wearing your ring,” Kade points out, pouring wine into a glass.
My heart stops and tears immediately well in my eyes. I knew he’d notice. I peer down at my hand and it trembles uncontrollably. I close it into a fist and rest it in my lap, covering it with my other hand. “Uh…”
He fills the glass to halfway and hands it to me. Clenching my teeth, I shake my head. Kade grunts in frustration and drinks the whole glass of wine himself in one large gulp. He clicks his tongue and stares out at the field in front of us.
“If yesterday wasn’t what you wanted—”
“No,” I cut in, reaching forward and placing my hand on his knee. I can’t bear the thought of him thinking my mood is because of him. “It’s not yesterday. It’s not you. I just…” I swallow hard. “There’s something…I…”
He tips his head to the side and I slump my shoulders. I can’t tell him. Vince was right. It will break his heart.
“I lost it.”
He quirks an eyebrow. He doesn’t believe me for a second. “You lost it?”
I nod as tears bubble over and drip onto my cheeks. I’m lying, he knows it, and it makes me feel horrible.
“No need to cry,” he says. He tries hard to pass his voice off as kind, but I hear its cold undertones. He’s fishing for the truth. I know he is. “It’s a good thing I have these.”
Kaden digs around in his pocket and pulls out two beautiful gold rings. One is thick and one is thin and they’re a perfect match. They’re simple and beautiful and…I drop my face into my hands as my ribcage rips open and my heart bleeds. I give up. I’m not cut out for deceit.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” His voice is satisfied, pleased he was able to crack me without breaking a sweat.
“I didn’t lose the ring.” I sob, shaking my head.
“I know.” He touches my forearm. “Where is it?”
I shake my head again. I don’t have the heart to tell him. What will he say? What will he do? Telling him is exactly want Vince wants. He wants the reaction, he wants the retaliation. I can’t give Vince what he wants. Despite my refusal, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, swallowing me up in his large arms.
He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “You can tell me anything.”
I wait until my body stops forcibly sucking air into my lungs, making it difficult to talk. I think of everything—anything—but Vince and the way he slapped my skin and squeezed my throat. Lifting my head, I focus on the green blades of grass that dance in the breeze and listen to the sound of Kade’s heart, beating against my ear.
“Early this morning…” I swipe at my nose. “I…he…he took my ring.”
“Who took it?”
My lips tremble, my nostrils flare as I try desperately to withhold the tears. My stomach turns violently and I gag at the thought of speaking his name. “Your brother.”
He tenses around me. “Was this at breakfast? Where was John?”
“It was before breakfast…way before. It was dark and I couldn’t see. If I knew…if John had told me…if I didn’t…” I lower my face again, allowing the sobs to constrict my chest and shake my shoulders. “He was there. I thought it was you.”
Kade’s fingers twitch against waist. “He was where?”
“In your room. He…” I bite my lip and taste my tears. I don’t want to say it.
“Tell me he didn’t.”
I nod. He did. “I shouldn’t have gone there. John said you’d be back, but you weren’t. I tried to run. I tried to get away, but he put a gun to my head.” The words rush out of me, a mess of words through cries and clenched teeth. “The letter you received didn’t come from the city. Vince forged it. He plotted everything.”
I bunch Kade’s shirt in my fist and press it against my face. I expect him to leave, to go on a rampage and tear down buildings, demanding revenge. What I don’t expect is him to hold me closer, cradling me gently in his arms. He shushes me while planting erratic kisses on the top of my head, giving me all of the comfort I thought he’d deny me.
“What do you want me to do?” he asks. “Tell me what you want.”
Under me, he bounces his knee ever so slightly, pert with impatience. I want to unleash