Page 6 of Kane's Kingdom

"He gave him an ultimatum when he needed help."

"I know that too."

"He took the only thing my father had left and then watched him drink himself into the ground because of it."

Kane's jaw tightens. "Your father was a drunk," he says. "He drank himself into that grave."

The words hit like a slap. I step closer before I decide to. "Because of your father."

"My father should've made different choices."

"That's easy to say now he's dead."

"Yes…yes it is. But it's still true."

The flat agreement steals the next thing from my mouth. He doesn't defend King or soften Red either. Both truths sit between us, ugly and alive.

"My father isn't here," Kane says. "I am."

"You think that fixes it?"

"No."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Offering you protection."

"I don't want it, thank you very much."

"I know you don't."

I almost laugh again. He's used this calm tone since he was twenty and already learning how to end arguments without raising his voice.

"But I'm going to say this again. I'm not my father, Bella."

My name in his mouth is worse than the rest of it, lower and rougher, familiar enough to make something old turn over inside me. I remember every version of him I’ve ever tried to forget.

His gaze drops to my crossed arms, then returns to my face. He never crowds me or reaches for me; the restraint is its own kind of torture.

"Two brothers can be here before you open," he says. "Another two at close. Nobody gets near you alone."

"No. I said I don't need it."

A beat passes before he says, "Okay. Fine."

I blink. "That's it?"

"You said no."

"And you're actually leaving?"

His mouth shifts, not quite a smile. "Why? You want me to stay?"

The heat turns vicious. "Get out."

He nods once, then looks back at the broken window from the door. "This doesn't stop because you told me no."

Then he leaves, and I spend the day proving him wrong.