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We walked into the dining room and found Cane enjoying a glass of wine.
“Coming around?” I asked as I sat across from him.
He took another drink then shrugged. “I guess. Not so bad.”
Button sat beside me and helped herself to a fresh piece of bread. “How’s the butler coming along?”
Cane swirled his wine around. “That man is a godsend. I understand your fascination with Lars.”
“We aren’t fascinated by him.” I poured myself a glass of wine. “We just appreciate him.”
“We should have our butlers battle and see who wins,” Cane said. “My money is on Gerald.”
“Are you kidding me?” Button asked. “Lars has served your family since you were born. He’s put up with a ton of bullshit, so my money is on him. Gerald’s patience will be tested the longer he works for you.”
“True,” Cane said. “I am a big pain in the ass. He likes Adelina, though.”
“Because she’s lovely.” Button knew Cane was treating Adelina well, so she didn’t ask any questions about it.
“How was the doctor?” Cane asked. “You guys are in good spirits, so I guess it went well?”
“Yeah,” Button answered. “Crow was a little paranoid, but everything was fine.”
“Why are you surprised?” Cane asked. “Crow is paranoid about everything.”
“For a reason,” I said coldly. Being paranoid saved my life a few times—and my wife’s.
Button had a glass of water because that was all she could drink. “How are things going with Adelina?”
Cane suddenly looked miserable once the question was asked. “She’s leaving on Friday. I bought her a ticket.”
Button’s face fell in sadness, and I was disappointed too. Adelina was a nice woman, and she complemented my brother well. But she deserved to be free like everyone else. If it was meant to be, she would come back to him. “I’m sorry, man.”
Cane refilled his glass even though he hadn’t finished it and drank more. “It’s shitty. But there’s nothing I can do.”
“There’s still hope,” Button said. “There’s always hope.”
“I don’t know,” Cane said. “She was close with her parents. I know she wants to see them. And even if she wanted to come back, we can’t have a future. Her parents hate me, as they should. Her friends will hate me. She would never leave them behind to stay with me, and I would never move there either. It’s the definition of hopeless.”
I couldn’t contradict any of that logic. She would have to turn her back on the only life she’d ever known to live across the world. The trip was too far to receive visitors often. She might see her parents once a year. But they would never approve of her running off with a criminal like Cane. They would ask her to see a therapist before they let that happen.
“I didn’t stay with Crow just because I had nothing else,” Button said. “I stayed because it felt like home. When I was back in New York, everything felt the way it used to. I worked, walked down the same streets I’d always known, and ate at my favorite places. But it was too normal. Jason looked at me like I was damaged goods, about to fall apart right in front of him. Ordinary lives now seemed boring to me. I didn’t belong there anymore. I think Adelina will see that. She’ll be upset that she can’t go back. But once she stops fighting it, she’ll give in.”
Cane sighed as he looked into his glass. “I hope so. She basically said she loves me but doesn’t want to. She doesn’t want to because she’s not willing to give up everything to stay here with me. But I guess I understand…”
When it came to Button, I had her wrapped around my finger within a few months. She told me she loved me, but I was the one who pushed her away. Once I allowed my heart to truly cherish her, there was no going back. My soul had committed to her for the rest of my existence. Like it was etched in stone forever and permanent, I couldn’t stop even if she asked me to. It didn’t surprise me that Adelina refused to say it. Once she did, Cane wouldn’t let her leave. And she wouldn’t want to leave either. “You know we’re here for you.”
“Yeah,” Cane said. “I know.” He poured another glass of wine and downed it like water.
I eyed his movements. “Not piss anymore, huh?”
“I don’t care at this point,” Cane said. “I just need booze, and Lars wouldn’t give me the good stuff.”
* * *
Button came up behind me as I pulled off my shirt and tossed it on the floor. Her hands moved down my back, feeling the lines of muscle on either side of my spine. She pressed a kiss to the center of my back, her fingers caressing me. “How do you feel?” Her hand moved over the incision point, where there was a faint scar.
