Breaking Mr. Cane (Cane 2)

I’d always known a time would come when he would get caught up. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. Lora had told me Draco kidnapped a woman named Gianna, who was the daughter of Lion, a well-known Italian mobster, but murdered her husband on their wedding day before taking her. Was she the Caucasian woman who’d escaped with him after the explosion? My head was spinning. What the fuck was he doing?

A hand wrapped around my wrist and I didn’t even realize Kandy had gotten off her stool and was standing in front of me now. “Cane, you’re scaring the shit out of me right now. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s fine. Promise. Just…need to check something.”

“Wait, wha—” I walked past her and out of the kitchen before she could ask anymore questions.

This was fucking insane. How hadn’t I heard about this before now? I took the stairs two at a time to get to my bedroom, heading into the closet and opening the bottom drawer of the dresser inside it. I shuffled through it, snatching out underwear and ties and leather belts, until I came across the little black flip phone.

I powered it on, every second filling me with dread.

When it was on, it took a while for the messages to pop up, but I knew they were coming.

One by one, they flooded in, until finally it stopped. Twenty missed messages.

Shit. I hadn’t checked the phone in weeks. I was supposed to check it once a week, but got so caught up with work and my family…

“Cane?”

I pushed to a stand, heart thundering as I focused on Kandy standing between the frames of the closet door. “Sorry, Kandy it’s um…just a bunch of shit.” I scrolled through the messages. It was from a new number, but some of the code words were very clear.

Trouble with lead.

He’s out now.

Funds needed.

State reunion.

The messages went on and on until I came across one that truly had my blood running cold.

ATL landing in a few weeks. Be ready.

That particular message was sent two days ago.

I snapped the phone shut. “Kandy, I need you to go home.”

“What? Why? What’s going on?”

“That man you saw on TV? The one wanted for four million? I know him.”

“You know him? How?”

I snatched a T-shirt out of the closet then walked out, tugging it over my head. “Used to work for him. And he might be in the state right now. He’s not safe for you to be around.”

“Seriously?” Her voice was shrill, her eyes so wide they were nearly bulging out of her head.

“I can’t explain this right now. I think he has people who are coming to meet me, or he’s coming himself. I don’t want you around when that happens. You can crash at Lora’s until this blows over.”

“Are they bad people?”

“Anyone who works for him is a bad person. Not all of them can be trusted.”

“But you worked for him,” she pegged, giving me a thorough, uncertain glare.

“I know…and luckily I got out, and that’s only because we made a deal.”

“I—I don’t get it. Should I be worried? Should I call the cops?”

“No.” I rushed her way, gripping her shoulders. “You call the cops and I am a dead man walking. You hear me?”

She breathed raggedly, face paling. “It’s that bad?”

“It’ll be fine. But I need to call Lora. Let her know what’s going on.”

“Shouldn’t she stay away too?” She shuffled through her suitcase, snatching out a pair jeans and sliding her legs through them.

“I may need her.”

“God. I can’t believe this.” Her voice shook as she started to unbutton the shirt she was wearing.

I cupped the back of her neck. “Kandy, I told you there were things about me that would be unpleasant. I don’t want you to be—”

“WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?” A voice thundered, cutting me off mid-sentence, and if I thought my heart was racing before, it was about to burst out of my chest at this point because standing between the frames of my bedroom door was Kelly.

She wore a black T-shirt and black leggings, her face makeup free, and her eyes broiling with rage. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, dark circles beneath her eyes and her hair slightly frizzy. I’d never seen her this way. So…unhinged. She always kept herself neat.

A gasp spilled from Kandy’s lips, and when I dropped my eyes, I realized why.

In Kelly’s hand was a knife. A long, sharp knife.

And before I could say anything or get her to stop and wait and listen, she was screaming so loudly her face turned red. She rushed toward me, eyes pinned right on mine. I knew what was going to happen. The sharp blade was coming toward us, glimmering from the sun pouring through the window, ready to pierce me. Even more so, I’d prepared for it, because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stop it in time.