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“When my ribs are healed, I’m kicking your ass for that.”
Cane chuckled. “Good. I miss it.” He stuck both of his hands in his pockets. “Seriously, how are you doing?”
“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worse. I’ve got a beautiful wife to take care of me, so I shouldn’t complain.”
“And a butler,” Cane added. “Who makes bomb-ass food.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, he does.”
Adelina came to my side next, her long, brown hair framed around her face. Her hand moved to mine on the bed, and she touched me in a way only a select few were allowed to touch me. When she’d hugged me a few weeks ago, I’d felt awkward as hell. It was strange to hug a woman besides my wife. But since she might be my sister-in-law soon, I’d have to let her in. “Thank you for everything that you did. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
“You’re welcome, Adelina. I’m happy you’re free. Not all women are as lucky as you and Pearl.”
“I know…” Her eyes immediately fell in sadness.
And I knew why. I hadn’t thought about her friend until I was already done talking.
“I’m here if you ever need anything. I’m indebted to you for the rest of my life,” she said. “If there’s anything you ever want, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll make it happen if it’s possible.”
Our hands were still touching, and her fingers felt distinctly different from Pearl’s. “You don’t owe me anything, Adelina. You deserved to be free. Every person in this world deserves that luxury.”
She gave a slight nod, her eyes full of emotion.
“But if you’re insistent on doing something for me, I’m sure Pearl could use some help when the baby comes.”
Her eyes fell again, but she quickly covered it up with a smile. “Of course. Anything she needs.” She pulled her hand away and stepped back, moving behind Cane so it was just the two of us again.
He stared at me, a different expression on his face.
Pearl picked up on the tension and touched Adelina on the elbow. “Let’s give them some privacy.” The girls walked out and shut the door behind them.
I adjusted myself on the bed and sat a little higher than last time.
Cane looked at my nightstand, where a picture of Button sat in a small frame.
“Pearl told me you traded the business for Constantine’s help.”
He stared at the picture a moment longer then nodded. “Yeah…I did.” He turned back to me, the regret in his eyes. “I had to.”
“I know that was hard for you.”
“It was,” he said honestly. “But there was no other option. I didn’t have any more time. It was Pearl’s idea, actually. And it was a good idea.”
“How is it going to work, then?”
“They took everything. They took everything in the warehouses, the clients, and they hired all of our men to work for them. The second the job was done, they took the keys. You and I have no ownership over the place anymore.”
It was so sudden. The transfer of power happened instantly. Constantine didn’t want to wait, even after going into battle. “I’m sorry. I know it meant a lot to you.”
“Yeah, it did,” he said with a sigh. “But you mean a lot more.”
Cane and I didn’t exchange thoughts and feelings like the girls did. We stuck to business and insults. But now the emotion built up in the room between us. I could feel it from him, and he could feel it from me. Anytime my brother needed anything, I was there. I didn’t do it out of obligation; I did it because he was one of the most important people to me. And he did the same for me. We had a bond that couldn’t be severed by bullets or knives. It was concrete—and permanent. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he said quietly. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I know. Just as I would have risked my life for the woman you loved again.”
He shifted his gaze away, looking at a different spot on the wall. “I do love her. But she doesn’t love me.”
I studied his face and saw the hurt etched into his expression. He wasn’t just hurt, but devastated. It was painful to say the words out loud, to admit the truth to me. He’d asked me to risk my life for a woman who would never be his wife.
“I didn’t know that before I asked for your help…”
“What happened?” When Pearl came into the picture, Cane pestered me about my feelings all the time. He insisted I loved her, that I couldn’t live without the woman. It was the first time we talked about romance. Now, exchanging feelings seemed to be the norm for us.
“Nothing really,” he said with a sigh. “We were having dinner, and I told her. I looked her in the eye and said I loved her. She grew uncomfortable, got really quiet, and said nothing in response. I didn’t want to make the situation worse, so I told her it was fine. Not a big deal.” He still didn’t look at me, avoiding eye contact.
