“What else don’t I know?”
“Tons, beautiful. There’s tons of stuff you don’t know.”
Sawyer rolls his eyes. “I think I preferred you when you were a non-interfering stoner.”
“Can’t say I enjoy having a clear head, but it’s brought some perspective,” Jackson admits.
“Like what?” Kai drawls, emerging on the deck in a black puffy jacket similar to the one Jackson’s got on. His long legs are encased in dark jeans and he’s wearing scuffed black boots on his feet.
Jackson glances over his shoulder. “Like Abby shouldn’t be kept in the dark any longer. She deserves to know the full truth.”
“Says you and whose army?” he asks, standing in front of us with his usual disapproving scowl.
“Look at what all the secrets and lies have done to our families,” I say. “Do we want to continue that tradition?”
Kai props his butt against the railing, a muscle tensing in his jaw as he eyes me huddled in between his two best friends. “No, but what Lauder fails to understand is that sharing certain truths places you in grave danger, and I will not do that.”
“You’d rather keep lying to me.” My mouth pulls tight.
“I will tell you when it is safe to do so.”
“That’s fucking bullshit! Keeping me in the dark puts me in more danger because I can’t see the trap until I’ve fallen in. At least if I knew what to look out for, I could avoid it!”
“I’ll tell you what you need to know, and the rest of the time I’ll be the one watching your back. I’ll ensure you don’t fall into any traps.”
I snort, tossing the blanket off and rising. “Don’t do me any favors, Cam!” I snap, and he flinches. “What?”
“You called him Cam,” Jackson says.
“Because it’s all I knew for months.” I rein my anger in, curiosity getting the better of me. “How did your cousin die, anyway?” I ask, softening my tone. “All your father said was he’d died when he was two. What happened?”
“He had a rare heart defect,” he says. “My aunt put him to bed one night, and the next morning, she found him dead in his crib. They’ve never recovered from it, and they were too afraid to risk having any more kids.”
“I’m sorry. That’s so sad.”
“Taking his identity never felt right to me.” He comes closer, and his chest brushes against mine. “And it never felt right hiding who I was with you, either. But there were good reasons for it. I know you’re pissed. But I meant what I said to you that night, Abby. You meaneverything.” He palms my face, peering deep into my eyes. “And I won’t apologize for doing what I believe is right to protect you and our unborn child. You just need to trust me.”
I remove his hands from my face and take a step back. “How can I after everything you’ve hidden from me? And now you stand here, blatantly confirming you’re continuing to conceal things and you expect me tojust trust you?” I shake my head. “Trust must be earned,Kaiden, and all you’ve done is earn my wrath.” I walk toward the sliding doors, turning at the last second. “And I don’t know if there is any way to return from that.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Please let me call him.” I send doe eyes at Sawyer. “I know you have a way of communicating that’s safe. Xavier will go crazy because he hasn’t heard from me.”
Kai walks into the living room with a box in his hand.
“And I need to make sure Charlie is okay. I’m worried about my fiancé.” Iamworried for my friend, because I’m sure the bastard blames him for losing me, but I tagged that on the end purely for Kai’s benefit.
Predictably, Kai slams the box down on the coffee table, sending daggers in my direction. “For the last time, you are not marrying that asshole.” His eyes flit to the glistening diamond on my hand. “And take that fucking ring off before I pry it from your finger.”
I’ve been wearing it to piss him off, and I love that it’s working. “You’re not involved in this decision.” I curl my feet up under me, smiling sweetly at him as I prepare to deliver the blow. “I love him, and Iwillmarry him.” I shrug, as if it’s no biggie. “And we’ve already consummated our relationship anyway.”
Tension bleeds into the air, and Kai’s eyes flash with a dark warning. “That better be a lie.”
“It is,” Rick says, glancing up from the book he’s immersed in. “We tailed her all the way from Parkhurst, and she wasn’t out of our sight.”
I smirk. “It happened Friday night when he showed up at my room with my father.”
“You’re lying.” Kai’s jaw is taut as he glares at me.
