I hate how bitter I sound. Hate that my voice trembles despite how strong I try to be. Strength has always been my armor. Kane broke right through it with his one-man army and words as arrows.
“But that’s life,” I almost whisper. “It has a way of screwing you over.” My lips curl into a humorless smile as I meet his blue eyes. They reveal nothing, and honestly, I appreciate that there’s no trace of pity. Or anger. Or anything. He’s just watching me, sitting with my pain. And for a moment, I don’t feel so alone.
“What about you?” I ask. “I bet your life is flowers and roses up in that big mansion, huh?”
He scoffs, drumming his thumb on the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t exactly call it flowers and roses.”
“No?”
He rubs his nose, sniffs. “Believe it or not, money doesn’t fix all problems. If anything, it brings more of them to your door.”
The words feel heavy between us as he avoids meeting my gaze. Curious, I study his side profile. There’s something he isn’t telling me. Behind his smirk and wealth, Kane Ravencourt has more layers than meet the eye.
He finally turns his head and sees me watching him, as if it takes a lot of effort to face me after what he said. “My father, he, uh…”
His thumb taps repeatedly on the steering wheel, and the persistent drumming catches my eye.
Kane is nervous.
“My brother and I didn’t exactly have the easiest upbringing.” His voice thickens with some unspoken emotion as he looks at his large hand on the wheel.
Tap, tap, tap.
“Was he strict with you?”
A hollow smile ghosts his lips. “That’s one word for it.”
Whatever Kane’s not saying, it’s enough to leave a scar. Though I want to ask about it, I know it’s not my place. He’s not mine. He never will be.
When his gaze cuts to me, a small ache blooms behind my ribs, and I search for something to say but come up empty.
“I’m sorry.”
Such meaningless words in the face of suffering.
“Don’t be,” he says. “It’s part of the founding families’ legacy.”
I wonder if he’s aware of the bitter bite in his tone, or maybe it’s just my imagination?
“What about the racing?” I ask, curious despite myself. “How did you get into that?”
“How did your brother get into it?” he counters, his lips twitching.
A grin chases my lips. There’s something about seeing his guarded emotions shift from pain to playfulness that makes my chest flutter. “Are you even from Bleakmoor if you’re not into racing?”
“You’re not.”
“Only because my brother won’t let me race. Otherwise, I’d be out there smoking your ass, pretty boy, that’s for sure. You wouldn’t know what hit you.”
His mouth slowly curves into a radiant smile, the kind that takes my breath away. He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip tostop it, but it’s too late. I am amazed at how it transforms his face. The truth is, Kane Ravencourt is beautiful.
“I’d love to see you try.” He makes no secret of checking me out.
Heat creeps into my cheeks. “Maybe I will one day.”
“Hmm,” he hums. “I look forward to it.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate me, Kane.”
