Page 35 of Code Violation

Despite everything, I don’t want to see Kane behind bars. I want him to straighten his life out and be a better person. Although we’ve never seen eye to eye, he wasn’t this toxic and abusive when we were younger. With every year that goes by, he’s slowly morphing into his dad.

Whether he wants to admit it or not.

He purses his lips, jaw clenched. “You have no right, coming around here, trying to dictate how I live my life. And especially not now that you’re cutting me off financially.”

“Well, now you know how it feels.”

He looks confused, so I clarify for him.

“How do you think Vesper felt when she was forced to miss a shift at work because she was too scared to go downstairs?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “She sure told you a lot of details.”

“Because I asked her for them.”

At least that part isn’t a lie.

“Is there something going on between you two?”

I can’t say that I’m shocked by his question. Even before Vesper and I shared a bed, Kane was suspicious about us. It’s hard to disguise a magnetic pull between two people when it’s as strong as ours. Sure, Vesper never expressed an interest in me because she was too faithful to Kane, but I still couldn’t help stealing the occasional glance at her. The fleeting moments of eye contact that spoke for themselves.

“We’re friends, like we’ve always been. Just because it didn’t work out between you guys doesn’t mean I won’t see her. We share mutual friends too, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, how could I miss it?” He folds his arms across his chest. “Vesper, managing to worm her way into higher society, associating with rich hockey players and their spoiled partners.”

This guy genuinely makes me want to puke.

“I’m one of those rich hockey players,” I remind him, shaking my head at his hypocrisy when it comes to accepting my money. “And my teammates and their partners are damn fine people. Vesper has a good, supportive circle of friends because she is a good person who doesn’t deserve to be treated badly.” I cut myself off, remembering to keep my emotions in check.

If my reaction is too visceral he’ll smell a rat. I’m not idiot enough to believe that if I started dating Vesper, Kane wouldn’t eventually find out, but now isn’t the time, and Vesper and I aren’t seeing each other.

Yet.

Kane rests a hand on the door handle, and I internally will him to close the door in my face. At least then, the conversation will be over.

“I think it’s best if you don’t come around here again.”

I nod, silently relieved. “I think you’re right.”

Turning my back on him, I take one step down to the sidewalk before I turn around. “Good luck with the new job.”

The door slams shut, rattling in the jamb as I watch Kane’s figure disappear through the frosted glass.

Fucking finally.

12

. . .

Vesper

Ican’t be sure if I’m walking into my late grandma’s living room or an Italian restaurant. Either way, this place is a whole lot different from the Italian restaurant Drew and I went to last year, just after I moved out of the apartment I shared with Kane.

“Hey, how can I help you?” a blonde-haired server greets me with a smile.

“She’s with us!”

Before I can explain that I’m here to meet some friends, June’s voice echoes from the back of the restaurant, and I point in that general direction.