“El Jefe. He wouldn’t be pleased to hear that your career is on the line,” he repeated nonchalantly, as if that name were just a common one.
“Wait…” I held a hand up, shaking my head. “You work for him?”
“I’ve worked for him for years. He’s the one who had me reach out to you when you first got Tempt started, told me to keep a close eye, make sure your business stays in the clear, no red flags.”
“I could have gotten my own damn attorney,” I growled.
“Yeah, well, with his money being pushed into your business and into your pockets, he had to take precautions. I’m sure you understand that.”
“Where is he now?” I hoped he wasn’t here.
“I have no idea where he is. He doesn’t update anyone on his whereabouts; he just shows up. I heard he’s on the way to Georgia, though, and you’ll have a lot of explaining to do. Hopefully this whole mess will be cleared up before he arrives.”
I stabbed the butt of my cigarette on the brick wall behind me. “If I were him, I wouldn’t come to Georgia right now, especially anywhere near me.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m almost one hundred percent certain that word has already traveled to him. He’s not coming anywhere near you just yet…but he will come.”
I rolled my shoulders and then gritted my teeth. “Can you drop me off at the hospital?”
“Sure.” He walked toward the parking lot, and I followed after him. During the ride, all Mario could talk about was all the ways shit could go wrong if Kelly said the wrong things.
I wasn’t too worried about Kelly right now. I was more worried about what Jefe would do if Kelly dragged my business under. Would he strip me of everything I’d worked so hard for? Would he threaten me and the people I loved? Would he torture them? It was always up in the air with him. You never knew what he would do or what kind of mood he was in and how he wanted to carry things out. It’s what I disliked most about him.
Mario pulled up to the hospital, and I pushed out of the car. “Thanks,” I mumbled when I climbed out.
He nodded. “No problem. Just…watch your back, all right? Be careful. If you need anything, let me know. I’ll do my best to help.”
“Yeah. Sure.” I closed the door and watched him drive away. When I could no longer see the taillights of his BMW, I turned and marched into the hospital, putting all my worries aside, ready to see my Kandy.
Chapter Three
KANDY
The questions the detective had asked me were insane, but what was even more outrageous was how he was trying to get me to say something—anything—negative about Cane just to try and catch a case or make him appear guilty. Even though I had repeatedly told them Kelly attacked and stabbed me, he asked if I had any suspicion that Cane had an ulterior motive to get rid of me, but maybe Kelly took it too far. And when the detective found out I was pregnant and lost the baby due to the stabbing, all hell broke loose. He assumed the worst of Cane, but Cane wasn’t like that. He didn’t even know I was pregnant—hell, I had no idea until a few hours ago.
“She’s had a rough night, and she’s tired,” my dad finally said when Detective Jakes scribbled the final notes on his notepad. “Let her rest, and you can pick up on the questions tomorrow.”
He bobbed his head. “Yeah. Of course. It’s late.” When Detective Jakes walked into the room, it was clear he was very familiar with my father. Shook his hand before introductions and everything. I had a feeling my father had dumped a few accusations on Jakes’s lap to try to create more trouble for Cane. Detective Jakes walked to the door. “See you later, Derek, Mrs. Jennings.”
“Night,” Dad called, and he was gone.
I let out a heavy sigh, and Mom pushed out of the recliner. “If you don’t want to talk to them tomorrow, you don’t have to. They can wait until you’re feeling better.”
“I don’t want to, but they haven’t caught her, Mom.”
“I know.” She looked down. “But they will.”
I looked at Dad, who was checking his cellphone. “Cane was released about thirty minutes ago.”
I perked up a little, sitting up just a bit. It hurt, but I avoided a wince. “Really? He’s not in trouble?”
“I’m sure he’s still listed as a suspect, probably can’t leave the city until they find Kelly.” Dad took a step forward. “Kandy, are you sure Cane didn’t know about the baby?”
“I’m positive, Dad. I literally just found out. He couldn’t have known before I did.”
He released a breath, lowering his gaze briefly before looking sideways at me. He then cleared his throat and sighed.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he mumbled, stepping away.
“No, Dad. What is it? You cleared your throat. You clearly have something you want to say.”
His brown eyes flickered over to Mom’s, who was frowning at him, waiting for him to say whatever he had on his mind. “What is it now, Derek?”
“I just…well, when I used to meet up with Cane, I remember telling him all about Kandy and how becoming a father was the best thing to ever happen to me.” I swallowed hard, pushing up on my hands, wincing just a bit when I felt the sting below my stomach. Mom rubbed my hand. “I remember asking him if he wanted kids, and he told me ‘hell no.’”
What?
“I asked him why, and he said because he was afraid to bring a kid into his world,” Dad continued.
“W-what is that even supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t push on the topic—just figured he never wanted kids with all that he’d gone through with his father and even his mother. Taking care of his sister—he was basically a father to her.”
“Lora,” I murmured, and Dad stared hard at me.
“You’ve met his sister?”
“Yes. I’ve hung out with her several times.”
He grimaced. “That girl is no good, from what I remember. He always told me about the stuff she was involved in, and it was never good. Stay away from her.”
“Stuff like what?”
“It’s too much to get into right now, but I’m going to be frank and tell you, you need to stay away from Cane, period. This was why I got so upset—why I refused to accept that you wanted to be with him. Because I know who he is, I know where he came from, I know the people he has dealt with, and I have caught him in several lies and made him explain it all to me. I have kept his secrets and watched his back because he was my friend, but when it comes to jeopardizing my daughter’s life, I will pour all of those secrets on the table if it means saving you.”
Shit. He made it sound like the stuff he knew was gruesome. Even his fists had balled up, like he was remembering something that angered him.
“He’ll most likely come to check on you,” Mom said, and I was glad she’d shifted the topic. “But I don’t think it’s safe for you to go with him again, Kandy.”
I dropped my line of vision, putting it on my lap instead. To be honest, I didn’t know what to do anymore. I knew Cane would visit if he was out, but I wanted to look him in the eye and ask him about all of the things my father knew. I wanted him to tell me, so I could decide if it was best to keep my distance or continue making this thing work and getting through it together.
I was a little shaken after what Kelly did to me. To be frank, I didn’t want to go back to his house ever again, so my parents didn’t have to worry about that. There was that man on the news, the phone Cane had in the closet, and then she popped up. So much had happened in the span of ten minutes. I was too afraid of what would come next, but deep down, I still wanted him. Still loved him.
A knock on the door made me jolt, and Mom rubbed my arm as Dad turned and walked toward it. He opened it halfway then I heard him hiss at the person behind it.
“No!” he snapped.
“Derek, who is it?” Mom called, tilting her head, trying to see past him.
Dad glanced over his shoulder with a deep frown. Mom got up and walked around the be
d to get to the door. She peered over Dad’s shoulder and when she saw the person, I noticed her brows dip.
“Who is it?” I called.
They both looked back regretfully, and then Dad pushed the door open a little wider, taking a step aside so I could see. Cane stood on the other side of the door, his gray button-down shirt covered in dark-red stains, his pants low on his hips due to the absence of his belt. When he saw me, his gray-green eyes stretched wide. They were dark, though, full of an anguish that I, for once, understood.
“Hey, Kandy Cane,” he murmured, voice deep, husky.
My eyes instantly watered, the rims burning, trying to fight emotion. I wanted to smile at him—something deep inside me was begging me to reassure him—but something else that was much, much stronger told me that a smile wasn’t warranted.
“Sweetie,” Mom whispered, coming to me and stroking my hair back. “You don’t have to talk to him right now either. It’s almost three in the morning, and you’re exhausted.”
“No. I want to talk to him now.”
Dad huffed, glaring at Cane as he stepped into the room.
“Alone, please?” I requested, and Dad’s head swung over rapidly. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind, opening his mouth to say something until Mom stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
“You get five minutes. That’s it,” Dad snarled at Cane. “And the door stays open.” Cane lowered his gaze as they left, and when they were gone, he slowly carried his eyes over to mine. In that moment, all I could really do was look at him. I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but I also wanted to feel his warm arms wrapped around me again. I wanted his comfort, the peace only he could provide. Cane peered over this shoulder once more, then came closer.
“Kandy, I—” He struggled for words, looking me all over, eyes damp and red. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered brokenly. He was at the bedside, looking right down at me. “I didn’t know she’d come—didn’t realize she was that much of a threat. If I’d known, I never would have taken you home with me. It should have been me it happened to, not you.”
I couldn’t conjure the right words for a response, so I looked away instead.
He grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing my knuckles, the back of my hand. I closed my eyes, fighting the wave of emotion that’d swept through me when I felt his lips on me, his breath running over my skin. The monitor beside me beeped, filling the silence that was brewing between us.
“Will you say something?” he finally asked, voice low.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say, Cane.”
“Anything. Whatever is on your mind.”
I swallowed hard, focused on my lap. After several minutes passed, I said, “There’s obviously a lot I don’t know about you.”
I took a glance up, and he’d straightened his back. “I told you there were things about me you wouldn’t like, Kandy. Things you’d find out…”
“I know but…I didn’t know they would be as bad as working for a cartel.”
“I don’t work for the cartel. I only work with him.” He gritted his teeth after the statement.
“Is he really coming here?”
“He will…but not any time soon.”
I sighed, pulling my hand out of his. He watched the action before staring me in the eyes. “What can I do to make this right?”
“There isn’t much you can do, Cane! I was stabbed in your house by ex!”
His eyebrows dipped slightly, and he pulled back a bit to see my whole face. “Do you not trust me anymore?” I looked away, and as if that one gesture said it all, he said, “I didn’t know this would happen, Kandy.”
“I know you didn’t…”
“So why lose trust in me? I’d still do anything for you. I’d take a bullet for you if I had to—”
“Cane, I was pregnant!” I finally blurted out, and his eyes grew wider, almost like he didn’t believe me. He looked me all over, as if I were under an X-ray.
“What are you talking about? How?”
“What do you mean how? By being with you! When Kelly stabbed me, it didn’t just hurt me—it killed someone that was growing inside me!” Saying it out loud was like talking with glass in my throat. It hurt like a bitch to admit. I was still in denial about it…still hoping this was all a fucking nightmare and that I’d wake up soon.
“Shit, Kandy, I’m sorry—I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me you were—I mean…”
“I didn’t know I was until a few hours ago. The doctors told my mom, and she told me.”
He sighed. I couldn’t help thinking it was a sigh of relief. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, baby.” Standing, he cupped my face, bringing his lips down to my forehead. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered again.
“I guess it’s a good thing for you that it’s gone, huh? My dad told me you don’t want kids.”
He pulled back, glaring down at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“That’s what my dad said you told him. I guess before you started Tempt. You told him you were afraid to bring a kid into your world.”
“Wha—Kandy, that was before I ever even met you,” he scoffed. “You can’t possibly think that I’m happy to know the baby is gone? It’s going to fuck with my head even more now!”
“I honestly don’t know what to think about you anymore.” He pulled his hands away, looking at me as if I’d shot him right in the heart, and I stared right back, my eyes burning. “There’s so much about you that I don’t know, and I’m sure what I’ve found out so far is only the tip of the iceberg. You have all of these secrets, and they’re coming out one after another. And with each secret, there is a threat, and when I’m around, those threats end up hurting me. Not you, but me. When we’re together, I’m the one who ends up losing everything.” I choked on my next breath, and he held my face in his hands, bending down to catch my eyes, but I refused to look at him. I couldn’t look into his eyes. It would kill me even more that I was saying all of this.
“Kandy, you know I will protect you with my life—I promised that not even two nights ago. I’m sorry this happened—I should have taken better precautions or locked the damn door after the caterers left, but I wasn’t thinking.” He paused, eyes shimmering with guilt. “I—I asked you if you trusted me, and you said yes.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I said that.”
He looked taken aback, eyes even wider. “You’re just saying this because you’re hurting…right? Because if this is you talking out of anger and emotion, then I get that, but if this is really how you feel then I don’t know what to say…”
I pushed his hands away and swiped a hand over my face, ridding myself of the tears.
“Do you not want to be with me anymore?” His question came out forced, as if it pained him to even ask. Or more like he was afraid of the answer.
I was quiet for a really long time, so long that I could tell he was holding his breath, waiting for my response. “Cane,” I whispered. “I want to be with you—I do. I love you so, so much…but it shouldn’t hurt this much to love you. When we first started this, it was fun and different and exhilarating, but it’s not that anymore. Now, it’s just toxic and dangerous. Every day, there is a new layer of your life revealed, and each one is scarier than the last.”
“Kandy—”
“No, Cane. I just…I think the best thing for me to do right now is go back with my parents. You have so much going on in your life, and to be honest, I don’t think I’d feel safe going back with you.”
He looked as if I’d slapped him right in the face. Blow after blow, I knew it—could feel it—but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t pretend I was okay with this. The worst thing was his eyes. They were filled with so much regret, guilt, shame, and worst of all, pain. “Kandy, baby…please,” he begged. “I would never let anyone hurt you like that again.”
I shook my head. It was all I could do.
“Kandy…”
A throat cleared behind him, and Cane looked over his shoulder. I peered up, spotting Mom and Dad by the door. “Time’s up,” Dad grumbled, but Cane ignored him, focusing on me again.
“Are you sure about this?” Cane whispered, caressing my hand. I stared down at it, the olive slivers of skin between dark ink. I studied the dark rose on the back of his hand, then the word RISE on his knuckles, and came to the realization that I would probably never find out the meaning of that phrase.
“I think it’s best,” was all I said. I matched his stare, and he slowly pulled his hand away, looking me all over.
I could tell he had so much more to say, but with my parents waiting there, watching, he kept his next sentence brief. “If space is what you need, then I’ll give it to you, but I want you to know that I love you and nothing in this world will ever be able to change that.” He kissed the top of my head, and as much as I’d been trying to hold it together before, I lost it when his mouth was on me.
The tears I’d tried fighting were unleashed, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Crying hurt the wound beneath my belly and my heart, but I blocked out the pain and brought my hands up, burying my face in it. Cane held me around the shoulders and shushed me, his lips in my hair.
It wasn’t space that I needed. What I didn’t need was him. No matter how much I loved him, or how much I enjoyed being around him, I knew he was no good for me. Dad had warned me. Mom had even said so.
When Cane and I were in a room alone, we were amazing together—our chemistry off the charts—but out in the real world, we weren’t a good match. He was older. I was younger. He had a shaky past, and my life was just getting started. Our paths had crossed many, many times, and sometimes fate made us feel like we were winning, but our lives were passing each other, not fitting together. We happened to find an escape in each other…but that escape was over.
This was our reality, and everyone knew reality was a bitch. Karma was coming for us, but I figured if I let him go now, maybe I could beat her to the punch, spare myself another dose of it. Maybe I could save myself the grief and trauma by making a selfless choice, and that choice was to let Cane—my Quinton Cane—go.
Loving Mr. Cane: Cane Series #3 Page 2
