The second he started the bike, Charger’s voice echoed in his head.
‘His girl.’
He hated how the words hit him. Mostly because Charger wasn’t wrong often, and Kane wasn’t sure he wanted him to be right this time. Maybe all this intensity was just instinct to protect, territorial... the usual Guardian shit. But he’d been around a hell of a lot of beautiful women in his very long life, and not one had gotten under his skin like Monica.
Yeah. He was absolutely, completely fucked.
He tore across town, breaking every speed limit that existed, determined to beat Steve there. But as he pulled into her brother’s driveway, his stomach dropped. A sharp, terrified scream ripped through the air, followed by Knox’s furious barking.
Kane didn’t even bother shutting off the bike. He dumped it on its side and sprinted toward the sound, every instinct going lethal.
Either Steve had shown up…or someone else was about to die. If anyone had laid a hand on Monica, Kane would make damn sure they never drew another breath.
CHAPTER 17
Monica sat quietly, eyes fixed on the fire as the last of the day faded into night. Knox lay sprawled at her feet, letting out soft huffs every so often like he was dreaming. Ken had taken a half-asleep Dena to bed, and Doug was lingering with that restless tension he always carried when he worried about her.
“You trust him now?” Doug asked, breaking the silence.
Monica looked up slowly. She knew the ‘him’ he was talking about. The answer came easier than she expected. “Yeah… I do.” She surprised herself with how sure it sounded. “Honestly? I wish I’d trusted him sooner.”
Doug nodded, though his frown didn’t budge. “But you didn’t know who to trust,” he murmured. Then he sighed, long and rough.
“True,” Monica replied. She had even started not trusting the cops working Beverly’s case, which led her to investigate the case herself.
“Monica… should you really be diving back into all of this? Beverly is gone. Nothing is going to change that. It’s over. Let it go before something happens to you.” His voice cracked, just a little. “I can’t lose two sisters. You’re the only one I’ve got left.”
Monica turned back to the fire, letting his words sink in. It would be so easy to walk away. To go back to the life she had before all this started. But she couldn’t and knew she wouldn’t. This was way too personal for her now.
“This isn’t just about Beverly anymore,” she whispered. Her voice felt thin but steady. She lifted her eyes to him. “This is for Joey—the boy I took to the hospital because Griffen’s guy ran over him and killed his father. It’s for every person that bastard hurt, every family he destroyed. And for Dena.”
Doug swallowed hard, then looked away into the flames. “But why does it have to be you?”
“I don’t know,” she said, leaning back and staring up at the stars. “I just know I can’t walk away until it’s done. I started something, and I need to finish it.”
“Even if you die trying?” Doug’s voice was rising, frustration building.
Monica knew what was coming—a fight she didn’t want, not tonight. “Doug, I’ve seen what men like Griffen do to women, kids, and anyone they think won’t matter.” She shrugged, though her chest was tight. “You’re scared because it’s me. I get that. But I’m not doing this alone anymore. I have someone in my corner now, someone who actually knows what he’s doing. We’re going to take Griffen down.”
Doug cursed and pushed to his feet, anger masking fear. “Fine. Just stay alive while doing it, okay?”
“That’s the plan, bro.” She smiled up at him, small but real.
“You’re an asshole,” he muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“You go. I’m staying out here with Knox for a bit.” She kicked off her shoes and curled her feet beneath her. “We’ll be in later. I’ll turn on the alarm system.”
Doug hesitated, scanning the yard. “I really think you should come in.”
“It’s fine,” Monica rolled her eyes. “Knox will alert me if anyone sets foot in the yard. And Kane said no one’s been following us.”
Doug still didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “Good night.”
“Good night.” She watched him walk a few steps, then called out, “Hey.”
He turned. “Yeah?”
“Thanks… for caring.”