Know Me: A 'Me' Novel (Book 3) (A 'Me' Series)

by Jeri Williams

  “Matt,” Ember scolded and I could tell that she’d reprimanded me for the tone and not the lie. She knew the statement was bullshit but Royce didn’t.

  “You want to know the reason I did what I did?” Pretty sure that was what I’d said. Maybe he did give himself over.

  “Cause you’re a sick fuck who likes to torture kids?” Again, this earned me another gasp from Ember. I should have gone with my gut when she’d insisted on coming here, but there was absolutely no way I’d do this without her. She was the only thing keeping me level.

  “Because I knew he’d never break,” he simply stated, and I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. Was he saying he knuckled him up growing up because he could take it? He had to still be drunk because there is no way he’d offer up this type of shitty ass explanation sober. Royce Kane was nothing if not efficient. He’d have made sure his argument was sound and unarguable.

  “Come again?” I seethed, and I could feel Ember squeeze my hand in warning, no doubt trying to ease away the tension and anger that was suddenly radiating through my whole body so much so that it resonated in my voice.

  “He could take it. He was always hard or willful. Everything was always a fight with him. From brushing his teeth to putting on his damned shoes, it was always a fight.” He chuckled, more to himself, lost in his memories and a part of me wanted to yell at him on Deklan’s behalf. He should be telling this shit to him, not me. “I had plans for him; he was the first born, the person to take over the Kane name. Business, no matter what kind, is cut throat and dirty and if he wasn’t hard enough, if he wasn’t strong, he’d fail. And no son of mine would fail.”

  “So, what, this was about business? He’s your son, not a goddamn business transaction.” I could not believe this shit. Did the old man really buy this? “I didn’t say it was the right thing to do, but it was an effective method, until it wasn’t.” He replied to my outburst, finally having the guts to look me in the eyes.

  “And why not use this effective method on me? Why him?” I spat, not believing for a minute what he was saying. This was a copout.

  “You are not like your brother,” he stated solemnly.

  “No shit.”

  “I mean, I learned and evolved and what worked for him, wouldn’t work for you. You were so much gentler than him. Sensitive.”

  “So you thought I was a bitch?” Did he really just call me a pussy? Father of the year guys.

  “No. I knew I irrevocably damaged your brother, and I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t lose another son. You were supposed to be the one I did things right with. The one I made amends with.”

  “Wow. You screwed up one son so you had another for some saving grace type shit? How do you sleep at night?” I was beyond disgusted.

  “I suppose you would see it that way. We loved you, the same as your brother, but in different ways. I admit to making terrible mistakes with Deklan, and I guess I did coddle you more to make up for the fact that I’d failed where your brother was concerned. I was hard on him because I failed.”

  Was he really turning this around on him?

  “I can’t listen to this bullshit anymore. I was right when I said I didn’t feel anything for you, especially after hearing your reason why. I came at the request of my fiancée . Yes, my fiancée,” I emphasized the word at his questioning eyebrow lift.

  I turned to her. “I tried babe,” I told her truthfully.

  “I know baby. You tried, and that’s what counts. Just try and go from here,” she said and looked at my father sagely . “Both of you.”

  I had no idea when my girl became so insightful, but fuck, when she was, she was. I didn’t know if I would ever forgive my father or feel nothing short of hate for him, but she was right. We did need to move on, and my brother and I would baby step our way to being brothers again and my father… It wasn’t my forgiveness he needed to seek.

  Ember

  We left shortly after Matt had a few final words with his father in private. The drive back home was silent but not with tension. I felt Matt had a little more peace now knowing the why behind his father’s actions. I mean Mr. Kane totally made my parents look likes saints but whateves. But really, who says stuff like that to their kid? We got back home, and I went into the kitchen to make us sandwiches for dinner since we really hadn’t been thinking about food all day, what with our ‘reconnecting.’ Matt disappeared into the bedroom. I was just putting away the bread after having made the best BLT a person could ask for, three slices of bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes on each. Yeah, it was pretty huge sandwich, but who cares. It was balanced and now, so was I. Matt walked in looking a little smug and leaned against the entryway.

  “Baby, come here for a minute,” he said, and I was baffled because our kitchen is like, five feet, how much closer did he want me? But I put down the bread and did as he asked because I loved him. I closed the gap between us and stood before him, and he knelt on one knee.

  Ohmahgawd!

  “Baby, you know I love you, and I told myself that if I ever got you back, I was going to show you every second of everyday how much you mean to me. I panicked when I first asked you because I was afraid of losing you. Didn’t mean I didn’t want it, just meant I should have done it right the first time. Ember ‘Rabbit’ Harrington, will you forever and always, be mine?” he asked and wow, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Of course, I had already agreed, but he was on one knee. One knee!

  “Matt,” I choked out, because yeah I was doing that girl thing. Before I could move my mouth in response again, he pulled out a small gold band with a one-karat setting. It was simple and elegant, and right away I knew why he had spoken to his father alone. I’d admired this ring the day before Mrs. Kane died, and Matt’s father kissed it on her finger. Even though it was simple for the billion-dollar Kane industry, I admired what it stood for: unconditional love. It was clear that his father loved his mom to her last breath. Matt was right, Kane men loved for life.

  “Baby?” Matt asked as he slipped the ring on my finger. Oh yeah. I should be saying something, shouldn’t I?

  “My middle name isn’t Rabbit, its Pen…” I was cut off when his mouth smashed into mine.

  “Just say yes Rabbit and kiss me,” he said in between kisses.

  “Duh,” I replied and kissed him back. The kissing turned into something more and I forgot all about dinner as we headed into the bedroom. My cell phone rang and penetrated the love induced daze I was in.

  “Ignore it,” he said. We had released each other long enough for him rip his shirt over his head, toe off his boots, and unbutton his jeans. Just seeing him in that state had me right back in that fog… my ringing phone became background noise.

  The ringing stopped, and Matt stalked toward me with a dark hunger in his eyes. My phone rang again.

  “Okay, it might actually be important.” I held up one finger in a hold on motion and fished my phone out of my pocket. ‘Harley’ flashed across the display.

  “Call her back,” Matt said as he reached for me and started doing things to my body with his mouth. Things that almost caused me to drop my ringing cell phone.

  “She’s called twice, back to back. Let me just make sure she’s okay and then I’ll call her back.” I didn’t wait for the hell-no reply I knew was on his lips before I slid the phone to answer. I hadn’t been there for Harley before; I needed to answer this call no matter how irritated Matt got, and he’d have to understand.

  “Har! Guess what? I’m engaged!” I said by way of greeting and looked at Matt. Hopefully, this would lower his irritation level if I started the conversation with him, sort of. Men were ego hogs that way. Honestly, I was bursting at the seams to tell my best friend that our wedding was in three months because neither Matt nor I wanted to wait longer than that .

  “That’s great Ember,” she said, but something was off; she didn
’t sound like she thought it was great, and I thought for a moment I’d said something wrong. When she continued, she pulled the floor from under me.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  The End

  (Sort of)

  Ember and Matt’s story is over, but Harley and Deklan are far from their story finishing.

  Catch the novella Fix Me for the final Harley and Deklan story! (I swear) Coming soon-ish.

  Table of Contents

  Title

  Prequel

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three