Page 54 of King of Cruelty

I’ve known Bane my whole life, but the guy was no less a mystery to me than when he used to lean over my crib, trying to hide all the vegetables he didn’t want to eat in my stomach. Sure, he was a good man and a good brother.

Growing up, he helped me with my homework, never picked on me, beat the ever-loving shit out of my first boyfriend when he bragged about every detail of our sex life to the whole school, and he always let me know when and where to find him when he moved—even if he didn’t tell Liam or Sunny.

He was the Cadillac of big brothers, but fake, plastic books with lines painted on the sides were more open than him.

He never talked to me about his hopes, dreams, nightmares, worries, pain, trauma—nothing. The only people in my familywho could ever get a window into that was our mom, and his dad, Baris Alexander. And even though I’d never say anything this shit-embarrassing out loud, that used to hurt my feelings like a knife to the heart.

It was like Bane thought they were a family of three, and the rest of us were just a bunch of cool people who lived in his parents’ house and refused to leave. I always figured that was why he moved out of the compound a week after our folks did. What was the point in staying in the family home... when his family didn’t live there anymore?

Of course, Bane never said anything of the kind, and he’d likely deny it up, down, and sideways, but in this life, there were just some people who only had so much room in their heart, and so little unconditional trust to dole out. And Bane’s was all used up... until Kenzie.

I don’t know how that little curly-haired, hot piece of ass did it, but she blew into our lives and made us a family again. She made Liam believe in love again. So much so that Liam trusts her with the being he’s most protective of in the whole world—Elizabeth.

She got my playboy, never-takes-anything-serious, hopping-from-a-different-bed-every-night little brother talking about marriage, commitment, and getting all of his sports cars fitted with car seats. And most amazing of all, she brought Bane home.

Let’s face it, the guy could’ve moved back to the woods a long time ago, but he stuck around for one reason and one reason only—Mackenzie Blaine.

The woman reduced the three most dangerous men in Cinco to a bunch of drooling chimps slobbering on her heels, and it was my privilege to witness it.

“—GH?” Bee poked my shoulder. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m good,” I replied, coming to.

Bee was in the car with me along with Shug, Pixie, and other forced inhabitant of their cell—Debra. She still didn’t have much to say other than the thank-you she gave me after rescuing her, but I could see something in her eyes that likely hadn’t been there for a long time.

Hope.

“I was thinking... we need to make some changes.” Once it was out of my mouth, I knew it was right. “The Cardinals need to change. I created us to protect Harlow, but when you guys needed me, where the fuck was I? We’re family,” I stated. “You’re just as much my family as those dickheads. Next time... I won’t get there too late.”

Bee blinked at me, then shifted around—sharing a look with Shug and Pixie. “Wow, boss, that’s... that’s really—”

“—fucking sappy,” Pixie finished. “Yikes, Mom, you gonna tuck us in every night too?”

“Kiss our boo-boos?” Bee mocked, puckering her lips. “Read us a bedtime story?”

“Fuck you all to hell,” I replied, setting them all off laughing. “I knew I’d regret saving your asses. Just didn’t know it’d be this soon.”

“Knew we’d regret it too,” Shug rebounded. “What is it with you Merchants? Always trying to love and protect somebody. Keep it in your pants, woman.”

I rolled my eyes so hard, I almost veered off the road and crashed the car. If these jerks were a reflection of me... well, then, everything my enemies have said about me over the years was one hundred percent true.

Bee caught the corner of my vision, tossing me a wink.

It also meant I was a pretty lucky woman.

“Fine. You guys also too good for my money and food?” I asked. “Chino’s burgers on me?”

“Oooh, yes. I’m starved. Can’t wait for—”

Bang!

A hard force slammed into the car, nearly popping it off all four wheels and flipping us into a ditch.

“What the fuck was that?!” Bee shrieked.

But I didn’t. I knew what that was.

Headlights blasted my mirrors, beaming into my eyes. Through the shifting shadows I made out a black car with heavily tinted windows just as it revved up to ram us again. But that wasn’t the problem— Or, it wasn’t the only problem.

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