Page 108 of Ruthless Court

Kane stands alone beneath the streetlight.

Lila whispers, “We should move.”

“Yes,” I say.

None of us does.

Kane looks toward the sound.

His gaze passes over Noor.

Then Lila.

Then stops on me.

I expect recognition.

It doesn’t come.

His eyes narrow slightly instead.

He starts walking toward us.

“No,” I mutter.

Lila’s grin spreads. “This is excellent.”

“Get in the car.”

“You’re between me and the driver’s door.”

Kane stops a few feet away.

He has been drinking. Not falling-over drunk. Loose enough that his usual control has softened around the edges.

His hair is slightly disordered from Krista’s hands.

The top button of his black shirt is open.

He looks irritated, tired, and unfairly good beneath parking-lot lighting that should flatter no one.

“Do I know you?” he asks.

“No.”

The answer comes too fast.

His gaze traces my face.

“I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“I attend Stanford. That narrows it down to several thousand possibilities.”

His eyes sharpen at my tone.

Something registers.

Not enough.