Page 275 of Ruthless Court

Ryan flashes through my head before I can stop him.

A hallway.

A prom sign.

A boy asking questions because every answer brought him closer to my father.

Kane wants my reads.

My corrections.

What I see before anyone else does.

And maybe⁠—

Maybe me.

I don’t know which possibility scares me more.

Kane sees something change in my face.

He steps back.

Not angry.

Not insulted.

Just accepting the answer I couldn’t say.

“Good night, Hannah.”

My chest pulls tight.

“Kane.”

He pauses.

I still can’t do it.

His eyes stay on mine for another second.

Then he nods.

Once.

And walks away.

I stand there like an idiot, watching his back disappear beneath the next stone arch.

No last glance.

No swagger.

No victory.

He gave me exactly what I asked for.

Control.