Kane Richards Must Die

by Williams, Shanice

Dnt wrry, he does tht to evry1. Heard u didn’t cave tho. Im proud xKx

  I grimaced at that. If only she knew.

  Its Lawr. Im more worried abwt. He lukd rly upset t.day –S

  He’ll get over it. I’m sure he’ll find sum1 at the flowrshop LOL xKx

  I giggled as I looked at the screen, remembering Lawrence’s knowledge of flowers. As I pressed the reply button and began typing out my first word, my phone buzzed again.

  “God, give me a chance,” I mumbled to myself, rolling my eyes. It buzzed again and I growled at her impatience whilst I exited my created message and went into my inbox.

  Two new text messages.

  MEET ME

  I’LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING

  I frowned at my phone, staring dumbly at the two text messages. Kate never texted in capitals and she always left her classic “xKx” signature. I couldn’t think of anyone else who had my number and wouldn’t leave their name. Lawrence always rang, saying that texting was overrated, and my aunt was downstairs.

  I looked at the number and didn’t recognise it. Pressing the reply button I started tapping at the keys.

  Who is this? – S

  I waited anxiously and immediately grabbed my phone once it started buzzing.

  THE SAME PERSON WHO WATCHED YOU AIRPLAY YIRUMA’S RIVER FLOWS IN YOU AND THOUGHT YOU LOOKED HOT DOING IT

  My breathing stopped, my phone slipped from my grasp, and my heart thudded in my chest, my eyes wide in recognition.

  Kane.

  How the hell did he get my number?

  Before I had the chance to mull over the question properly in my mind my phone buzzed again from the floor. I leaned over and grabbed it, flipping it open and reading the new text message.

  MEET ME @ THE SAME BENCH IN HALF HOUR?

  It was a question. I didn’t have to say yes, I didn’t have to be entranced by his lean, sexy body and his hair and his voice and his warm eyes and his too sweet smell.

  I didn’t have to.

  And yet, when I glanced down at my phone, I saw that my fingers had already tapped out my reply.

  I’ll Be There.

  17. TRUST

  Suranne

  I reached the secluded bench and sat down to that same cool breeze blowing around me. I wrapped my arms around my torso, hugging myself whilst I glanced at the calm, still scenery in front of me.

  Every few seconds my eyes darted from left to right. I couldn’t help the buildup of nerves that had settled in the pit of my stomach, but I’d needed to come. He said he was going to explain everything, and I deserved an explanation.

  I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket and pulled it out, staring at it curiously. I flipped it open, and frowned at the screen.

  One new text message. From the same number as before.

  CLOSE YOUR EYES

  I turned around and peered between the trees and bushes trying to spot him, squinting as my eyes flitted in different directions. My phone buzzed again and I looked down at the screen.

  THEY’RE NOT CLOSED SURANNE

  I sighed in frustration, unable to see him anywhere yet he could quite obviously see me. After a while I relented, with a defeated sigh, and turned back around, slumping against the bench. I closed my eyes hesitantly. I tried to control my breathing as my inner excitement grew at the thought of seeing him, hearing his voice, gazing into those brown eyes again. I had seen him not more than two hours ago, and I deeply missed him already.

  After a couple of seconds a familiar smell assaulted my senses. I felt a sudden rush of feeling like I was back at home, in London. The scent was unforgettable, rich and mouthwatering. It was a scent I hadn’t indulged in for far too long.

  Fish and chips.

  A small moan escaped my lips as the smell became stronger and my stomach growled furiously. My eyes snapped open of their own volition and I was rewarded with a beautiful sight.

  “If you had any idea how fucking impossible it was to get this, I think you’d love me just that much more.” He smiled crookedly at me, dressed in the same outfit he was in when I first saw him. Snugly fitted black button-down shirt and dark jeans, the front of his hair spiked up neatly as always, his deep brown eyes shining brightly, and his little sexy stud in his ear.

  I didn’t know what I wanted more. The food or him.

  “How did you know?” I breathed, reaching out for the food. It was even wrapped in paper like it was back home and I smiled broadly at his efforts. As far as I knew shops like that didn’t even exist here.

  “I know it’s the national dish or some shit, I figured you’d be into it. I guess I’m right, huh?” He shrugged, sitting down next to me and watching with a smirk on his face as I greedily tucked in. After a while I felt a little bit self-conscious stuffing my face whilst he was watching me, so I started eating it more slowly. He seemed to notice my hesitance and laughed lowly before leaning over and whispering in my ear, his silky voice washing through my brain and leaving a pool of uncoordinated mess in its wake.

  “Just for the record, the sight of you eating is extremely sexy, Suranne. Don’t stop.”

  I gulped at his words and his voice before a question struck me.

  “How the bloody hell did you get my number, Kane? First it’s my address and now this. Anyone would think you’re stalking me.” I looked at him with raised eyebrows before popping another couple of chips in my mouth, nearly groaning at the taste. They weren’t quite as good as home’s, but they were a close second.

  He shrugged and smiled at me.

  “I have my ways.”

  I swallowed and nodded, saving that answer for later. Right now I wanted what he promised me.

  An explanation.

  I put the chips down between us and wiped my hands, turning fully to him and raising my eyebrows in question. He seemed to realise what I wanted right away and cringed, throwing his head back and groaning up at the sky.

  “You want the explanation, am I right?” he muttered.

  “Well, it would be nice,” I chuckled dryly, folding my arms over my chest, but otherwise keeping silent, waiting for him to explain it in his own time. I guessed there was more to it than “I just really want to screw you.”

  He lifted his head and turned to me reluctantly. Closing his eyes, his face turned into a grimace before he lifted his chin slightly in determination and squared his shoulders. He opened his eyes and looked levelly at me and as I gazed back at him, I saw the defeat evident in his stare. After a few moments of us gazing at each other, his full, soft lips parted to speak, and he graced me with his heavenly voice.

  “For you to really get all this, I’ll just have to start at the beginning,” he mumbled, his face twisted and his voice low and ragged. My hand ached to touch him. I had never seen him showing such emotion before, not just to me but to anyone, and I immediately wanted to alleviate it. Taking another deep breath, he stared intensely at me. A stare that told me this was difficult for him. That he hadn’t talked about this in a long time, and that at this moment in time, he trusted me. I smiled reassuringly and gave him an encouraging nod.

  “My father was the managing partner of a law firm. When it came to his line of work, he was expected to host large dinner parties and attend important events overseas with different companies. He had a lot of friends and whenever he held dinner parties the smile on his face was never fake.” His jaw clenched and he squinted his eyes tightly before his face relaxed.

  “He was also a proud man. Proud of his wife, his son, his daughter, his home, his job, and the amount of work he put into the firm. And he was always generous with money, hosting different social events to fund charities and shit. He set up trust funds for each of us, always chucking ridiculous amounts of money into them for no reason. I used some of mine to buy my car and it hardly put a dent in my balance.” A heavy sigh escaped him as he shook his head. “His firm is still going strong, and the money now goes directly to us. Well . . . mainly to my mom.” His fists clenched in his lap when he mentioned his mother
and he averted his gaze over my shoulder, narrowing his eyes at the various trees, shrubs, and our surroundings in general, before continuing.

  “Three years ago, my father had to attend a social event in Hong Kong. He took a private jet; he said that it was always easier for him,” he muttered darkly. I kept watching him, transfixed with how the different emotions played across his face.

  Hurt. Anger. Guilt. Reluctance.

  Although some part of it scared me, there was a much larger part that kept me intrigued with the new side of him that he was letting me discover. His large, alluring brown eyes glazed over with a faraway look, as if he were completely involved in a memory of some kind. He spoke as if in a trance.

  “The plane crashed that night,” he whispered. I inhaled a sharp breath, my eyes wide, and my jaw dropped slightly. Deep down I had guessed where this story was leading. I could tell from the hurt that was evident on his face, but the bluntness with which Kane said it shocked me.

  I reached out to touch his arm in apology and he snatched it away from me, his blank chocolate eyes flashing in anger.

  “I don’t want your pity!” he spat at me sharply. I recoiled from the tone in his voice, leaning back away from him and putting my hand back on my lap.

  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair muttering to himself.

  “Shit . . . it’s why I didn’t wanna do this shit . . .”

  I tried making sense of his jumbled words but couldn’t come up with anything, and didn’t particularly want to ask him when he was in this mood, so I just sat there silently. After a few minutes of tense silence and Kane constantly running his hand through his hair, causing it to become a dishevelled but sexy mess, he dropped his head in his hands and groaned slightly.

  “I’m sorry . . . I just . . . damn . . . I’m not good with words,” he mumbled awkwardly. I nodded slowly in response, still wary of his outburst yet still wanting to touch him. He raised his head slowly and his eyes locked with mine. They burned and swirled with such intense emotions that I nearly gasped out loud. I had never seen Kane look like this, and I had never wanted him more.

  He scooted closer to me and placed a hand on my cheek. His blazing eyes were still locked on mine, not allowing me to escape the intensity of his stare.

  I could see his hesitation. He wanted to get this off his chest, and yet I could also see his fear, his apprehension, and I knew I had to put him at ease. I leaned into his touch and pressed my forehead against his, our eyes still locked and unmoving. His stare begged for understanding, my stare begged for trust.

  “Trust me, Kane,” I whispered, closing my eyes and leaning my face closer. I was giving him the only thing I could, and the only thing I knew would help.

  “Trust me,” I murmured once again, before pressing my lips softly to his, still keeping my eyes closed, too afraid to see the expression in his. In my mind, I realised that this could only go one of two ways. Either I was doing the right thing and Kane would appreciate my form of appeasement, and hopefully kiss me back, or he would misjudge my actions as a sign of sympathy and withdraw from me altogether, possibly leaving at the same time.

  This was my only chance, and I fervently hoped that I had made the right decision.

  18. PAINFUL MEMORIES

  Kane

  “Trust me,” she whispered against my lips before brushing hers lightly against mine. I felt the same fleck of electricity go through my lips and down my body as the last time I’d kissed her. Sighing into her mouth I lifted my other hand, cupping her face as my lips moved with hers. I needed this right now, and she seemed to know. The hold this girl had over me was baffling at the best of times. But at times like this I was glad for that shit. When I had gone home earlier that day, I’d tried once again to get my mind off of her through other chicks. I thought about calling a hot blonde to let her try all her best techniques on me but that wouldn’t suffice.

  I needed her. Suranne.

  Even if my mind wanted to deny it, there was no denying the fact that my body wanted her.

  And only her.

  I knew that meant I had to go all out. I had to man up and tell her shit that I hadn’t told anyone. Well, apart from that other bitch . . . but she just—

  No, Kane. Don’t go there.

  I knew this was going to be difficult and tried to prepare myself as best I could. Allowing my mind to drift back to the place I had pushed away for so many years ripped a painful hole through me. And it was just at that moment Suranne decided to put her hand on my arm. The whole reason why I didn’t want to tell people in the first place was because I didn’t want to see the sympathy and pity in their eyes.

  I shouldn’t have snapped at her but hell, I couldn’t help it, and then I knew it was over, and I had blown it. I sounded like a dick and I was expecting her to run away just like the other bitch had. To leave me dealing with this crap on my own.

  Again.

  But she stayed.

  Jesus Christ, she stayed.

  She took her hand away, and she sat there . . . silently . . . waiting.

  For me.

  Had this been any other day I would have been grinning from ear to ear at that. But the pain I was in had such a strong hold on me from being kept inside all these years that now, as I let it out it, it became its own force, rearing out and swallowing me whole. The pain in my chest and in my mind was taking over and I needed her to understand. I needed her to help. I needed her to reassure me that she’ll be there once she realizes how messed up I am. I needed her to accept me, and the shitload of baggage that was my life.

  I just needed her, period.

  Her kiss told me everything I needed to know. Her kiss told me she trusted me, that she wasn’t leaving yet, and that she needed me as well.

  It told me that she was mine, and that once I told her everything, I would be hers, too.

  But I knew that already. I guess deep down I should have known that I had become hers the second I saw her face. I shouldn’t have tried so hard to fight it.

  I pulled away from her, still cupping her face in my hands and gave her a weak smile. The pain of my father’s death was still wracking through me, making it difficult to breathe. But I was still gonna try and smile at my girl. She deserved it.

  “I trust you,” I murmured, silently thanking her through my eyes. Taking a deep breath I sat back, letting the memories of that night wash through me and possess every bone in my body. I wasn’t even aware that I was speaking, could hardly feel my lips moving, but I knew they were. The only thing that was happening in my mind was that night.

  All over again.

  “Hey Dad, what’s up?” I had said lightly over the phone. The line was weak and crackling, but I could hear his heavy breathing.

  “Kane, look after your mother and your sister, son. Don’t let anything or anyone distract you from them, y’hear?” he wheezed, the noise of other voices shouting rang through the line.

  “Dad, what’s going on? Who’s shouting in the background? . . . Dad?!” The line crackled more and my heart thumped unevenly as my chest constricted. I glanced at the clock, it was nearly midnight. He’d be over the ocean now.

  “Put me on loudspeaker, son . . .” Dad croaked amongst the shouting and crying I could hear in the background. I yelled for Mom to come into the living room, and she ran in, followed by a nine-year-old Ash, eyes all wide and anxious.

  I put the phone on loudspeaker and the room abruptly filled with the sounds of crying, wailing, and my father’s heavy breathing. Every few seconds the line would crackle and cut out before reconnecting.

  “Sal?” My father cried. “Something’s wrong with the plane . . I don’t know if I’ll be home . . . Kiss Ash goodnight for me, sweetheart.” We could hear his voice break at the mention of Ash. My mom burst into an uncontrollable fit of tears, while I clenched my jaw, gripping the phone tightly, praying over and over that I wasn’t about to lose my father.

  “Tell her I love her,” he croaked thickly, and I could sense he
was crying. That pushed my mother over the edge and she fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands. I refused to accept what I knew was happening.

  “What the hell is going on?!” I spat angrily through my teeth, failing at my attempts to control my fear and pain.

  “I’m right here, Dad,” Ash sniffled in a small voice, coming up to me. I wrapped an arm around her tightly, closing my eyes as my father’s broken voice filled the room again.

  “Oh, Ash, baby, don’t cry, Mommy and Kane are gonna look after you now. You make sure you’re good for them, OK?”

  I totally lost it when he said that, so my mom weakly lifted herself off the floor and snatched the phone out of my hands. “Daniel, please don’t!” she begged into the receiver, sobbing and hiccupping. I kneeled down and held onto Ash as she sobbed into my shoulder and my own tears fell into her hair.

  “Sally . . . baby, don’t worry,” his sniffled words echoed into the living room and fell over our lifeless, sobbing bodies.

  “I can’t do it on my own, Daniel!” my mother wailed and my father let out a weak, broken laugh.

  “Don’t be silly, you’re a beautiful, wonderful mom. Funny, soft, gentle, smart, delicate . . . I love you. Please don’t give up on them, baby, they need you. I love you, always have, and always will.”

  The screams in the background got even louder and they ricocheted off the living room walls.

  “Dad. . . just . . . I don’t know, can’t they fucking do something?” I exclaimed, angry that he was on the phone talking to us and saying goodbye when he could be using it to save his life.

  “Kane, I’ve told you about your swearing. Stop setting a bad example. Be gentle on your mother, OK? Make me proud, son . . . ” Those were his last words before the phone made a high-pitched noise and the line went dead.