Page 50 of Once I Find You

That’s why she needs me. As much as I thought I could kick her out of my life and move on, I’m fucked beyond repair over this woman. The idea that someone else could have her was hard enough. The idea that someone is now threatening her safety?

Lord help them when I find them.

All I have to do is eliminate the threat before she finds out about it. I want to protect her from having these thoughts that plague me. She deserves a life where she can freely…skip about and eat cake, or whatever the fuck she does. If this unknown person tells her about my past…I don’t know if she would ever look at me the same again.

Would I still be her hero? Would her eyes still sparkle when she looks at me?

When we finally make it back to the shop, I try my best to keep my face neutral so she can’t see the way I’m spiraling. She’s so excited that I’ve asked her to move in, and I wish I had done it simply because I was ready.

I need her close. I need her safe. I can’t have some random person going up to her and telling her everything about me. And I have no fucking idea if this person is going to hurt her in the process, too. They’re certainly capable of it, and likely not working completely alone. I feel relieved when I see her set her bag down in the living room and drop to her knees to play with Bacon.

For now, this is fine.

“Oh, Layla!” Mason booms, coming to greet her. “What ya doing here?” he asks, his eyes flicking over to me.

“Kane didn’t tell you? I’m gonna be staying here with you guys,” she says, but as Bacon licks her cheek, she laughs and gives her attention back down to him.

“Oh, no, he didn’t.” He raises his eyebrows, and I give him a look to say, ‘I’ll explain later.’ “Well, that’s great. I guess we could use someone who bakes here. I’ll get free cake, right?”

“Sure! I’ll bring you some when I get off work tomorrow. What kind do you like?”

“Oh, chocolate all the way. I think Kane likes carrot cake,” he jokes, but she just tilts her head.

“Carrot cake? Why?” she asks me, and Mason laughs.

“Idiot,” I mutter, shaking my head.

She stands up, picking up her bag. “Is it okay for me to take a shower?”

“Of course,” I tell her, and she smiles before she locks herself in the bathroom.

Right as the lock turns, Mason turns to me. “So?”

I roll my eyes, sighing as I pull the phone out of my pocket. I open the text thread and hand it over to him. He takes it, and his eyes widen a bit as he reads them all.

“Seriously? You should just tell her about them, Kane. Don’t let this person⁠—”

“No, she can’t know. I don’t ever want her to know that shit. Do you know how it feels to have someone who thinks so highly of you? I don’t want her to change.”

“I get it, I do. But you’re letting this random person blackmail you about telling her. You think you can keep it from her forever? It’s gonna be worse when she finds out from someone else,” he explains.

And…I know that. But I can’t tell her. If I can lure this person out and handle them, I can sleep easy again and not worry about losing Layla anymore. I would have staked out her fucking job if I hadn’t had cars to work on here at the shop.

“I don’t know who this is, or what they’re capable of yet. They say I killed someone they loved who didn’t deserve it, and that…fucking worries me. It’s the words of someone who may try to flip the same scenario on me.”

He seems to understand where I’m going with it, and he rubs the back of his neck. “You’ve never killed someone you weren’t one-hundred percent sure of, right?”

“Never,” I answer immediately. Never have I ever been unsure. I extensively check each bastard I hunt, and usually they’re begging and apologizing the moment I come for them. I can’t think of one of them that could have ever been thought not guilty.

“Then why would they say that?”

“Fuck if I know. Probably some sort of sympathizer who thinks the person they love could never do something like that.” I motion dramatically with my hands, and scoff. “Whoever it is, they’re done. I’m going to find a way to entrap them and tie up the loose end. I’ll bury them with my mask and be done.”

“For her? You’re stoppin’?” I nod once, and he slaps my back. “Good job, old man. I think you’ve found a good one. You know I’m here to help you make it happen.”

I’d never drag anyone into my mess, not even Mason. I don’t need anyone’s help. I’ll get this person on my own, and instead of dedicating myself to killing to compensate for my sins…I’ll dedicate my life to Layla. I’ll make her happy. I’ll keep her safe. I’ll give her everything she’s ever wanted. And maybe one day…I’ll have made up for a fraction of the two lives I didn’t save.

“Anyway, I asked what they want, and nothing. I’m just waiting.”