What?
“I asked him why, and he said because he was afraid to bring a kid into his world,” Dad continued.
“W-what is that even supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t push on the topic—just figured he never wanted kids with all that he’d gone through with his father and even his mother. Taking care of his sister—he was basically a father to her.”
“Lora,” I murmured, and Dad stared hard at me.
“You’ve met his sister?”
“Yes. I’ve hung out with her several times.”
He grimaced. “That girl is no good, from what I remember. He always told me about the stuff she was involved in, and it was never good. Stay away from her.”
“Stuff like what?”
“It’s too much to get into right now, but I’m going to be frank and tell you, you need to stay away from Cane, period. This was why I got so upset—why I refused to accept that you wanted to be with him. Because I know who he is, I know where he came from, I know the people he has dealt with, and I have caught him in several lies and made him explain it all to me. I have kept his secrets and watched his back because he was my friend, but when it comes to jeopardizing my daughter’s life, I will pour all of those secrets on the table if it means saving you.”
Shit. He made it sound like the stuff he knew was gruesome. Even his fists had balled up, like he was remembering something that angered him.
“He’ll most likely come to check on you,” Mom said, and I was glad she’d shifted the topic. “But I don’t think it’s safe for you to go with him again, Kandy.”
I dropped my line of vision, putting it on my lap instead. To be honest, I didn’t know what to do anymore. I knew Cane would visit if he was out, but I wanted to look him in the eye and ask him about all of the things my father knew. I wanted him to tell me, so I could decide if it was best to keep my distance or continue making this thing work and getting through it together.
I was a little shaken after what Kelly did to me. To be frank, I didn’t want to go back to his house ever again, so my parents didn’t have to worry about that. There was that man on the news, the phone Cane had in the closet, and then she popped up. So much had happened in the span of ten minutes. I was too afraid of what would come next, but deep down, I still wanted him. Still loved him.
A knock on the door made me jolt, and Mom rubbed my arm as Dad turned and walked toward it. He opened it halfway then I heard him hiss at the person behind it.
“No!” he snapped.
“Derek, who is it?” Mom called, tilting her head, trying to see past him.
Dad glanced over his shoulder with a deep frown. Mom got up and walked around the bed to get to the door. She peered over Dad’s shoulder and when she saw the person, I noticed her brows dip.
“Who is it?” I called.
They both looked back regretfully, and then Dad pushed the door open a little wider, taking a step aside so I could see. Cane stood on the other side of the door, his gray button-down shirt covered in dark-red stains, his pants low on his hips due to the absence of his belt. When he saw me, his gray-green eyes stretched wide. They were dark, though, full of an anguish that I, for once, understood.
“Hey, Kandy Cane,” he murmured, voice deep, husky.
My eyes instantly watered, the rims burning, trying to fight emotion. I wanted to smile at him—something deep inside me was begging me to reassure him—but something else that was much, much stronger told me that a smile wasn’t warranted.
“Sweetie,” Mom whispered, coming to me and stroking my hair back. “You don’t have to talk to him right now either. It’s almost three in the morning, and you’re exhausted.”
“No. I want to talk to him now.”
Dad huffed, glaring at Cane as he stepped into the room.
“Alone, please?” I requested, and Dad’s head swung over rapidly. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind, opening his mouth to say something until Mom stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
“You get five minutes. That’s it,” Dad snarled at Cane. “And the door stays open.” Cane lowered his gaze as they left, and when they were gone, he slowly carried his eyes over to mine. In that moment, all I could really do was look at him. I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but I also wanted to feel his warm arms wrapped around me again. I wanted his comfort, the peace only he could provide. Cane peered over this shoulder once more, then came closer.