Page 85 of Unhinged Cain

I could still picture slitting his throat, and I needed him to get away from me before I changed my mind. When he didn’t move fast enough, I hopped off the table and advanced on my brother. He jerked to his feet but limped as quickly as he could for the door.

“Abel,” I called out as he stopped to look at me. “You’re dead to me. Whether this knife pierces your heart is inconsequential, your actions have had the same effect. Stay on your half of the property, and if you cross the line to my side, or hunt down Kirby again, I will end you as swiftly as you’ve ended our relationship as brothers.” My voice dropped to a raspy growl. “I never want to see you again.”

Pain filled his eyes, but I remained unfazed and made sure he was gone and out of the house before I returned to my Sunshine’s side.

I laid my lips on her forehead and just took a moment to appreciate that she was still alive. I didn’t like being on this side of the hunter, prey equation, and it solidified for me why my Sunshine had asked me to change my hunting patterns. This feeling was one I never wanted again. I didn’t dare think about what I would’ve come home to if I’d put in a full day of work on the road. My body shivered with the thought.

“Are you okay?”

“My feet are all cut up,” she said, pushing herself up onto her elbows. “I tried to stop him. I tried to reason with him. I’m sorry that it came to this,” she said as fat tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“Don’t apologize for my brother. I’ve done enough of that over the years for fifty lifetimes. He knew what he was doing when he chose to come here, and he knew the consequences. If it weren’t for your request, he would be dead right now, so as far as I’m concerned, he owes you his life.”

Gripping her face softly, I laid my lips against hers. “Let’s get you to a hospital.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Hospital means records, and I don’t want this on record. Pull the glass out yourself, you have great hands, and I trust you. I’m going to need antibiotics though.”

I stared into her amethyst eyes and knew I’d chosen well. She was the other half of my soul. She was the flame that lit the way in the darkness.

“I love you,” I whispered, and then stood to get a sedative and my tools.

KIRBY

It was already midnight when we left the house for town. He told me that there were things I needed to know, and he would ensure I had all the facts and answers before returning to school. I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I trusted him, which was all that mattered.

I could just make out my reflection in the glass and see my right cheek was still swollen from the abuse it had taken. It had only been two days, yet it felt like it had just happened. Cain would hold me and softly sing as I fell asleep, but there was always a point when I’d wake up with a start, and then fear would slice through me when the same face greeted me as Abel’s. I couldn’t tell Cain that. I knew what it would do to him if I did. Cain seemed to be so in tune with my body that the moment I’d wake up, so would he, and he would hold me tight until I fell back to sleep.

Cain was still tempted to kill his brother, but I knew it would change and ruin us even if he couldn’t see it. Many would’ve said I was crazy, but considering all my choices over the last few weeks, I think letting Abel live was low on the list. Cain gave my hand a squeeze and looked over at me.

“Where are we going,” I asked as we pulled onto the main street that led toward the downtown core.

“Peter’s condo,” Cain said, but his face gave nothing away.

“Peter’s? I don’t want to see that asshole again.”

“I know, but you need to see him one more time, there is something you need to know, but I promise not to kill him unless you ask me to.” He gave me a small smile. “And he will never hurt you again. I can promise you that.”

I did feel safe whenever I was with him, but it was more than that. I didn’t want to see his arrogant, abusive face again. He was in my past, and that was where I wanted to leave him.

“Okay,” I said as we pulled into the underground parking area of Peter’s condo. “Is this safe? I mean, what if someone sees us?”

“Then they see us, but they won’t.”

I looked over at Cain as he smoothly steered the truck around the multiple levels until he came to one fairly quiet level and parked in a spot for employees. I raised my brows at him.

“I told you I always have my ways,” he answered before I could pose the question. “Pull the hood up on your hoodie, but don’t look like you’re trying to hide your face, just that you’re cold.”

I gingerly slipped out of the truck. I sucked in a sharp breath as my feet touched the ground. The cuts on my feet were a painful reminder of what almost happened and were going to take more time than my face to heal. I slowly wandered around to the same side Cain was on as he grabbed the large black bag from the back seat. We made our way to the employee elevator and waited. Cain took his phone out of his pocket, and I watched him closely. It was fascinating to watch him work. He pulled up an app and then held the phone down at his side. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he tapped the button, and we stepped inside, the doors closing silently behind us.

I wanted to ask a million questions, but I figured I’d ask later and wrapped my arms around myself and rubbed like I was cold. The doors opened to the floor I’d been to many times before, and my stomach churned. It made me feel sick to think about the last time I’d seen Peter. He was a douche, and I should’ve left him long ago, but then I may not have found Cain. Even though anyone else would say, ‘that would’ve been for the best,’ to me, it wasn’t. I’d hated my life and had been floundering, trying to find myself, but not anymore, not with him. I had found a purpose I loved, a partner I connected with on every level, who saw the light and dark in me and accepted me as I accepted him.

“I’m going to unlock the door. I want you to stay behind me and remain quiet.”

I nodded as he pulled a key card out of his pocket and slipped it into the door. He pushed it open, and I slipped through on high alert, looking for where Peter might be. At least now I knew how Cain had so efficiently snuck in here.