Monica sat on the bed, taking off her socks and tossing them on the floor. She glanced up as if feeling his presence.
“My socks are wet.” She said, looking away from him. She bent and grabbed her shoe, putting one on. “As soon as I get my shoes on, we will leave.”
She looked absolutely adorable sitting on the bed, fighting with her shoe, her hair wet and hanging in her face. Raven was right. He would regret walking away from this woman. Whatever he had to do, he would do to keep her safe. His world was fucked, but he was a selfish son of a bitch and wanted her...fuck the consequences. He could and would keep her safe.
Pushing off the door, he moved in front of her and stopped. She looked up slowly, and he could see the tears she was trying to hold back.
“What?” She whispered, her chin trembled.
He didn’t say a word; he just reached down and pulled up. His mouth crashed down on hers as he held her close. His kiss sealed their fate. He pulled his mouth from hers and cupped her face in both hands.
“I love you,” He whispered, searching her eyes. “And I am far from done with you, Monica Vail, but my world is dangerous.”
“I don’t care,” she whispered, her gaze never wavered from his. “I’m going to file for the adoption of Dena. Some would say raising a little girl is dangerous.”
“I don’t care,” he repeated her words to her, but smiled at her humor. “I leave the toilet seat up sometimes.”
“I don—” she started to say, but then stopped and pushed away from him. “No, that’s a deal breaker.”
Kane chuckled, pulling her back to him. “Listen, I’m sorry.” He said, his mood turning dark. “It was just when I found her alone and scared, I realized that my world is scary for a little girl. Hell, it’s scary to me sometimes. It’s not fair for me to bring her into it or you.”
“Kane, the world is scary, period. We live in the same world, but the difference is that you fight the scary things. What little girl or woman wouldn’t want a man in their lives that would protect them from that?” Monica said, and he saw the truth in her eyes. “Look what happened to my sister, and you weren’t in my life when that happened.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t nicer to you then,” Kane admitted and meant it. He had been a dick.
“So am I,” She teased, then shrugged. “I wasn’t a treat either.”
“You did look like a treat, though,” Kane gave her a wink, then nuzzled her neck.
“I love you, Kane.” She whispered as she angled her neck more, but he stopped and looked at her. “What?”
“No one has ever said that to me before,” Kane said, but then added. “Well, except Raven.”
“Am I going to have to kick her ass?” Monica’s face turned serious.
“She’s like a sister to me,” Kane laughed, shaking his head. “No, you don’t have to kick Raven’s ass.”
“Good, because I really don’t want to go against Raven,” Monica said with a serious frown. “She’s a little scary.”
Hearing a noise behind them, he glanced around to see Dena rubbing her eyes in the doorway.
“Uncle Doug is snoring,” Dena grumbled, then yawned.
“If you hold his nose, he’ll stop,” Kane said, with a huge grin as he bent and picked her up.
“Really?” Her eyes widened as she stared at Kane.
“Really,” Kane nodded, then laughed when Monica pinched him.
“Don’t teach her that,” Monica said, then chuckled. “Lord, I’m going to have my hands full with you two. Come on, let’s go home.”
“Can we get Knox?” Dena lay her head on Kane’s shoulder as he carried her out into the hallway.
“We can do whatever you want, Dena,” Kane said and meant it. He glanced down to see Monica wiping her eyes as she stared up at him. She mouthed, I love you, to him, and he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Kane knew there would be issues they would have to deal with, but he was ready to face them all with Monica. Holding this small girl who already had him wrapped around her little finger and the woman holding onto his arm, he would face the devil himself to give them anything they wanted.
At that very moment, he knew he would marry Monica and adopt Dena, giving them both his last name, a name he hadn’t used for many years. Kane had used many aliases, but never his real last name. He had to stop himself from asking her now. She deserved better than a proposal at the top of the steps.