Kane didn’t move at first. He just watched her, his expression tightening. Then he shook his head slowly. “Monica… no.” His voice was low, firm, leaving no room for argument. “Don’t do that to yourself.”
She dragged in a shaky breath, but the tears kept building. “But it’s true. If I hadn’t pushed you away, if I hadn’t tried to do everything alone?—”
“Stop.” Kane reached out and pressed his hand gently over hers, where it trembled in her lap. “You were trying to save your sister. You were doing the best you could with what you knew. None of this is on you.”
“You don’t know that.” Her voice cracked, and she hated how small it sounded.
“I do,” he said without hesitation. “Because people like Griffen? They build traps long before we ever step into them. Beverly didn’t end up in his sights because of anything you did or didn’t do.” He squeezed her hand lightly. “That’s on him. Not you.”
A tear slipped down her cheek. She didn’t bother wiping it away. “I should’ve trusted you.”
“You shouldn’t have trusted anybody,” Kane corrected gently. “Not in the position you were in. Honestly? The fact you didn’t trust me right away tells me you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for.”
She let out a breath that was half-laugh, half-sob.
Kane’s voice softened even more. “Hey. Look at me.”
She lifted her eyes.
“You didn’t get your sister killed. And you’re not alone in this anymore. Whatever comes next, we do it together.” Kane replied with narrowed eyes. “You hear me?”
Monica swallowed hard, but she nodded. “Yeah. I hear you.”
“Good.” He didn’t smile, not fully, but there was something warm in his expression—steady and sure. “Because we’re going to finish what you started. And we’re going to do it the right way.”
Behind them, Doug’s voice carried across the yard as he cursed the lighter fluid, Dena squealed when Knox stole the stick, and the fire snapped loudly in the pit. The world kept moving. But for this moment, it was just the two of them—finally aligned, finally being honest.
Kane leaned back slightly, his hand still brushing hers. “We’ll get justice for Beverly. I swear it.”
And for the first time in a long time, Monica believed it and actually believed in someone other than her family.
CHAPTER 15
Kane sat around the table with Doug, Ken, and Monica. Dena had crashed on the couch with Knox curled against her shortly after dinner, both snoring softly. The talk stayed easy, nothing heavy, and nothing close to what had been tearing all of them apart the last few days.
For once, Kane got to see Monica without all the walls up. She laughed and joked, loosening up in a way he hadn’t seen before. They’d included him like he’d been part of this family forever. Even Ken talked more, though the haunted look in his eyes never completely went away.
“Thank you for singing today,” Ken said, his voice quieter than usual as he looked at his sister. “I know that was hard, but Beverly would have loved it.”
Monica gave him a sad smile and a soft chuckle. “Singing with a lump in your throat is not fun. I sounded shaky, but whatever. I got through it.”
“No,” Ken insisted, shaking his head. “It was perfect.”
“You really do have a beautiful voice,” Kane added with a nod. “I’m guessing you’ve won your fair share of karaoke contests.”
Doug shot straight into hysterics. “The first time she ever sang in front of a crowd, she threw up.”
“Seriously?” Kane looked at him, then at Ken, who was grinning, and then at Monica, who rolled her eyes like she’d been through this story a thousand times.
“She was supposed to sing the National Anthem at the high school football game,” Doug snorted, leaning out of the way when Monica launched a half-eaten roll at his head.
“It wasn’t funny,” she growled, giving him a death stare. “I was sick.”
“The music starts, everyone’s waiting, and then—” Doug started laughing all over again, unable to even finish.
Kane watched Monica try to stay mad, but the grin tugging at her mouth ruined the effect.
“It’s not funny, Doug.” Monica narrowed her eyes at him. “Asshole.”