A small army jeep.
Even though I refused to acknowledge it while the torch was in my hand, I made it for Kane.
As a thank-you.
Maybe as a good-bye.
The thought burns like acid, and I set the jeep on top of a toolbox and grab my notebook.
Maybe if I pretend, I’ll be able to convince myself the tears staining the pages are raindrops.
37
Kane
Unknown Number: Open the garage.
I knew he’d come,but I didn’t think he’d be early. He didn’t even give me twelve hours.Fucking great.
Kane:What’s the fucking password.
Unknown Number: Open the fucking garage.
I zoomin on the monitor in front of me with the camera outside my garage door. Facial recognition shows one of Mount’s men.
Not good enough.
I tap on the contact and call.
“I don’t repeat myself three times for anyone.” The deep voice is one I recognize as easily as my own.
“Can’t be too careful.”
He hangs up, and I squeeze my eyes shut and clench one fist over the other.
I have no other choice.
That doesn’t mean I’m ready to do what I have to do.I should have told her this morning. But I couldn’t face her. I’m a fucking coward.
In the back of my mind, I always knew it was going to come to this, but I’ve been letting myself believe otherwise. Like hit men ever get to keep the girl in the end.
I flip a switch and all the monitors in my office go black.With the slow stride of a man heading to the gallows, I leave my command center on the second floor.
It’s time to go meet the devil himself and assure him the plan we discussed is a go.
I hitthe stairwell at a jog, and the sound of ZZ Top blaring through my speakers puts a smile on my face before I remember what’s going to go down during this meeting.
Sparks fly as she shears off a piece of metal, and I want to take the angle grinder out of her hands to do it myself, even though I know she’s more than capable. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect her from sparks—and everything else I possibly can.
Fuck you, Ransom. Why’d you take that fucking job?If he were standing in front of me, I’d put my fist through his face.
Then I berate myself.Why’d you have to fall for her, Kane? You knew better. You knew you’d have to let her go.
“Temperance,” I yell, but she doesn’t hear me over rocking out with ZZ Top. I hit the power button for the stereo, and she whips around when things go silent.
“Hey!”
I jerk my head toward the door. “We got company. Take a break. Head upstairs.”