body with the tip of his shoe. “You shot Nathan Shaw. You know what kind of political nightmare this is going to cause?”
Gleason grunted, then tapped at his chest. “The hell it is. I’ve got my bodycam on. I don’t care if he was the fucking pope. He went for your gun.”
The medics loaded Nathan back on the gurney he had escaped. The female part of the pair stopped as her partner wheeled him out of the room. “I saw the whole thing. I’ll testify if you need it.”
“Do you need a statement from her?” Kane tilted his head toward Amanda. “Or can I take her home?”
Officer Gleason shook his head. “She can come in tomorrow. I have to warn you, though, once the media catches wind of this, you guys are not going to have a moment’s peace.”
“Thank you.” She offered the cop her hand, and the man looked a little surprised, but he shook it. “We’re
going to be okay.”
The officer nodded thoughtfully. “Somehow, I don’t doubt it for a minute.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Kane
Kane had never been so grateful for someone interfering in his life. He’d never be able to repay Brick for knocking at the clubhouse door. Though he realized his presence hadn’t changed the end result, he would’ve never forgiven himself if Mandy would have had to face Nathan again all this on her own. God knew the bodyguards Mike hired hadn’t done shit. They didn’t even know anything had been going down until the cops showed up at her father’s house, and they followed the cavalry inside. Then, when Nathan pulled the gun, who knew where they were. Needless to say, they no longer had a job.
He shook his friend’s hand. “I don’t know how to thank you, brother.” The words felt inadequate.
Brick inhaled the cold air through his nose. “It feels good to be on the other side of the crazy shit for a change.” He smiled ruefully. “Besides, that’s what friends do. I didn’t have any of those until you came around. If there’s anything else you need, I’m only a phone call away.”
He watched Brick’s blue pick-up until it turned out of the driveway, then focused his gaze on Mandy. “You want me to drive?”
Slipping the keys into his hand, she climbed in the passenger seat of her car. She kept quiet for the entire drive, and he gave her the space she seemed to ask for without words. He took her to his place instead of hers.
Mumbling something about taking a shower, she disappeared into the bathroom.
He shrugged off his jacket, then sat at the table to tug off his socks. Instantly, his eyes caught on a note in Mandy’s handwriting.
I know you’re hurting, and you’re scared. Even if you can’t face it now, eventually you’ll remember: we are stronger together. I’m willing to wait. As long it takes. I Love You. Forever.
