“You don’t know me, Sapphire.”
“I do, Kayden. I’m probably the only person who knows the real Kayden.”
I looked at her sideways. Her gaze was on the paddock ahead. Her jaw was set, hair loose around her face in the night breeze. The same face I’d been trying to forget for ten years.
But standing next to me now, it was like no time had passed.
“We were young back then, Fire. A lot of bullshit has happened since then.”
“Yes, and you’re only just learning that some of it was not your fault.”
She turned to look at me and held my gaze for a long moment.
“Mitch said he couldn’t guarantee what he’d do if we found Frank,” I said. “He’s right. I can’t either.”
“I know,” she said.
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“Of course, it does.” She scooped her hair behind her ear, revealing a small diamond stud in her earlobe. “But I understand.” She straightened away from the railing. “Come back inside. We still have a lot of notes to get through.”
“Great. What other bullshit are we going to find?”
“Hopefully, details of where those two bastards are hiding.”
I pushed off the railing. “After you.”
As we headed back inside, I looked at the dark country beyond the homestead fence. Frank was out there somewhere. When I got my hands on him, he was going to wish those Henderson brothers had finished the job first.
Chapter 14
Sapphire
* * *
Kayden followed me back inside. Everyone was still seated around the table, still reading, and the pile of unfolded notes in the middle had grown considerably.
“What did we miss?” I asked, pulling out my chair.
“Plenty,” Mitch said, in a tone that made plenty sound like the understatement of the decade.
Kayden picked his chair up off the floor and dropped into it with a huff.
Cassidy watched him the way older sisters watch over younger brothers. “You okay?” she asked.
“Yep.” The look he shot her said otherwise.
“Would you like another beer, Kayden? Or anyone else?” Bella said, pushing back on her chair.
His shoulders dropped half an inch. “Yeah. Thanks, Bella.”
She rested her hand on Declan’s shoulder. “I’ve still got some of that passionfruit slice from yesterday if you want some.”
“God, yes.” Declan’s face lit up as he brushed his hand over her arm.
She leaned over and pressed a kiss on his forehead. He caught her hand briefly before she moved away. The whole thing lasted maybe four seconds. They were comfortable together. No, it was more than that. Those two were in love.
A soft ache settled in my chest, and I looked down at my notepad.
