Chapter 2
TWO
KANE
PRESENT DAY
Neon bleeds across the street in broken colors and smoke drifts low, swallowing headlights and smearing shadows along brick and steel.
I lean against the side of my car as I stare at my last message exchange with Jessica. That was days ago, and I haven’t messaged her since the senator’s wife laced my drink.
Every time I feel the urge to contact her, like now, Beverly’s threat hangs heavy in the air. She would follow through on her promise. I know it.
Sighing, I close the chat. This is for the best. Jessica will be upset for a while, sure, but then she’ll move on with someone else and forget about me, and I’ll have to do my best not to murder anyone. Shouldn’t be too hard. Right?
In the distance, rubber squeals and metal crashes as music thumps from a nearby car. Maverick’s race starts soon, and he’s pumped and ready, bouncing on his heels and cracking his neck as if he’s running tonight instead of driving.
I tuck my phone into my pocket when the crowd parts to reveal a group of young women from the Heights.
Ava’s all legs and sex as she saunters up to me.
Near the Chiron’s hood, Cash scoffs and rolls his eyes. They’ve never gotten along, probably because she’s a stuck-up cow who’s had her eyes on us for years, but also because our father would love to see us get engaged.
If he had his way, one of us would marry her so he could keep exploiting her father’s business empire. Luckily for me, her father flew her off to England to attend Oxford University.
But it seems she’s back.
“Ava,” I say, voice gravelly with boredom. “You’re back in town.”
“Ravencourt.” Her toned legs look even taller in her black heels. When she turns to say something to her group of minions, I spot the red heels.
Louboutin.
She wouldn’t be caught dead in non-designer wear.
A seductive gleam enters her eyes as her attention shifts to me, and I grit my teeth. I know that look.
Ava tilts her head to the side and drags her gaze down my body.
Her honey-blonde hair falls over one shoulder, baring her delicate neck. She knows exactly what she’s doing.
“Do you remember the last time we were together, Kane?” she asks.
Thanksgiving last year. She was draped over our couch with my cock between her massive tits. There’s a lot to be said about her, but she’s got a spectacular rack, one that looks even better splattered in cum.
“Vaguely,” I reply. Engines rumble all around us, savage and loud, shaking the ground beneath our feet.
Ava trails a long, pink nail down my chest, and I look at her hand with clear disinterest. “Have you been thinking about me?”
I scoff. “I fucked your tits once. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Her breasts nearly spill out of her dress when she fake-pouts. “I see you haven’t changed, Ravencourt. Still a sourly prick.”
Maverick chuckles before glancing at the starting line where two cars rev their engines, waiting to race. He’s practically bursting to get behind his wheel.
“I see you haven’t changed either,” I mutter. “Still desperate for attention.”
Laughter rings out around us and Ava’s smile fades before she flips her hair.
My comment clearly upset her, but she’s used to getting her way. Money isn’t a problem in her world when Daddy buys her everything she wants, and it’ll take more than one cruel remark to stop her from chasing after what she desires.
Now, if only her father could do us all a favor and put her on their private jet to fly her back to England.
She runs her hand up my arm, and her green eyes remind me of that night when she squeezed her breasts together to make it a tight, snug fit while gazing up at me with an expression rivaling a pornstar.
It was a turn-on then, but it’s not now.
There’s only one girl for me, and unfortunately I can’t have her.
I peel Ava’s hand off. “Stop embarrassing yourself.”
“Whatever. You’ll come around soon enough, Kane,” she says, spinning on her heels and smacking me in the face with her long hair. Devlin is her next target. He’s a few cars down, drinking with some friends.
Ava, like most women, flirts with me because of my last name, but she’s always liked Devlin, even though she’d never admit it. He’s probably the only man here who could make her blush.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I unlock the screen and open Jessica’s chat again, hesitating.
I want to hear her voice and soft laughter. I want to see her. I want so many damn things, but I can’t have any of them.
Worse, I can’t have her.
Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I turn to speak to Cash. He’s got Ava’s friend, Cassidy, on the hood of my car.
As her skirt rides up her legs, she giggles as if she’d let him have sex with her right here in the open, though we all know she’s just teasing.
Cassidy’s father, one of the richest men in Bleakmoor, would disown her if she lost her virginity before her wedding night.
The old man has already promised his only daughter to a business tycoon who is twice her age.
Besides, with a heavy rock like that on her finger, she’d sink faster than a ship.
Cassidy has always had a rebellious streak, though, and she still finds ways to bend the rules despite her gilded cage.
“Took you long enough,” Maverick calls out to Noah as he heads toward us with his cell pressed to his ear. “Where the hell have you been?”
As he nears, he ends the call. “Are you worried I’d miss your race, sunshine? I wouldn’t dream of it.” His eyes find mine and he pockets his phone on his way over to me.
I straighten from the Bugatti with a frown.
He leans his side against the car. “Your girl is here with her friends and they’re heading this way, just like planned.”
“Thanks, man.”
I’ve only shared the basics with Noah and Maverick. They don’t fully grasp what’s happening with the senator and his wife.
But they’ve seen me spiral for days, and they know it’s because of Jessica. It’s not hard to connect the dots.
Rain and Noah have something going on. You’d have to be blind not to notice. That’s why we asked him to help us get Rain and Jessica here tonight.
“Kane,” my twin calls out, and I turn my head over my shoulder.
Cassidy runs her nails over his shirt buttons, but he ignores her and tips his chin at me. What do you wanna do? that look says. There’s still time to back out.
The truth is, I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel lost. But we talked about this, and he finally agreed that we need to keep Jessica safe. I lower my eyes to Cassidy on my shiny hood. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better situation than this.
Once Jessica sees Cassidy sprawled on my black paintwork, she’ll react emotionally and jump to conclusions. I don’t even have to do anything except keep my mouth shut and pretend I’m Cash. It’s dark and she’ll be too upset to tell us apart.
“Do it,” I say to my brother, unable to look at him as my stomach turns.
“You sure?”
No, not at all. There’s no way I want to do this, but it’s not about my feelings anymore. It’s about keeping Jessica safe.
“Yeah.” The word comes out hoarse, and I clear my throat.
Cash studies my face for a moment longer before turning to Cassidy.
“Want to play a game?” he asks her, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to call this off, but I grind my teeth. This is for the best.
Cassidy giggles like she’s having the time of her life. “What game?”
My insides knot up. There’s a good chance I’m going to be sick.
“You okay?” Noah asks, grabbing my shoulder as Cash keeps flirting with Cassidy. “You look pale.”
“Define okay? If, by okay, you mean I’m about to fuck up the only thing I care about, then yeah…” I reply, my throat tightening and making it hard to swallow. “…I’m fine.”
Noah’s frown softens before he gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You’re not gonna fuck up.”
Heels click on the pavement, and Noah whips his head up and drops his hand to his side.
Without a glance in my direction, Jessica strides past, heading straight for my brother.
I push off the car. “Whoa.”
The look on her face is one of pure devastation. It’s not anger. My betrayal cuts deeper than that. Anger would be too simple.
Noah tenses and looks back the way Jessica came. In the next moment, he’s off, walking up to her friend Rain.
Before she can object, he grabs her arm and pulls her away, whispering something in her ear. Whatever it is, she doesn’t look pleased about it.
“Kane?” Jessica’s voice shakes as she stops beside my car.
I tear my eyes away from Noah and Rain, and my heart starts pounding in my chest.
Cassidy giggles, grinning at my brother before eyeing Jessica’s dress with disapproval. She has no idea that, despite her family’s wealth, she doesn’t come close to Jessica. Never will.
A throbbing ache stirs in my chest as the image of Jessica flashes in my mind, her hair splayed out on my pillow.
“Don’t do that again.”
I tighten my fists to hold back the urge to speak.
“Do what?”
The ache intensifies, and I grind my molars.
“Let me in. Only to shut me out.”
“Who is she?” Jessica asks my brother, her voice small and fragile.
I stare unseeingly at the ground because the truth is, if I look up, I’ll break.
Don’t fucking speak. Don’t say a word. I’m doing this for her, not to her.
“Who is she?” she asks again, and I slam my eyes shut.
Fuck this. I can’t stand here and watch this play out. I just... can’t.
Cassidy’s condescending voice makes me wince when she says, “Honey, take a hint.”
She’d never pass up a chance to humiliate someone she sees as beneath her.
I can feel Summer’s probing gaze as she looks my way, but I can’t bring myself to lift my eyes. What kind of asshole does this to their girl? That would be me. That’s who. I’m that jerk.
Walls close in on me as I dig my nails into my palms, staring harder at the ground.
“Okay… I get it,” Jessica says, and I swallow hard as my eyes start to sting. “You got what you wanted, right?”
Not even close.