Once they’re out of sight, I relax and sit on the stool. I can see Jack peering through the bar from the other side, but he doesn’t give me his usual smile or smirk, just a death stare. A warning.
I guzzle down my bottle of cider, needing another hit of vodka. The band set up ready to thrash out their usual punk rock. I’m thankful for the din drowning out my thoughts. “I need another shot.”
Yaz follows me to the bar. Every bone in my body is pulling me to the back room, but my feet won’t allow me to move, keeping me firmly planted in place with the weight of my black boots and the fear of what will happen when confronted with him.
Several more rounds later, it’s no use. I need the loo and the only way to the ladies is through the back room. My heart pounds like a wild animal. The pulse in my neck throbs like an alarm siren, causing a beacon of heat to flash on my cheeks.
With heavy limbs, I trudge through the back door. The room is full of the usual crowd, and I’m thankful I can slip by with my back against the wall behind a tower of big burly bikers. I let out a sigh of relief when I reach the stairs and grip the handrail that leads to the toilets.
After relieving myself, I check my makeup in the mirror just in case I run into him. With the alcohol buzzing in my veins, I hope I run into him, but my head is telling me to stay away. The more I drink, the quieter that voice becomes. I comb my fingers through my purple hair, flicking it over to one side, then back to the other while I rub the dark lipstick between my lips. It’s almost black in this light, matching my nails and outfit that reflect my mood lately.
I stumble against the door, then count to three, taking in a deep breath before risking the games room again. The corridor light is broken, the only illumination comes from the stairwell. I gasp when a rough hand yanks me, pulling my back flush with a hard chest. Warm arms hold me still and the familiar scent of wood and weed engulfs me.
Kane…
Lost in him, I lean into his muscular chest. His breath fanning my neck as he exhales rapidly with my name rolling off his tongue like a drug. “Vi.”
Each time he speaks my name, my heart flutters as if being called home. His hand holds a bottle of beer while his other hand moves to my throat. He holds me still in his embrace. The pulse of his heart and every ragged breath from his lungs vibrates against my back.
“I’ve missed you, Vi.” His warm lips press against my neck, feeding the furnace that grows inside of me. “Are you safe? Are they kind to you?”
I nod, my chin pressing against his hand gently around my throat.
“You know I’d put any of those motherfuckers in hospital if they laid a hand on you.” The gentleness of his voice contrasts with the deadliness of his words.
I hold his hand around my throat and turn to face him. “I’m all right Kane, really.” The sight of him up close, even under the dim lights of the corridor, has me retracing every weary line of his chiselled face with my gaze.
He pushes me against the wall, smothering my frame with his and caging me in. “You have to know that even though I’m a monster, I would never hurt you.” The words are pained. He dips his head, trailing his nose down my hairline before nuzzling into my neck and inhaling my scent like a wild beast. “You know I’d never hurt you, right? I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid, Kane.” My palms flatten against his chest over the taut muscle rising and falling with each pained breath.
Our eyes lock. He holds my gaze. Dark eyes full of hate and anger, but also soft around the edges, bleeding into a pool of silver. They turn molten as he dives down to swallow my mouth. Teeth crash against my lips, his tongue piercing through the barrier with a demanding need.
I kiss him back, melting in his liquid heat. My knickers combust into a river of flames. He’s all I want and all I need. A whimper slips from my mouth to his and he stiffens, deepening the kiss, pressing his entire body against mine.
He pulls away, panting. “Come home, Vi.”
My throat swells. Tears to blur my vision, distorting his handsome face. My heart yearns to go home with him, but I can’t. For several reasons, I’ve finally found a family, a blood relative and I don’t want to piss them off by moving back in with their arch nemesis and besides, I can’t forget he murdered my father and kept it from me.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Mum was r—aped?” I choke out the last word.
His body tenses, the tick in his jaw present, and he clears his throat before taking a swallow of his beer. “Lilly shouldn’t have told you that.”
I search his eyes for any truth, but they’re stern and dark again, like talking about my mother has poured cold water over the raging fire. “Is it true?”
He drops his head and closes his eyes, taking in long deep breaths before he speaks. “I thought it was. Your mother would never admit to anything, though. She didn’t want you growing up the product of that.” He gulps down another swig from the bottle.
I stroke the scruff on his jaw with my fingertips. “Why didn’t you say something? I could have forgiven you, had I known the full truth.”
“It’s better to think I’m a monster than your own blood. It’s what your mum wanted. You don't need to know how you were brought into this world.”
Tears threaten my eyes again. “Mum’s not here, though, and you are.” My fingers curve around his neck, hoping to entice him closer once more.
“Come home. Let me take care of you again.”
“I’m all right. They’re good to me. They look after me.”
The cold wet bottleneck slides down the valley of my breasts, over my black dress. His fingertips follow, causing a tingle where his skin touches.
