“I felt helpless when you were scared, and that’s a feeling I’m not used to nor one I will tolerate. You bring shit out of me that I haven’t felt before. You’re my everything, and I will protect you with every fiber of my being. I will dedicate myself to cherish, love, and protect you at all costs. Your happiness means everything to me.”
Stunned, my mouth drops open. He takes my face into his hands and leans down to gently kiss my forehead. I’m left speechless.
“I approve,” Ethan says from behind me.
Kane nods his head. “Doesn’t matter if I had it or not. She’s mine.” Looking back and forth between Ethan and Kane, I’m confused. My brain is warped from Kane’s admission. Did he just admit he loved me?
~*~
Hours later we finally head home. I’m absolutely exhausted.
“I hope my mom will be okay,” I finally say, breaking the silence.
“If she is anything like you then she will be fine.” He smiles and kisses my hand.
I’m headstrong, stubborn, and not someone who backs down easily. Today, I felt helpless. My dad being that way shocked me. He admitted that he planned my attack, the letter… I’m left reeling, not able to wrap my head around it.
As we pull up in front of my house, I notice that all my flowers have been cut and thrown to the ground. The swing is thrown out into the middle of the lawn.
“Sydney, I want you to stay in the truck,” Kane tells me as he looks at my house.
He grabs a gun out of the middle console and steps out of the truck. Of course I’m going to follow him. There is no way in hell I’m staying in the truck by myself. As soon as Kane has his door shut, I open my door and hop out. That turns out very well considering I land right on my butt.
“I told you to stay in the truck,” he growls as he helps me off the ground.
“You told me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to listen,” I argue.
“Stay behind me, Sydney, I mean it.”
“Okay! I will.” I throw my hands up in defeat. He takes a hold of my hand and leads me into the house. Someone obviously trashed my yard, but hopefully nothing inside was damaged.
Walking up the porch steps, Kane walks straight for the door. When he jiggles it and it’s still locked I sigh with relief, but he shakes his head no at me.
“Could be the backdoor.”
He takes my key out of my purse and unlocks the door. He pulls me through the house checking to make sure everything is clear. He lets go and walks into the kitchen.
Hearing a crash, I nervously whisper, “Kane?’
“Everything is okay,” he reassures me. Letting out a deep breath, I walk in the kitchen. On the floor, a vase is shattered and white roses mingle within the glass. Kane is holding a card in his hand.
“What is that, Kane?”
He hands it to me. Gotcha now, Bitch. See you soon. This time no one will stop me. I’m watching your every move. Your father was stupid and exposed himself, but not me. I’m always one step ahead of you.
Letting the letter fall to the ground, I realize I have to tell Kane about the other letter.
Nervously, I turn to look at him.
“Kane? I… uhh… I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“This isn’t the first time I have gotten a letter.”
“What do you mean, Sydney?” he asks calmly, but I can see his struggle to remain in control.
“One month ago I found a letter on my car. I thought it was an accident or something. Now I know it wasn’t.
“Sydney!” he growls and runs his hands through his hair angrily.
“I’m sorry! I was scared, and I was in denial, okay?”
“Sydney, promise me you won’t hide things like this from me again. You’re putting yourself in jeopardy. Don’t you understand that I would do anything for you?” He runs an angry hand over his face.
Tackling him with a hug, I tell him, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I would do without you, Kane.”
He rubs the back of my head and back. “You won’t have to find out, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nine
We’re staying at Kane’s house instead of mine. Honestly, I don’t want to be at my house knowing that I’ve been watched and someone that’s out to harm me knows where I am. I’ve never been to Kane’s house. We’ve always planned to stay at his house, but something always came up.
He lives close to Ethan where all the houses there are really nice. We pass by Ethan’s house and keep on driving until he slows down by a driveway with a huge gate. He pulls up to a pole with a keypad and after opening his window, he enters the code.
The gate opens, and I get a good view of the house. It’s an old country-style home. White with huge white pillars that reach to the third floor. Black shutters and huge windows show the glow of inside of the house. A chandelier hangs on the porch.