When my sobs became soft whimpers, Cane picked my head up and looked down into my eyes. He cradled my face in his hands, eyes sincere. I’d never seen him so gentle. So open.
“I will take care of you. I will be with you. I will not sway or leave you. I am here. I am yours.” His damp lips meshed with mine. “I am yours,” he repeated, breaking the kiss, his mouth feathery light as it brushed across mine.
“You…are mine,” I whispered brokenly. “And…I am yours.”
He shut his eyes for a brief moment, water trickling from his hair to his thick lashes. The corners of his mouth tipped up, and he breathed slowly through his nostrils.
“That’s my girl.” He placed a kiss on my forehead. My cheek. My lips. “My sweet, sweet Kandy.”
Chapter Forty-One
CANE
The last thing Kandy needed was to be reminded of what had happened the night before, so while she slept in my bed, the left half of her face buried in the pillows and curly, dark-brown wisps of hair on the right, I went downstairs and called one of my favorite local chefs who owned a nice brunch restaurant. He told me he’d send someone within an hour to cater a nice breakfast for us.
Luckily when they arrived, Kandy was still asleep. After what had happened the night before, I was sure she was sulking more than anything. The caterers set the counters up with food and fresh-cut fruit while I sat at the kitchen table, working on my laptop.
About fifteen minutes after they left, Kandy walked into the kitchen with one of my white button down shirts on, her hair pulled up into a messy bun, several loose strands hanging around her face.
She spotted the counter covered with food and her eyes expanded. “Holy shit,” she gasped. “What is all of this?”
“For you.” I stood and walked toward her, dropping a kiss on top of her head. She peered up at me with big brown eyes. “Want us to start fresh.”
She beamed and instead of speaking, she nodded. That one nod was proof that she understood what I was getting at. I’d promised her that we would make this work, that I would be here, and I was ready for it to begin.
She trotted past me and picked up a strawberry, biting into it. Her lips were full and supple around it, and if I weren’t so mesmerized by the simplicity of the act, her natural beauty and how she grinned after chewing, I’m almost certain I would have gotten hard. Who knew a woman could look so damn gorgeous while eating a strawberry?
“You mind if I turn on the TV?” she asked after filling up her plate.
“Not at all.” I looked toward the TV on the counter. “Thing hasn’t been turned on in ages. Hopefully it still works.” I laughed.
She giggled. “Yeah, I forgot you aren’t a TV person. Why did you even bother getting one in the kitchen then?”
“Good question.” I shrugged, picking up my mug of coffee from the table and then pressing my lower back to the edge of the counter. “I guess to use when the house is too quiet, but with you around, it should be okay.”
She pressed her lips to smile, taking a stool at the bar counter after picking up the remote control for the TV. She flipped through the channels while nibbling on apple slices, but then I heard a name while she stalled and my blood ran cold. I pushed off the counter, almost certain my ears had deceived me.
“Wait.” I slammed my mug down on the counter a little too roughly and Kandy flinched.
She frowned, looking at me. “What? What’s wrong?”
I walked around the counter, taking the remote from her and flipping back a channel.
“Oh…shit.”
“Cane? What?” she demanded, looking between the TV and me.
I wanted to answer. Honestly, I did, but I was fucking speechless. I turned up the volume.
“…it’s been three weeks now and not one sign of Draco ‘El Jefe’ Molina,” the anchor said. “Following the massive explosion during the raid of his mansion that left seven officials injured and nine killed, it has been reported that Draco Molina had plenty of time to escape and could be anywhere by now. One injured officer who was lucky to make it out of the explosion, reported that he’d seen Molina getting away on a speedboat, and on the boat, he spotted a young Caucasian male, a Caucasian female, a younger Hispanic male, and two Hispanic females.”
Kandy turned toward me. “Cane?” Her voice trembled. “Do you know him?” she asked.
I nodded. It was all I could do.
“Officials are calling Draco Molina the most wanted man in the world. He has been accused of over eighty reported murders and is known for running one of the largest cocaine and assault rifle cartels in Mexico. The FBI has pushed their two-million dollar reward up to four-million today, so if you have seen this man or know where he could be hiding…” The screen flashed to the infamous Draco Molina himself. It was a picture of him in a suit, standing in front of a building, his hair slicked back and his jaw flexed.