Page 161 of Rush the Edge

I’ve played poker before. Kane taught me, and Miles taught him.

It’s a gamble—no pun intended—but I don’t see any other option.

“My offer still stands,” Al says. “Let me have you for a while, and I’ll take some money off the table.”

Miles’s jaw clenches, and he looks eerily similar to his brother, despite him taking after his mother’s features as opposed to Kane, who must’ve taken after his father.

Miles stands in front of me, blocking me from their view. “You’re not touching her, Allen.”

All of a sudden, two hands wrap around my waist from behind, and my back straightens. A breath rushes past my lips until Kane’s voice hits my ear. “And you’re not gambling with anything else today, little devil.”

I peer back at Kane, relief rushing my veins like a waterfall.

“I haven’t gambled yet,” I whisper.

He chuckles deeply while spinning us around. I stare up into his eyes and zero in on the bruise forming on his cheek bone. River is standing off to the side with his hands in his pockets, and it doesn’t take his brains to know what happened.

“You have too,” he argues.

His hands cup my cheeks, and he shakes his head back and forth. “You’ve been gambling with my heart from the moment I met you, Daisy. Today is no exception.”

My eyebrows furrow.

“Risking your safety to protect me? Are you crazy?” A touch of anger flickers within Kane’s blue eyes.

I shrug, and he clenches his jaw.

“You make me crazy.” He shakes his head. “But I love you.”

My heart flies behind my ribs.

“Even more now, knowing how much you’ve done for me over the years without ever letting me find out.”

My eyes gloss over, my bottom lip trembling. “I did it because I love you. Not because I wanted you to love me.”

Kane crushes me to his chest and places a kiss to the top of my head. “Go with your brother,” he urges, pulling away from me. “I’m going to handle this once and for all.”

“How?” I ask, watching him head toward Miles, who is pleading his case with the men behind us.

“Exactly like you said. Pay off his debt and then take him home.”

“Home?” I ask.

“Not our home.”

Ourhome?

“I’m taking him back to Lakeview, Daisy. Where it all began.”

I try to hide a smile because Lakeviewiswhere it all began. It’s where I fell in love with him, despite the silent warnings not to.

As if he can read my mind, a slow smile spreads on his face. “Me too, Daisy-Petal.Me too.”

Fifty-Four

KANE

It’slate by the time I get home. Coach is pissed that I missed afternoon practice, but since it was afamily emergency, it’s unlikely I’ll have repercussions—not with our first playoff game tomorrow.

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