Page 141 of Captive Souls

Regardless, he extended his hand.

And regardless, I shook it.

Piper

We hadn’t decided on where we would live long term. We were going through too many changes already, especially once Knox’s paintings had been picked up by an incredibly prestigiousgallery. Only on the provision that he remains anonymous, not in any way tied to any of the publicity surrounding the sale or promotion.

He said it was because of his enemies, which I was sure was partly true. But I knew it was also because he’d never be fully ready to come out of the shadows, even if he was baring pieces of his soul to the sunlight.

These stipulations along with the exquisite surrealism of the paintings were what made them blow up more, selling forsix figures.

I’d known they were stunning, that they spoke to me on a cellular level, that they were magic, but I thought it was because I was unequivocally in love with the painter.

Knox hadn’t even blinked at the money or the popularity, so I often questioned whether it had been the right decision to take them to a gallery and force him into a different life.

Not that he was entirely in a different life. He didn’t give me a lot of details—he still wasn’t a man of many words—but I knew that Knox had engaged in some kind ofpartnershipwith Lukyan.

He’d mentioned it in clipped tones, then I’d spoken to Elizabeth on the phone—we did that sometimes—and she’d given me a little more detail. But not much. I was on the outside. Because I wasn’t one of them. That knowledge chafed at me, even as I tried to shrug it off.

I knew they weren’t starting a bourbon company together. I knew that Knox left some nights, and when he came home, his energy was both heavier and lighter at the same time. He wasn’t done killing. I didn’t know if he’d ever be done. He couldn’t be repaired just with my love and a paintbrush and an easel. Not that I thought he needed repairing. He had stopped cutting himself, though, which I took as a large victory.

No, I didn’t think he’d ever leave the shadows completely, but he still stood in the sunlight with me.

And I was finding I liked to exist in the shadows too.

We married in the cabin.

The guest list was short. Daisy and Joey—who were somehow still together. Joey who shot uneasy glances in Knox’s direction as if he was waiting for him to shoot him between the eyes at any moment.

I secretly thought Knox enjoyed torturing him just a little.

The three other guests were Kane, Avery and Mabel—Knox’s brother, his wife and their baby daughter.

The resemblance between the brothers was uncanny yet also unsettling. They were so alike. Kane was maybe a glimpse of who Knox might’ve been... Easy to smile. Warm. Friendly.

Not that I wanted Knox to be any different. I just mourned the life he might’ve had without his trauma, even if it meant we never would’ve met.

Kane had hugged me within seconds of meeting me.

I returned the hug, surprised at the open affection that his brother did not possess. He squeezed me then held me at arm’s length, not letting go even though I knew Knox was staring daggers at him.

I wanted to roll my eyes. It was hisbrotherwho was hugging me in front of his wife and daughter. I doubted he was a threat. But Knox didn’t know how to turn that off.

“What do you do for a job, Piper?” Kane asked, still holding my upper arms. “Knox has been really fucking cagey about this whole thing, about you. But you’re gonna be at our table for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Mabel’s birthday. He’s notgonna be able to keep you wrapped up in bubble wrap.” He winked at me.

My skin warmed at the forgone conclusion of us being with them for the holidays. At the slight hesitation to his tone. I got the sense that Knox had not been in attendance for previous holidays. And that Kane loved his brother.

“We’re not coming for fucking holidays,” Knox cut in at the same time I said, “Of course, we’ll be there.”

He glared at me. I beamed back at him before looking at his brother again.

“To answer your earlier question, I’m a kindergarten teacher.”

Kane’s amiable gaze went blank for a long moment before he threw his head back and laughed. True belly laughter.

I smiled with him because I understood he wasn’t laughing at me. He was laughing at the absurdity of his badass brother getting married to a kindergarten teacher with wildflowers threaded through her hair.

Kane’s ice-blue eyes were shimmering as they caught hold of mine, no longer laughing. “Thank you,” he said, his voice low and rich.

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