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CHAPTER ONE
MAKAYLIE
My eyes begin to flutter, but the first thing that lets me know I am coming to is the memory of Cain leaving me. Pain ripples through my chest. The intensity almost cripples me again as the throbbing in my head makes me let out a small whimper.
“You’re okay, little dove. I’m here. Can you open your eyes?” Cain’s soothing voice gently whispers. The delicate pressure of someone stroking my face calms me as I blink rapidly, opening my eyes to see two worried faces staring down at me.
“Hey, cutie pie. You with us?” Rodberg asks as his and Cain’s faces come into focus.
I mumble something incoherently while my legs feel heavy and ache.
Glancing over at Cain, worry lines crinkle around his eyes as he stares at me, softly stroking my hair.
“You had us worried for a minute there,” Rodberg states while I stare into Cain’s darkened, intense eyes.
“What happened?” I slowly try to sit up on their sofa, the leather squeaking with my movements.
Cain winces, then moves to squat in front of me, holding my hands.
“You went all silent, stalker lady, when Cain kicked you out. You stood at the door for three hours. I mean, you just stood there like a damn statue. It was fucking weird. Then you passed out, smacked your head pretty damn good too. Are you on drugs or something?” Rodberg asks.
“No,” I reply, my voice low and husky.
“Well, you coulda fooled me. You were in some trippy fucking trance. If you weren’t on drugs, then you are one twisted sister. I’ll let Cain deal with you. I’m going out for some…thing.You good here, Cain?” Rodberg asks.
Cain nods, tightening his hold on my hands.
Rodberg grabs his keys from the counter and heads out the door, shutting it with a click behind him.
Cain stands and sits on the sofa beside me. “I regret what happened,” he whispers.
I’m still trying to catch my bearings, but I remember everything more clearly now. “Are we really breaking up?” I ask, my heart still heavy with grief.
“No. I can’t stand to watch your devastation. It nearly killed me to see you like that. Knowing I did that to you.” Cain closes his eyes, then reopens them, the pain more than evident. “I panicked. It’s no excuse, but I want you to be safe. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, Makaylie.”
“Why?” I sigh. “Why is it so dangerous to be around you, Cain? Whataren’tyou telling me?” I beg, needing more answers.
“The less you know, the better, and the safer you’ll be. Can you trust me on this? I will tell you in time, and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t necessary. But Makaylie, let it go,” he demands, wrapping his arm around me and leaning in to kiss my temple hard.
After the trauma of today, I do as he asks. The last thing I want right now is to force more answers from him only to have him shut down on me again.
He presses his hand to the back of my head and exhales as he brings his hand back to the front, showing wet droplets of blood. “I need to patch you up. You hit your head real good. You probably have a concussion. I will take you to the doctor, but let me fix you up in the meantime.”
Shaking my head, I reach out for him. “Cain, I’m fine, honest—”
His unyielding glare makes me stop talking instantly. Cain leans down, gently lifting me from the sofa. I wrap my arms around his neck, honestly thankful to be close to him again as he walks me into the attached bathroom in his bedroom. He moves me to the sink, placing me down on the edge. My legs dangle, and my fingers clench the sides of the counter.
Moving to the mirrored medicine cabinet, he opens it, pulling out the medical supplies. I can’t help but watch how his muscles strain, his biceps bulging. Biting my bottom lip, I internally smile. While filling the sink with water, he steps in between my legs and soaks a washcloth in the warm water, his eyes meeting mine. “You could have really hurt yourself, little dove. I won’t have you put yourself in danger like that for me again. Do you understand?”
“No, Cain, you don’t get it. We are a team. You can’t just toss me aside like garbage and expect menotto react.”
His eyes fall from mine as he dunks the washcloth into the water, squeezing it out, then he gently brings it to the back of my head, pressing on my wound. I let out a hiss at the instant pain when he begins to wipe. He grits his teeth at my reaction but keeps going. “Makaylie…” he exhales like he’s frustrated, then continues, “… you areso.Fucking. Stubborn.”
A slow smile crosses my face. “I’m not going to let you push me away. If you’re honest with yourself, I don’t think you want to, right?”
His eyes clench tight, his fingers sliding around the base of my neck gently as his forehead leans against mine while he takes a moment to simply breathe.
I slide my hands to rest them on his chest, giving him the comfort he needs right now. “I’m okay, Cain. Whatever is going on with you, we can get through it. As long as we stick together.”
