Chapter 30 #2
I don’t give her the space to interrupt. “Technically, it’s my family’s. It was left to me as part of my inheritance. And technically, I did get invited to be here, because it’s my sister who put on the ball. It’s something we host every year.”
I watch the way her mind works through every interaction we’ve had, recalibrating everything. Her posture shifts, more rigid now, like she’s bracing herself for the next hit. I almost feel bad.
“I should’ve told you sooner,” I admit, irritation curling in my chest. “That’s why I brought you here tonight, I was going to tell you.”
Silence.
She’s chewing her bottom lip, but she doesn’t speak right away. Then, finally, she exhales, “That’s… a lot.”
I steel myself, waiting for the inevitable fallout, the questions, the accusations. For whatever comes next, but instead, she surprises me.
“I just have one question.”
Her voice is quieter now, but no less irritated.
I nod, waiting.
She points to the desk. “Why is my name on that?”
Fuck.
My jaw clenches as my eyes find the envelope she’s looking at. Of all the goddamn things to be sitting out.
I drag a hand down my face, internally cursing Robert.
But there’s no way out of this. No distraction, no well-timed smirk that’s going to steer her away.
She knows it. I know it. And by the way she’s standing there, with her arms crossed and her chin lifted.
She’s daring me to try and talk my way out of this.
I hold her stare. “I told you I work in security. That’s true. But after you mentioned feeling uneasy about meeting that guy for work, I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
Her expression changes, the shift is instant. Shock. Disbelief. Then something sharper before she locks it down. She stares at me, unmoving. I’m sure she’s trying to decide exactly which part of this to sink her teeth into first.
Finally, she speaks. “What did you find?” Then, almost immediately, “You know what? I don’t even care.”
Her tone is lethal, but she still doesn’t move.
“You could’ve just asked me, Kane. I would’ve told you whatever you wanted to know. I told you I can handle myself. I don't need a fucking babysitter.”
And before I can stop her, she turns and starts to walk away.
I grab her arm, and she freezes. When she turns, the look she gives me is all fire. “Don’t touch me.”
The cut of her voice is sharper than the glare she levels at me, and I drop my hand instantly. But I don’t step back.
“Don't pretend you don't want to know.”
Her hands go to her hips, and her fury is a living thing. I can see it all over her face.
“Know what?” She snaps. “That you’re some rich, entitled asshole who couldn't just be upfront with me? That you didn’t technically lie but conveniently left out the part where this is your fucking castle? That you decided to snoop into my life instead of just asking me like a normal person?”
Her words hit their mark. They're aimed to wound.
I inhale through my nose, clenching my jaw as I keep my temper in check.
“I didn’t lie to you.”
Her laugh is sharp and bitter. “No? Just selective truth, then?”
I take a step forward but this time she doesn’t back up, she just glares daggers at me.
“I don’t tell people things just for the sake of telling them.” My voice is low. “You didn’t need to know.”
Her brows shoot up, disbelief flashing through her anger. “I didn’t need to know?”
I exhale slowly, my patience hanging by a fucking thread. This is not going how I thought it would go.
“Would it have changed anything? If I told you the first night?” I let the words settle, letting her sit with them. “I didn’t lie to you, Raven. I just didn’t give you something when you wanted it.”
She shakes her head, letting out a slow, disbelieving breath. “Of course it changes things, Kane. I don’t know if I can trust you. I don’t even know you.”
She throws her hands up in frustration, pacing a few steps before spinning back, her voice colder now. “I’m not interested in being around someone who thinks information is only shared when it suits them.”
She looks right at me, and her eyes are blazing. “I know we’re not talking about a relationship here, but lying? Deception? Selective sharing? They’re all the same.”
I take one step closer, my voice is quiet but lethal. “I don’t know anything about you either.”
She spins around, her sarcasm biting. “Oh, I'm sorry, do you not have an envelope with my fucking name on it telling you exactly who I am?”
My hands flex at my sides, the restraint it takes not to grab her and show her exactly how much her fire is turning me on is grating against my instincts.
“Look, you’re great,” she continues, “I've enjoyed spending time with you, I really have. But you lied to me, and you pried into my life just because you could.”
She turns toward the door, and the lights flicker. I can hear the thunder rolling in the distance, deep and foreboding.
Her grip tightens on the handle. “I’m going home now.”
She doesn’t turn around and doesn’t wait for a response. She just steps into the hall, leaving me standing there with the weight of everything unspoken pressing down like a fucking wrecking ball.
This is why I keep people at arm’s length. Not because I don’t get it. Not because I don’t understand why she’s pissed. But because this is exactly what happens when you let people close to you.
I catch up to her before she makes it to the main doors, my hand hovering just shy of her arm. “Raven, wait.”
She stops, turning slowly. Her eyes are wild, and I can see the frustration burning behind them, but there’s something else, something unsettled.
“Look, Kane,” she starts. “I'm not here to drag this into an argument. I don’t really care that much. I just need to go home and… process everything.”
I stay silent, watching her.
She exhales sharply. “Yeah, I'm pissed. And yeah, I know you probably think I have no right to be, but I am.” Her jaw tightens. “So I'm just going to go home, sleep on it, and maybe then… I’ll know what to say.”
She takes a step, then stops abruptly. Like she wants to say something but won’t let herself. The lights flick again, and the shadows in the hall stretch across her face. Whatever thought was lingering on her lips, she swallows it.
Then, just like that, she’s walking away.
And I let her. For a second.
“Raven,” I call after her, my voice cutting through the silence.
She slows, glancing back over her shoulder, looking annoyed.
“Cam took Rachel home.” I hold up my phone. “Let me at least give you a ride.”
Her lips press into a thin line, looking back down the hall. “No, thank you.”
That small detail gets under my skin. I’d prefer her to be angry. At least then, I know where I stand. “Well, I guess we’ll talk in the morning, then. I’ll take you to your room.”
Thunder rumbles outside. I can tell the storm is on the verge of breaking, which means she's not going out alone.
She turns, facing me fully. Fire and heat flashing in her eyes. “Yeah, that’s not happening. I’ll just grab an Uber.”
I try my hardest to hide the smirk tugging at my lips. She’s crazy if she thinks I’m going to let her get an Uber. “I’ll have your driver out front, he’ll take you home.”
She hesitates, wrapping her arms around herself, waging some internal battle I can’t read. Then, she finally exhales. “Fine.”
By the time we're at the front doors, the rain’s coming down in sheets. I grab an umbrella from the stand at the door and step outside, waiting.
She eyes me as she walks right past me, into the rain. “You think I'm afraid to get wet?”
Even now, she’s still all fire. And it makes me want to drag her right back inside.
“Definitely not,” I say smoothly, falling into step beside her, thinking of how wet she was for me. Something is seriously wrong with me. She’s pissed as fuck at me, and I can’t stop thinking of all the things I could do to her.
Her lips part, but she just shakes her head, shutting whatever she wanted to say down. Again. I cover her with the umbrella, but I see the faintest shiver roll through her as our shoulders brush.
“I really did have fun tonight,” she murmurs after a beat. “And your home is beautiful. I’ve thought that since the first time I saw it.”
She reaches for the door handle. “Goodnight, Kane.”
I reach out and my fingers graze her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
Her body stiffens slightly, but she doesn’t pull away.
Slowly, I take her chin between my fingers, tilting her face up to mine.
She's staring right at me, not backing down in the slightest. The look is layered with everything she’s holding back.
But beneath it, there’s still something there.
Something I can work with.
“Don’t touch that door handle.”
My thumb brushes lightly against her jaw, savoring the feel of her. She hesitates for a second longer, then pulls away. “I’m sorry, Princess. I never meant to hurt you.”
I open the car door, but not enough for her to get in. “I hope you had a good night. I added a few last-minute touches when I found out you were on the guest list.”
Her lips part slightly, and I see the faintest crack in her resolve. For just a second, the fire dims, and something softer flashes in its place.
But she doesn't say anything, just slips into the car, and I close the door behind her.
As the driver pulls away, I step back, watching her go. And just before the car disappears down the long drive, I catch a glimpse of her through the window. She’s holding her necklace, but there's a faint smile playing on her lips.
Well, that went well.
I roll my eyes at myself. Guess it could’ve been worse.
The rain picks up, turning into a full downpour. For a moment, I consider heading inside, but instead, I just stand there, rooted to the spot. The rain soaks through my shirt, cold and biting, but I barely feel it. I’m too busy replaying every damn moment of the night.
I shake it off and turn to head inside, but something catches my attention.
All the outdoor lights are out.
Every. Single. One.
I pause, glancing around the property, feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up.