Make Me Stay (21 page)

“Hey,” this one said, leaving a soft kiss on my lips.

The month following Caroline’s untimely departure, I was a fucking mess. I drank every night until I couldn’t see straight, I missed work. The only thing I did do, was sing my ass off. I killed it every night on stage. Two months after she left, I was making my way out of a drunken haze. It helped to know that we would begin touring with 4 Alliance in the coming weeks. They had signed us on for a grueling seven-month tour that started in December and went through June. At least something good came out of that fucking horrible night.

Two nights after Caroline left, I told B everything about Nate. If I couldn’t be with her, if she didn’t want to be with me, then I needed something to occupy my time, and putting that jackass Nate behind bars was my distraction. I was right. It didn’t take me long to find a girl, then another. The problem I had was getting them to testify. That’s where Caroline came in. She and Janet were the only ones who could testify, along with me. Everyone else was too drugged to remember anything.

That’s why I was back in town. I was going to finish what I had started and put Nate fucking Rodgers away. Unfortunately, I didn’t think this out clearly enough, because now I was going to have to see Caroline. I had made sure that our days to testify were different. Thank God, the judge’s daughter loved ONS. But that could go only so far.

This was a small town with not many places to hide. I didn’t know how I was going to react if I saw her.

I could deal with overhearing about her in the bar. I had moved on like she told me to do, via her father. There was a woman in my life, the one who was staring at me right now. We weren’t exclusive, and she knew that. It was convenient for us. We were familiar to one another--a “sex-only relationship” we called it. Chloe and the rest of Fallen were also on tour with us--4 Alliance had gone through Baltimore first and found them, and they, in return, sent them out here to hear us.

The rest of the bands were somewhere in New Jersey. Chloe and I were going to meet back up with them tomorrow after I made an appearance in court. We were taking advantage of the night away from everyone. Fucking in a crowded tour bus, in only a twin size cubby was not ideal, for anyone. Although I thought Reece benefited, since he was across from us. His little curtain rarely stayed closed.

“Kane, you in there?” Chloe asked, grabbing my chin and turning my head, so I was forced to look at her.

“What do you want, Chloe? I’m here,” I quipped.

She sat up from the bed, turning away from me. “Whatever, Kane.”

I didn’t mean for it to sound so harsh. So I sat up, scooting so I was behind her, engulfing her in my arms. I moved her long, sleek, black hair away, and rested my head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I whispered in her ear, which made her scrunch her neck up.

“Really? What’s going on with you? You’ve been tense and just weird the past few days. This doesn’t have anything to do with that girl Kitty, does it?”

My jaw clenched and my pulse jumped at the sound of her name. “Fuck no, she’s a bitch,” I said, annoyed.

“Uh-huh.” Chloe turned in my arms, facing me. She wrapped her long Amazon legs around my waist, waiting to hear more.

I let my hand run up the pale, tattooed skin of her arm. “I mean it. I said I was done and I am.”

“Good, because I like our arrangement. Not that I’m being possessive, but I really enjoy our
time
together and don’t want it to end.”

“Neither do I.”

I wasn’t lying. I really enjoyed Chloe, all of Chloe. I had moved on. Caroline wasn’t going to ruin me again. I had gotten my life back. Was there a massive hole in my heart? Hell, yeah, there was, no thanks to her. Was I going to let myself fall for her or anyone ever again? Fuck no! I learned my lesson.

***

I walked into the courtroom earlier than necessary, my hair, slicked back, parted, and off my face, thanks to Chloe’s handy work. She had also helped me buy a new outfit, something more presentable for the courtroom than jeans and a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. Chloe was not only great in bed, but damn, could she dress a guy. I looked like I stepped out of some GQ photo shoot.

We sat next to each other during the whole preceding. It was long and boring, but when it was my turn to approach, I laid it all out there, every last detail. While I explained what I had witnessed and all the women whom had told me they thought Nate had taken advantage of them, he just sat there--twenty-some odd feet away from me, with that smug look on his face. He acted like I was telling a joke, chuckling to himself.
The fucker really thinks he’s untouchable.

My hands were fisted so tightly, I was sure my nails were drawing blood in my palms. I tried to ignore him, answer the questions being asked, but the only thing I could think of, was punching him in the face. B was there for support. I told him last night when he came to the house, that I wasn’t doing this for his daughter anymore. I was doing it to stop Nate from hurting other women. I had found seven in the month after Caroline left, and I had a feeling that was just the tip of the iceberg.

When it was over, when I was done saying all that I needed to, I walked by him, my fists still clenched. I needed to get out of there before I turned back and decked him. His lawyer was telling him something, and he again chuckled to himself. They had played up the fact that I was playboy, a womanizer, but I made sure to explain that I never had to drug or rape a woman to get lucky. I was a step past him when I heard, “Meeeoooow.”

I turned back, lunging for him, pushing his big shot lawyer out of the way. I had been able to keep my cool through the laughing, chuckling, even the way he smiled as I explained what I walked in on in the woods. But meowing? Fuck, no. Even if I was over Caroline, that had done it. She was still B’s daughter and, even though I hated her, he loved his little girl, and I wasn’t going to let this fucker get away. I was an inch from his face, my hands gathered up in his shirt, when everything seemed to click. This was what he wanted. He wanted the reaction, and he wanted to rile me up.
Fuck if I was going to let that happen
.

So I released his shirt, even smoothed it down for him. I smiled in his face, tapping his chest. “I hope you like getting fucked in the ass. I heard rumors that good-looking, fit, young men like you are a high commodity. Oh and you were a cop on top of that. They are going to fuck your brains out. Keep practicing your cat call, though, it needs to be a little bit higher in pitch.”

I patted his shoulder one last time then walked away. I grabbed Chloe, pulling her close under my arm.

She wound her arm around my waist as we walked away. “Are we going home? I need you to take me home. That was--Kane, I think you need to start wearing a suit more often. Oh, God, I want to rip it off with my teeth,” she said as we exited the courtroom.

I stopped at the front doors of the building, took her face between my hands, and kissed her like I’ve never kissed her before.

CHAPTER 37

Caroline

He was kissing her like he used to kiss me. She was the same tall height as him. He held her close. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly, his tattoos mixing with hers. They looked like a rock star couple.

I was coming out of the restroom when I spotted them by the door. I hid behind a huge pillar a good distance away. I didn’t realize that seeing him, let alone seeing him with another woman, a woman who he clearly had feelings for, would be so, confusing. I had gotten over him. I had moved on, went on dates, even slept with a few, but fuck if it wasn’t hard to see him all over someone else.

They ended their “bedroom kiss.” I called it that because it was the kind of kiss that usually led to having your clothes tossed all over the floor. Kane was facing away from me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I saw hers and knew exactly what she was feeling and who she was. Chloe, from Baltimore, the front girl from Fallen.

I was so wrapped up in watching them, I hadn’t realized someone was standing behind me. I jumped and squealed a little as a hand tapped my shoulder. I whipped around to see a girl who I also recognized immediately as Nate’s younger sister Piper. I quickly turned back, praying that I hadn’t called attention to myself. Thankfully, I hadn’t. Kane and Chloe where already out the front door and heading for his truck.

A sigh of relief escaped me as I turned back to Piper. “Piper, holy shit, you startled me,” I said, still clutching at my racing heart.

She looked older, more mature than the last time I had seen her, which coincidentally was the night her brother drugged and assaulted me. She stared at me, and I wasn’t sure if she was going to punch me for ratting out her brother or start crying.

“You remember me?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

“I just thought that since Nate, and then you left that...well, I just thought you’d hate me and forget who I was,” she said looking at the floor.

She definitely wasn’t going to punch me. Her eyes were filled with tears as she tried to stay strong in front of me.

“Hey, hey, hey. Piper, it’s not your fault. Your brother has some serious issues.”

She laughed, a few of the tears ran down her cheeks. “He’s only a half-brother. The only thing we have in common is my mother,” she said.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” I said, fully taking in the woman she was turning into.

I could remember Piper and her friend all gooey-eyed over ONS, young and seventeen. I remember her begin carefree and running along the lake, the guys running after her and her friends. That carefree girl that sat happily on JJ’s lap the night that Nate drugged me. That girl wasn’t standing in front of me. I felt bad that she had somehow lost her innocence, her glow. The whole mess with her brother was taking a toll on her.

She wiped the tears away and continued on. “My mother sent him here to live with his drunken bastard of a father when he was thirteen. She couldn’t control him anymore. I was three when he moved away, and only a few years ago was I able to see him. I knew about him, of course, and when I was fourteen, I think, my mother let him back in my life because she thought that he had gotten his life in order--you know, becoming a cop and all. She thought it was ‘safe’ to spend time with him. If I had known he was doing--I just want to say that I’m sorry.”

I felt bad for her. She was going to be linked to that bastard for the rest of her life, not only by blood but, in this small town where everyone knew everyone’s business, it was sure to follow her.

“Piper, you don’t have to be sorry for him.”

“Well, he’s never going to say it, so I will. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, but you at least deserve an apology.”

“Damn,” I said, crossing my arms in astonishment. “You really grew up, didn’t you?”

She had more class in her pinky finger, than Nate did in his whole body.

“So everyone says. I know this is a little forward but, do you still keep in touch with...” She pointed in the direction that Kane and Chloe had been standing.

I followed her hand, realizing who she was talking about, and shook my head. “Nah, not really. I only know what my father tells me, and usually that’s not more than a, ‘He’s alive and well.’” I bit down on my lip nervously.
How the hell did this conversation end up here?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. What have you been doing since you left? Rumor has it you’re in New York again,” she asked, saving the conversation.

“I am. I got a really good job, my dream job, actually.”

“That’s great! I’m moving up there myself. I have no clue what I’m going to do, or where I’m going to stay, but I saved up some money and I’m going to try to start over. I need out of this town, fast.”

Something I could definitely relate to. A strange feeling came over me, a feeling that I wanted to ball her up, put her in my suite case, and take her with me. I had been where she was at, needing to start over, run away from the past.
We are kindred spirits, and you know what? Fuck it.

“Are you serious about moving to New York?” I asked, apparently taking her off guard.

She looked at me, clearly puzzled. “Yeah, as soon as this trial is over, I was planning on jumping in the car and leaving it all behind.”

She was serious. I could see it in her green eyes. “Well, I have a huge place, an extra bedroom and bathroom that are just collecting dust. You’re more than welcome to it until you get your own.”

She stared at me in disbelief. It was obvious that her childhood hadn’t been lollypops and rainbows. This was an opportunity for her to make something of her life, and if the huge smile on her face was any indication, she was going to say yes.

“Are you serious, Caroline? I don’t want to put you out.”

“As a heart attack. Plus I always wanted to have a little sister.”

She covered her gaping mouth with her hand. “But you don’t even know me. Why are you doing this?” she asked, removing her hand.

Why? Because I was her five years ago. “Piper, don’t ask questions, just say yes. I’m going to get you out of this small town nightmare. Pretend I’m your fairy God sister.”

She laughed at me, covering her mouth with her hands again.

“Well?” I asked, waiting for an answer.

“Yes! Yes, please take me with you.”

I wrapped my arms around her, as she did the same. Yeah, this was a good idea, added bonus--she was another distraction.

I was so thankful to have met Piper in that hallway. Together she and I made our way into the courtroom. I saw where my father was sitting and went right to him. I sat down, Piper still at my side. We sat through the trial until I was called up.

“Dad, I can’t do this,” I said clutching at his arm.

“Yes you can. You’ll be fine. Kane did great up there and I know that you will too. Just think how many women you are helping by doing this. Do it for those women who don’t have a voice, who weren’t as lucky as you were to have someone come and save them,” he said, squeezing my arm.

My father was right. I was so lucky to have Kane there. For if he wasn’t, I would have been one of the silent women cowering in the courtroom with nothing to add. I was saved and it was my job to speak for them, since they couldn’t.