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“I didn’t even notice when I left her now. I’ve been distracted,” I tell my brother who offers me a knowing smirk.
“Oh, I’m sure you have.” He chuckles. “I guess the years of waiting have paid off?” He laughs, and I’m tempted to punch him in the face.
“Shut it, pretty boy. Get your work done; I need the office.”
“Go to your girl,” Finn tells me, his tone turning serious. “She needs you. Harris and I have this. Damien will be here soon. He’s taken the jet, so it won’t be long until we’re all together. We need to focus, and if you still have sweet pussy on the brain, we’re not going to get through this.”
Before I turn away, I slap him upside the head. “I told you to shut it. Don’t talk about her like that.”
“Hey, man, I’m joking. She’s a nice girl. It’s good to see you happy.” His remark has me halting for a moment. “I can see it. I’m sure everyone can. There may have been years of issues between you two, baggage, but now that you have her, don’t fucking let her go.”
“When the fuck did you get so wise, kiddo?” I use the nickname Damien and I gave Finn when we were still children.
“Get the fuck out of here,” he bites out with amused frustration, and I obey my brother. I head out of the office and down the hall to find Harris.
“Cassian,” he greets. “I’ve got the men ready. This job won’t take us long. We have far too much evidence, but we need the man in question before we can take him to the FBI.”
“They’ve been looking for him?” I guess easily.
He nods. “For a few years. Now that we have an informant who’s willing to talk, it will make things a lot easier. He’s given us information on where Manny will be tomorrow night.”
“Then we’ll be ready,” I tell him. I don’t want to wait on this. The sooner we get it done, the sooner I get to spend time with my girl. She needs to know I love her, but I’m not going to tell her that just yet. When the time is right, when the moment is perfect, I’ll finally admit my feelings for her.
“We will,” Harris says, dragging me back to the present. “I’m going to let Finn know before I leave for the day.”
“Thank you.” I offer him a handshake before I head up to my bedroom. I wanted to bring Kalyn in here earlier, but I wanted to make sure she wanted it as much as I did. Now that we’ve taken the next step, she’ll be sleeping beside me tonight.
I can’t go to her just yet, though. I need some space to think. I spent the last five years wanting to make her pay for her little lie, but right now, I want to do more than that; I want to make sure she loves me like I love her.
When I told her I didn’t hate her, it was the truth. Anger blinded me for a while, but hate was never in the equation. Instead of feeling that dark emotion, I knew I loved her, even before she left. Our friendship had bloomed; it was so much more.
In my room, I settle at my desk, open my laptop and start doing some research. If Finn has Harris on this, I need to educate myself on what we’re in for. The more I know, the better I can protect Kalyn, and help take this asshole down.
The sun is low in the sky by the time I look up from my computer. Another day gone, and yet, I still feel anxious having Kalyn here. Perhaps it’s because I’ve locked her away like a prisoner. Maybe it’s because I haven’t told her everything about me.
I pull open the drawer to my cupboard, and I pull out the sleek velvet box. The birthday gift I had for Kalyn on her seventeenth birthday that I never got to give her sits nestled in the black material. I finger the pendant, and my mind flicks back to the moment I realized she was mine.
The sun is setting on another day in Thorne Haven, and the Havens are here with a few girls from school. My senior year, the last day of school. I should be drinking and enjoying myself, but I’m tense.
Finn slaps me on the shoulder when he steps up beside me. “Looks like the pool is going to be the place to be tonight.” Since the water is heated, we always end up in the pool after a party. “Wowzer,” Finn remarks, causing me to turn to see what’s caught his attention.
When my gaze lands on the woman walking through the patio doors, my mouth falls open in shock. The speakers that surround the party area blare as Bebe Rexha sings about Sabotage, and the lyrics hit home when I look at Kalyn.
