Page 113 of The Deception You Weave

"Come on," I say, making the most of his distraction and stepping back from his body, although he doesn't let me get very far because he threads his fingers through mine and side by side we set off following Ella and Violet.

21

Kane

Ihad no idea what to expect when I showed up to practice this morning. Part of me thought Luca would fly straight at me after what went down in Letty's dorm last night. He'd had hours to dwell on it, to imagine what might have happened after he walked out, so I could only imagine that he was ready to take me to the fucking floor.

What I really wasn't expecting was for him to totally ignore me.

He didn't look up from his place at the bench when I walked in, and the only reaction he had to the other guys ribbing me about the state of my mauled back was for his muscles to tense.

I've no reason to think that he suddenly doesn't care though because he does. Part of me is grateful that Letty has a friend who would probably do anything for her should she ask but the other part of me doesn't want her to have anyone else to turn to. Selfishly, now I've got her, I want her all to myself.

Training passed without any drama, which wasn't only a shock to me but also Leon who spent almost the whole time looking between his brother and me as if we were a ticking time bomb. I guess we are.

At some point the tension between us is going to boil over. I think even Coach knows that it's inevitable, he's probably just praying it doesn't happen on the field.

I was just about to leave so I could go to pick her up and walk her to class when a shadow fell over me, only when I looked it wasn't the person I was expecting. Instead, it was Zayn.

"I appreciate that you've not once mentioned her name while the guys were ribbing you about those." He lifts his chin to the bite marks on my neck. "But don't think I'm naïve about who it was." His eyes narrow in warning as I stand staring back at him. "If you hurt her—"

"Let me save you the speech, Hunter. How about you just go and stand behind our captain so you can have a pop after he has when I fuck this up."

"When you fuck this up?"

Yeah, when, I think to myself. I think we all know that it's going to happen no matter how hard I try.

"Was there anything else?"

"She's been through so much, Kane. You don't—"

"I know," I say, lowering my voice. "She's told me everything."

"E-everything?" he asks, stunned.

"Yeah. We've talked. Sorted shit out, hence." I gesture to my body.

"You've talked. Really?" He smirks.

"A bit," I admit because hell knows we could have done a lot more talking. We've got enough years to make up for.

"Right, well can I suggest you do some more instead of just using her for whatever sick and twisted game you're playing."

"I'm not pl—"

"I know you, Kane. I know guys like you. Don't forget that." He takes a step back as if he wants those to be his final words but there's no way I'm letting him have it.

"You don't know fuck all aboutguys like me," I spit. "Just because you were born in the Creek, it doesn't mean you know anything about what it's like to really live there, to survive there."

He shakes his head, his eyes darkening with contempt.

"I know that the only reason you're here right now is because of your connections. Connections to some people I want my sister nowhere near."

I can't help the chuckle that falls from my lips.

"I'm not the one you need to be worrying about. I'd die before I let anything happen to her."

"I'll believe it when I see it, Legend."