Page 69 of King of Ruin

For the first time since my parent’s demise, he makes me wish for the impossible. Makes me long for the prospect of he and I being something after this. That somehow, we could combine the families under one umbrella and I would finally see what life is like after vengeance.

After I know peace.

The small tuft of brown fur unfurls from her tight ball and stretches along the length of my thigh. The cat’s small mouth opens as wide as it can as she yawns, and I stare in slight fascination at the tiny little blade-like shapes on her tongue. I’ve always been intrigued by how they look like hundreds of micro claws.

I scratch behind the feline’s right ear, to which she grants me a vibrating purr of approval. This makes me smirk. “Even though we’ve had our quarrels, you’re not so bad. A warm bed and a little scratch in the right place and you’ve turned into quite the docile animal.”

As soon as I say it, I laugh out loud. Kane brought me from the cold cement floor to this room, then scratched me in all the right places. And look what I’ve become.

Still, if I were to make the wrong move, I have no doubt in my mind that she would try to kill me.

I hope Kane knows to expect nothing less from me as well.

A quick rap on the door draws both of our attention. Kane opens it slowly, his eyes flashing to me on his bed. The quick curl of his lips makes mine do the same and for a moment, I forget the trepidation rolling in my stomach.

But the moment Kane nods to someone I can’t see, it returns, forcing me to my feet. He accepts a bundle of clothes from the person and slides inside, closing the door behind him.

He’s dressed in a black fitted suit, his face shaven and his hair freshly cut. The once angry red mark slicing through his brow has begun to heal, and I can’t deny the slight appeal it adds to his already handsome face.

“Are you ready?” Kane holds out the clothes to me, and leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my mouth.

It almost feels natural for him to greet me this way, and I have to actively stamp out the wave of tingles that shoot through me.

I nod. “More than ready. Is my family here?”

“They are. West side, just inside the woods, waiting for my call. There’s still about a half-hour until I’m supposed to bring you down.”

“The contract?”

“Everything goes to me, not Phineas.”

My heart thrums hard in my chest. This is where I have to truly trust him. Two weeks ago, I would have assumed this was a ploy to make it easier for me to sign things over, but now? I believe Kane wants this to end. I believe he hates his father, if not equally, more than I do, and wants to see him and his vile men dead. So for now, I’m trusting him.

Accepting the clothes from his hands, I dress quickly. I slip off the shirt and put on the matching set of lace underwear. When popping off the tags to the brand new black slacks and button-down, I grin to myself. They fit like a glove.

“Know my size do you, Kane?”

He smirks and holds up a pair of black heels. “I do.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling and slide the shoes on. Again, they fit perfectly.

Kane watches in silence as I retwist my hair into a tight bun, his eyes raking over my body in a way that makes my core tighten. When I’m done, he releases a heavy sigh.

“Considering I could die today, I’m kind of wishing you gave in and begged a little last night. I would have taken just one please. Even a whispered one.”

This time I can’t tamper the huge smile that spreads across my face. “You won’t die today.”

I realize after I say it, just how much I mean it. When Kane dies, it will either be from the reaper coming to collect an old man or a bullet from me. No one else.

He grabs my chin with his thumb and forefinger. The flicker of heat that was brewing earlier is now a rush of fire, my desire for both him and the finality of today waging war in my chest.

His brows furrow as he attempts to read whatever’s being displayed on my face and for the first time, I let him. I want him to know how I feel. How hemakesme feel.

“I need you to know something,” his voice is rough. “I need you to understand how much I want this to make it.”

“This,” I whisper, tilting my chin up and brushing my lips against his. “Is impossible.”

Using his free hand he grasps mine and brings it up to his chest. It’s where his tattoo of a tree and the script is. “Why can’t it be? We would be something incredible.”

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