Page 124 of The Deception You Weave

I blow out a long breath. "We had a deal but—"

"Let me guess, he's not stuck to it. Shocker. It's almost like he's not trustworthy."

I want to laugh at her comment but the reality is that it's anything but funny.

"You need to find a way to walk away, Kane."

"Trust me, Princess. You don't need to tell me that. I thought I had."

"If you really want this. College, football…"Me.I hear her unspoken word loud and clear. “Then you need to find a way to get out once and for all, or you may as well give up on this and just walk back into that life.”

"I want this," I promise her, reaching over and taking her hand. I bring her knuckles to my lips and pepper kisses over them. "I want you."

Her eyes shutter as she hears the words. Slowly she nods but I don't see a lot of hope in her eyes.

"I won't be connected to that world, Kane. I won't. Whether it's my dad, or you. I'm going nowhere near it. And if that means I have to cut ties with Dad and we have to put this behind us, then I will. I got out of that place, I refuse to be dragged back into it."

"I don't want that life for you, Let. You deserve so much better."

"I know," she states and her confidence and strength to do the right thing makes my chest swell with pride. It also solidifies my knowledge that I need to figure a way out of this. I have got to find something that will force Victor to set me free.

I fall back into my seat with a sigh.

"I'll figure out a way. I'm not walking away from all of this now that I've got it."

She smiles at me. "Ella's over there. I should go."

"What are you going to do tonight?"

"Work, seeing as you've monopolized all my time the past two nights."

"Oh, like you were complaining about it."

"Maybe not, but I'm behind."

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" I ask, tugging on her arm and forcing her to lean over the center console so I can kiss her.

I'm desperate to tell her that I'll see her after I'm done tonight, but I can't. I can't do that to her.

"Pick me up for statistics?"

"You got it, Princess."

Gripping the back of her head, I bring her lips to mine and give her a kiss that she's not likely to forget by tomorrow morning.

After long minutes, she pulls back and wipes her lips.

"Tomorrow. Please, try to stay safe."

"As long as you're waiting for me."

She smiles, her eyes dropping from mine and to my lips again like she's really trying to convince herself not to just stay here and make out instead of going to class.

"Okay. I really need to go."

I hold my hands up. "I'm not stopping you."

"Maybe not. You're still guilty though, aren't you?"