Page 108 of The Betrayal You Serve

"W-what?"

"Just give him some time and don't ask me any details because I don't know but he's trying to set your dad free too."

"Why?" I ask, my eyes darting between Kane and the road ahead.

"Because it's important to you, so it's important to me. I asked him to see what he could do."

"Kane," I sigh, twisting my fingers with his on my lap.

"Your parents deserve it, Let. They're both pretty incredible people."

"I'm glad you think so," I whisper with a laugh.

"Well, they made you so that makes them pretty awesome in my book."

I laugh. "You're an idiot."

"You love it."

"Yeah. Yeah, I do." I gasp as I realize what I just said but he doesn't react, or at least he tries not to but his hand tightens briefly on mine.

I know he needs to hear the words, I wanted to tell him this morning in the bathroom but the time just didn't feel right. I don't want to say the words after he could have died, and when he can't seal the promise between us properly. I figure the words can wait a few weeks while he heals and then we can celebrate it the right way.

"You don't have to take the week off, you know," he says as we drive into Rosewood. "I'll be fine if you want to go to class."

"Nope. I've already emailed my teachers and told them I'm going to do everything remotely for this week at least."

"Let, I don't want you falling behind because of me," he warns.

"I won't. Plus, you can do it with me so when you're let back in, you've got stuff ready."

"If, not when, Let," he reminds me.

"It's going to happen, Kane. Have faith."

Reid told me while he was helping me clean up the plates I smashed all over his kitchen that he'd spoken to some contacts in an attempt to cover up some of the corruption at MKU with Kane's scholarship. I'm not entirely sure how to feel about him trying to cover it with more corruption, but I thanked him and told him that my mom had it under control.

We just have to hope that's the truth and await the phone call that he can return and pick up where he left off. Although I think we both know that even if he is allowed back tomorrow, that his season is basically over. He might claim to be okay, but he just got beaten within an inch of his life and shot. The last place he needs to be right now is on the field no matter how badly he wants it.

"I'm trying, but I need to be realistic. I need a plan B."

"We'll figure it out, Kane."

The driveway is empty when we pull up at the house but we already know that Kyle is waiting for us. Kane told him that we'd be fine but I think he needed to see with his own eyes that his brother was okay.

The front door opens the second I pull the car to a stop and Kyle comes running out, confirming my suspicions. I get it, I'd be the same if I knew either Zayn or Harley had just been through what Kane had.

"How is he?" Kyle asks the second I step out of the car.

"He's okay, Kyle. Really. A week’s rest and he'll be as good as new."

"I can't believe he got fucking shot," he says, scrubbing his hand down his face, a deep frown mars his brow as he looks off into space.

"This is all my fault," he mutters. "If I never got caught that night."

"No, Kyle. It's not. Kane was already tangled up with Victor long before that night."

"I know but everything he's done since, it was because of me."