Page 220 of Beautiful Venom
His confession still rings in my ears and churns my stomach.
Kane takes a step forward and I take one back.
He stops, hesitating.
Kane Davenport actually opens his mouth, then closes it again.
Something I never thought he’d be capable of.
His chest expands before he speaks again. “I won’t deny my involvement in what happened to Violet or that I hid the truth from you. It might seem like an excuse, but I just wanted you, Dahlia. No matter the method. I realize that was wrong. I realize you hate me for it, and that’s okay. I’ll keep coming back and asking for your forgiveness until you offer it.”
“You’ll be wasting your time,” I say over the stupid tears trying to escape. “I’llneverforgive you. Not when you’re aiding the man who’s placed a target on my sister’s back.”
“Jude won’t hurt her. You have my word.”
I scoff. “Only if I agree to be with you. Is that it?”
“No. I won’t use her against you. Not when I know how much she means to you. That’s why Jude doesn’t and won’t know about my visit. I used everything at my disposal to locate you, but he doesn’t have the same access to the resources I do, especially since Julian picked one of the unmapped safe houses. You guys are safe.”
My lips part, but I seal them again. “I still won’t forgive you.”
Kane reaches a hand out, and before I can stop him, he wraps it around my waist, pulling me close to him.
His fingers burn through my clothes, and my heart jolts as if it’s been shocked back to life.
God. I almost forgot how delicious he smells.
Calming, too.
A week ago, all I wanted was to bury my face in his chest and fall asleep.
Now, I’m so mad at him, I want tohurthim.
“I’ll wait for you until you do.”
I lift my chin. “You’ll be waiting for a long time.”
He drops a kiss on my nose. “As long as it takes to get back what’s mine. And youarefucking mine, wildflower. Don’t forget that.”
* * *
“Ughh!”
My groan is loud as I flop onto the stool facing Vi.
She pours me a cup of coffee and slides a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me.
But I’m focused on the view through the kitchen window. Kane’s standing by his car, his left hand in his pocket and his right hand scrolling through his phone.
As if sensing I’m there, he lifts his head and flashes me a smile, then waves.
I glare back.
He’s there all the time.
Shoveling snow when I try to.
Doing our grocery shopping and buying us more shit than we need.
