“There’s a lot you can help me with, actually,” I said.
Killian looked up, his eyes getting bigger. “Ho-ly shit!” he bellowed, stopping the buzz of the needle. “Cane? What are you doing here, man? Shouldn’t you be somewhere in Hawaii or some shit where all the rich people are?”
I laughed. “Just visiting.”
“You know I’m always happy for a visit.” He placed his needle down and said something to the man before taking his gloves off and walking my way. “Look at you, brother. Don’t even look a day past thirty.”
“The gray hair says otherwise.” We did our brotherly hug, clapping each other on the back. When he pulled away, he dropped his eyes to Kandy. “This is Kandy, my girl.”
“What, as in girlfriend?” he inquired, cocking his pierced brow.
I smiled. “I don’t know. I can’t really figure out what to call us. Maybe you should ask her.”
“Well, what is it, little lady? This man holding you hostage, or do you really love him?” Killian asked, grinning.
Kandy blushed and fought a smile. “I’m whatever he wants me to be.” She giggled. “But girlfriend sounds more formal, so let’s stick with that for now.” She beamed, looking up at me. I winked back.
“That’s good to hear,” he said.
“How much are your tattoos?” Kandy asked, looking around at a few of the artworks hanging on the walls.
“I have a price sheet on the wall over there, but seein’ as I owe this man for a lot of shit, I got you. What you want?”
Kandy looked up at me. “I want what he has on his knuckles.”
Killian focused on my hand. “Oh, yeah. RISE.” He bobbed his head. “You got it. Let me finish him up, and then I’ll get to you.” He walked off, and I looked down at Kandy.
“RISE, huh?” I quirked a brow.
“Yep. We’re rising together.” She grabbed my hand, bringing it up and entwining her fingers between mine. “We can only go up from here, right?”
I couldn’t fight my smile. “That’s right, baby.”
Chapter Thirty-One
KANDY
I got the tattoo exactly where I said I would, right on the edge of my left hand, linked to my pinky. “You’re right,” I said to Cane, in awe of my new ink as we walked out the shop. Killian had covered it in some kind of plastic-looking stuff. He said it was like a Band-Aid, but for tattoos. “It wasn’t too bad, and these are addicting. I already want another one.”
“Let’s see what you think when it starts peeling and itching like a motherfucker,” he laughed, unlocking the car. He started the car up, but I grabbed his hand before he could put it in gear. “While we’re here…I think there’s one more stop we need to make,” I suggested.
He looked me in the eyes, and as if he’d read mind, he nodded once and started driving. The drive from this side of town to get there was close to thirty minutes, but when the area started to look familiar, my pulse quickened, and I tensed in my seat. I could feel Cane glancing at me every so often, but he didn’t say a word. Just drove with the music playing to fill the silence.
And then we were there.
Cane pulled into the driveway, and as he did, my house came into view. My childhood home, painted a dark blue with white shutters. I looked to the left, at the tree that used to have my tire swing on it, and then at the rose bushes that Mom still tended with loving care.
This place was my safety once. It was all I knew.
Dad’s police truck was parked in the driveway, and I had a feeling Mom’s car was in the garage, since it was well after four in the afternoon. We sat there for a while, just staring, and then Cane finally spoke. “You don’t have to do it today, Kandy.”
“Yeah, Cane. I do. It’s been long enough.” I unclipped my seatbelt. I started to get out, but stopped just as quickly, looking back at him. “Come in with me?”
He looked unsure. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
“Please. My dad may act like he hates you, but I know he doesn’t. He still cares about you, Cane.”
His eyes became glossy. Pressing his lips, he shut the car off and grabbed the door handle, getting out with me. We walked to the front door together, hand-in-hand, and before I could knock, it was already swinging open.
“Mom,” I breathed as she looked me all over. Without a word, she rushed out, roughly towing me into her arms. She held me so, so tight, and my eyes burned, just from feeling her warm arms around me.
“Kandy! Oh, my baby!” She released me to hold my face in her hands caressing it with her thumbs. “Look at you.” Her smile was a mixture of guilt and glee. She then shifted her gaze to Cane, and her smile slowly faded. Tipping her chin, she looked him over, pulling her hands from my face. “She looks a lot better,” she said to him, and I assumed that was some form of thank you.