I’d quietly nursed hope that they’d make it.
He cared, too, of that, I was certain. That was what made this an even bigger shame. Both needed that connection, Lovelyn to give her a person for whom she was top priority, and Kane because I was pretty sure he’d never had that either. He didn’t know how to share emotions.
We had to get them back together. The question was, how?
Cassie spoke before anyone else could. “Or, we could take a taxi out of crazy town and use this opportunity to our advantage.”
Lovelyn scrunched up her nose. “What do you mean?”
“What if ye put your name forward then publicly announce it? Some of the applicants boast like that, sharing just enough details that those in the know would get it.”
“Why would you have me do that?”
Cassie’s eyes danced. “Because some asswipe arrested your guard, took out your security, and tried to break into your housetonight. The threat of losing ye is a surefire way of luring him out, so if he’s watching, let him come.”
I took a quick breath, an additional element to Cassie’s plan forming in my mind.
She was baiting a trap. Maybe two men could be lured in that way.
Chapter 41
Kane
Friday night, fucking game night. Energy hung over the warehouse, a crowd of people who hadn’t scored tickets hosting a party outside, and extra crew on the doors. It felt like a fucking festival, people cheering with drinks raised whenever cars pulled up with contestants.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I scowled. I wasn’t here for that shite. A couple of nights ago, I’d told Arran and Tyler that I was out. Arran had given me time to think it over and told me to stay away until now.
He commanded that I had to see him face to face in order to quit. I was no coward. Not for this anyway.
My phone buzzed with a text.
Mila: Are you here?
I thumbed an answer to my sister, telling her I was outside. She’d asked to see me, so this last visit would kill two birds with one stone. After I’d cut all ties, I was driving to London where I’d take a contract made of violence and threat. It felt empty. I didn’t need the money anymore. But that wasn’t the only appeal: I never had to make a decision based on emotion again.
I leaned against my car and waited, curling my lip as another cheer went up for some arsehole who’d arrived with his shirt off, ready to play. He beat his chest and threw his arms up for more applause. Fucking idiot.
Mila stepped out of Divine’s entrance, the neon pink in her blonde hair and her boyfriend a shadow at her back.
At any other time over the past couple of months, I would have felt regret at doing this. Some part of me cared about my sister, but I’d buried that deep.
She stalked over with her arms folded. Convict gave us space but stayed near enough to be there for her. To my surprise, Tyler morphed from the shadows, copying Convict’s steady gaze on me. Fine. Easier to cut the cord out here if that’s what they wanted.
“Look what the cat dragged in.”
I matched Mila’s stance. “I’m only here to officially quit. Then I’m leaving Deadwater.”
Something I didn’t recognise rippled across her face. Not dismay as I’d half expected. Good. It was better if she didn’t give a damn.
“Is that so?”
“It is. Before I go, I need to tell ye something else. When it comes to the vote, I’ll be siding with your grandmother.”
“You’re voting to shut down Marchant Haulage?”
I confirmed it with a sharp jerk of my head. “Hate me all ye want, but it won’t change my mind.”
Mila exhaled in exasperation. Then she reached out and flicked my forehead. “Don’t come at me all stone-cold attitude and assume you know how I feel. You don’t because you’ve never asked. I don’t even know where I stand on the family business anymore. I was only pushing in one direction for the vote because of you.”
