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“We’re not monsters. And River isn’t a monster—though I wouldn’t bring his name up around Genny. He hasn’t hurt, killed, or gotten any of our people arrested. As much as we dislike losing money to him, we can stomach the reason. The main beef is the guy can’t be trusted. His first fucking word was a lie. We’ve tried brokering peace twice, and he double-crossed us.”
“Hard to argue with why Sunny won’t work with him. River shocks me once again, but honestly, I was expecting the story to be juicier. Like River stole his first love or they’re fraternal brothers separated at birth. One was raised by the evil parent, the other by the good. Now they’re locked in an eternal battle of the soul, when what they truly want is a hug from their brother.”
Bane laughed so hard he wheezed. “Top-notch storytelling, Kenzie. I’m selling you my life rights. How will you spin the tale of the mad woodsman?”
“First of all, stolen. Mad Woodsman is so the title.” I spread out my hands. “For you, we open on a rabbit jumping through the forest—sweet and innocent, nibbling on a leaf as the predator”—I clapped—“strikes. The symbol for your loss of innocence. Then fade to black— Bam! Fight scene.”
Bane was crying. His laughter bounded through the trees, teasing giggles out of me, it was that infectious.
“Hold up, we’re almost there.” Bane clapped his hands over my eyes. “You can’t see it yet. Keep walking, I’ve got you.”
“You’re not going to walk me into a tree, are you?”
“Nope, even though you ended my movie with me going actually insane and marrying a pine cone.”
“It’s unexpected,” I said, tittering. “The audience won’t see it coming.”
Bane was warmth on my back. He engulfed me in the heady scent of pine needles and brandy. As he led me through a dark world, my eyes welled and I prayed he didn’t notice. Why did it feel so right with someone who wanted no part of me? I thought love was done tormenting me. Looked like her hunt for my tears wasn’t over.
I have Sunny. I have the beginning of something with Liam. A friendship with Bane—a man who listens to my pain, then chases it away—can be enough for me.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready.”
Bane fell away. My vision cleared, and I gasped. Starlight lanterns clung to the branches, delighting in blues, purples, and whites. I spun and the glowing colors swirled with me, painting the sky hazy.
“It’s beautiful.” I ran up to him, hands grasping his outstretched palms so naturally. “This was the vitally important thing I had to see?” I asked with a joyful laugh.
“What can I say? I’ve taken up the mission of showing you the stars, Mackenzie Blaine. Wherever they might be.”
My chest welled, bursting with all the things I wanted to say. Thank you. I want to be with you. Fuck your vow. I see stars whenever I’m with you.
Bane’s expression changed. “Mackenzie...”
A hard force thumped my back, propelling me at Bane. He caught me—securing my waist and his arm around my back, holding me to his chest.
“Oops,” chimed some tipsy yuppie. He and his girlfriend staggered off. “Sorry about that.”
I barely heard him. Our lips hovered centimeters away, his heightened pants tickling me. “Bane,” I whispered.
We moved at the same time.
His mouth crashed on mine, tongues battling in a clash that drew moans from us both. Starlight swirled around us—bright, shining beams exploding around me. And anchoring me to the ground: Bane.
We kissed fiercely. Ferociously. Weeks of self-imposed exile brought him to the tipping point, and Bane didn’t hold back.
He tangled in my hair, cupped my ass, wrapped my leg around him, dipped me under the stars. Wolf whistles pierced the night and I didn’t care. All that existed was him.
Bane grasped my face, tearing away. His chest rolled with ragged pants. “Kenzie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Ugh! Shut up.” Grabbing the back of his neck, I crushed our lips together.
Bane forgot his excuses. He swept me up and pressed me against a tree. He didn’t break away again.
Chapter Eleven
“Call when you’re in,” Sunny said. “I’ll tell you what to do.”
“How bad will it be if Ryker finds me digging around in the safe?”
“Pretty sure he told you, dimples.”
Oh yeah. Death.
“You can’t explain why you need the diamonds without getting into the rest of it. We’re close, Angel. Vito could lead us to the man behind all of this, and the last thing we need is Ryker slowing you down.”
The sun beat a retreat across the sky, abandoning Cinco to streetlights, lightning bugs, and the late-night revelers. I stood outside the arcade, prepping for the world’s easiest heist. Didn’t get much simpler than the owner telling you where to look and handing over the code. Easy, but that didn’t mean I needed an audience. This late, Sunny said most of them were gone, leaving the guards on standby. Ryker would be off doing whatever prickly seconds-in-command do.
