Page 18 of The Retaliation You Deliver

I try to keep it together, I really, really do. But the second her arms engulf me, I lose every bit of control.

An ugly sob rips from my throat, my body trembling in her arms.

“I-I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion.

“It’s okay,” she says, sounding almost as cut up as me, and when I pull back I discover that I’m not the only one with tears cascading down my cheeks. “I know, Macie. He told us.”

“Shit,” I breathe.

“I—we—had no idea.”

“Christ.” Wiping my cheeks with the backs of my hands, I look up at the dark night sky above us, focusing on the twinkling stars for a few seconds.

“I had no idea it was him,” I whisper. “If I knew then—”

“Shall we go inside?” I look up at my floor, seeing the lights on in the living area.

It’s Friday night, I’m sure everyone’s out partying but I really don’t want to walk in there and discover they're having a rare night in and have to deal with all the questions.

“Or we could go to my place,” she offers. “Kane will be there but we can kick him out.”

“N-no, you don’t need—”

“Let me help.”

Before I know what’s happening, she’s got her arm around my shoulders and is leading me toward her car.

The short drive to her place is in silence, although it’s not an uncomfortable one.

Even with everything that’s happened, I still feel that connection to Letty. And the fact he’s told them and she doesn’t hate me tells me that she either feels it too, or he never got to the part that involved me. I’m seriously hoping for the former.

“This place is nice,” I say, looking around at their open plan apartment.

“Thanks. It’s not much but it’s home.”

Footsteps sound off from down a short hallway before Kane’s booming voice fills the space.

“I’ve been waiting for you, get your ass nak—oh, we have company,” he says, cutting himself off the second he sees me. The moment he registers that Letty’s been crying, his brows pinch, concern filling his handsome face. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice softer than I’m sure it usually is.

“I’ll tell you later. Do you mind giving us a little space?”

“You’re kicking me out?”

“No, just hang in the bedroom or something,” Letty suggests.

He stares at her, amusement filling his face.

“It’s no fun in bed alone, Princess. You know that.”

“Christ, you’re insufferable. Go hang out with Devin or something.”

“I’m sure I can find some trouble to get into,” he says, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck and pulling her in for a kiss that’s entirely too erotic considering they have company.

My cheeks heat as his tongue finds its way past her lips and I force myself to drag my eyes away from them.

Taking a few steps forward, I give them some privacy as I check out their place.

It’s cute, cozy. All the things I would say are the complete opposite of Kane. It amuses me that a man like him has fluffy cushions and a fuzzy blanket over his couch.